Suggestions for a long(ish) lens for 5x7 please

[timbo10ca]

I've been working with my sole lens- a 180mm Sironar-N since I got my camera a year ago. I'm starting to think I'd like something in the 360mm to 420mm as a portrait/short tele lens to compress the subject field. Ideally it would be sharp, small and light, and in the $500-$750 range mounted in an accurate shutter. Any ideas, or offers of anything for sale? If I don't pick one up in the next few months, I'm hoping to troll for something at foto3, but don't really know what to look for. One other thing-my camera (ShenHao) still has the factory GG, so a fast/bright lens would be nice.

p.s. I'd additionally be interested in one of the soft beater protrait lenses that I see gaining some popularity. If Jim Galli reads this post- I saw (and loved) your article in View Camera last month. Any suggestions for my 5x7???

Thanks,
Tim

[John Kasaian]

What size is the lens board? My Agfa has 5-1/4" lensboards and a 14" APO Artar fits very well, even at f/9 it lights up the gg nicely in a dial set compur. My other 14"er is a f/6.3 Commercial Ektar--a splendid lens in a big #5 Universal. You should be able to find these in your price range.

[Scott Davis]

You can probably also still find a 19" Artar or a 450 Nikkor-M in your price range. Both are f9 lenses (the artar MIGHT be an f11, but I forget). A 19" Red Dot Apo-Artar might be out of the range, but an older Artar should fall in that range. If you go for one in barrel, it will definitely be in your range.

[Bill_1856]

15" Tele-Raptar. It will cover nicely, and doesn't require much more bellows extension than your 18 cm lens, leaving the camera nicely balanced.

[Kevin Crisp]

15" Wolly Raptar in an Alphax shutter will leave you lots of budget.

[Michael Graves]

This is from a 14" Apo-Artar on 5x7.

[timbo10ca]

What size is the lens board? My Agfa has 5-1/4" lensboards and a 14" APO Artar fits very well, even at f/9 it lights up the gg nicely in a dial set compur. My other 14"er is a f/6.3 Commercial Ektar--a splendid lens in a big #5 Universal. You should be able to find these in your price range.

The Shen Hao lensboard is (I think) Linhof dimensions. I measured mine and it is 3 3/4 inches wide aby 4 inches tall. This sits in a lensboard adapter that can be removed giving a hole 5" by 5", so I could use either size, I guess.

Thanks everybody so far for the suggestions. I hope they keep coming.

Tim

[Ted Harris]

I find that I use 300-360 more than other focal lengths for a longish but not LONG lens on 5x7. I also use the 450 Nikkor a lot and that would be my recommendation. If you can find one under 900-1000 grab it. OTOH, it is neither small nor light in a #3 shutter.

A G Claron should meet your price and size needs.

[Jim Galli]

Hi Tim. Thanks for the nice compliment. I must have something around the place for portraits. A 14" Heliar would do both jobs well for you but you'd have to learn to shoot without a shutter. Maybe a Packard could go on the 5X5 board with standoff's.

[Ole Tjugen]

I use two 360ish lenses, one fast and one portable.

The fast and bright one is a 360mm f:5.6 Symmar Convertible, in a Compound 5 shutter. Nice lens, but too big to carry.

The portable one is a 355mm f:9 G-Claron, in a Compound 3 shutter. This one will fit on a Technika lens board.