wide angle lens for 5x7 and Goerz Dagor

**sean yoon** · 26-Dec-2005, 00:33

Hi,
I have this 90mm Goerz Dagor, and it seems like i cant really get this lens focused on my Canham 5x7 camera. Is this lens not supposed to work with 5x7? or, is there some techiques that i am missing?(i am very new to large format)

Also, for a starter, what kind of wide angle lens do you guys recommend? I can't afford any expensive lense, and I just have a budget of $500. I will be shooting mostly black and white.

thanks

sean

**Ole Tjugen** · 26-Dec-2005, 00:55

Sean,

A 90mm Goerz Dagor is not really intended for 5x7". Even if it's a WA Dagor it's not going to cover...

I use a 90mm f:8 Super-Angulon, a 121mm f:8 Super-Angulon, a 121mm f:6.8 Leitmeyr Weitwinkel-Anastigmat (a copy of the 120mm f:6.8 Angulon) and a 165mm f:6.8 Angulon on my 5x7" Gandolfi. Either of these lenses can be found for less than $500 with a bit of patience.

The 90mm SA just barely covers, as does the 121mm Leitmeyr (and it's brother the 120mm Angulon). A 90mm lens is very very short on 5x7", and may be difficult to focus at infinity due to bellows compression.

**Nick_3536** · 26-Dec-2005, 06:23

The 105mm Fuji SW should be less then $500 used. around 250mm of image circle.

**sean yoon** · 26-Dec-2005, 10:53

thank you for your advice
^^

**S. Preston Jones** · 26-Dec-2005, 11:34

I use a 90m f8 Nikor WA on my 5x7 Deardorff without any problems. It give a very wide angle. I also used a 90mm f4,5 Rodenstock Grandagon but stopped because of the weight. Both are great lenses. I have used the other lenses mentioned by Ole and Nick and they are all VG. I also use a 120mm f8 Nikkor. I was able to get the 90mm Nikkor in mint condition for a lot less than your $500 limit. I have and have used the 90mm WA Dagor on 5x7 and it almost covered at f45. great lens but I would not get it for 5x7.

**arthur berger** · 26-Dec-2005, 14:52

sean,
in order to focus a 90mm lens on the 5x7 canham, no matter which make lens and whether it covers or not, you must tilt the entire front standard back and then straighten out the lensboard so that it is parallel with the back. This allows the lens to be closer to the ground glass and thereby focusable. I hope this answers your question.
Arthur