15-inch lens recommendations ?

[Toyon]

Feebay #320274233354 . Wollensak's legendary 15" raptar.

[Ken Lee]

Does the 15" Raptar provide generous coverage for 5x7 ?

[Bill_1856]

LOVE your song on Youtube!

[Ken Lee]

Ah yes... my song

[Carsten Wolff]

MPEX has a 15" f9 Process Paragon for 99 bucks. Probably uncoated and a barrel lens...but ask anyway. Nothing wrong with Paragons in general....I have had a couple of the shorter lengths in shutters. Other than that: You could also search for e.g. the rather nice 375mm/f6.3 Ilex Caltars.

[Toyon]

Does the 15" Raptar provide generous coverage for 5x7 ?

The Wollensak catalog of 1957 says that the Raptar will cover 5x7? Is it generous? That's not specified.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Ken,

"Does the 15" Raptar provide generous coverage for 5x7 ?"

not really generous and it's a tele so movement can drive you crazy. The 'APO Raptar 15" f/10' and the 'Alan 14 f/9' both cover 8x10 at inf. with some movements, both are ruthlessly sharp and fairly high contrast and both are fairly small and light. The 14" f/6.3 Ektars are high up there also. They each have 15 - 20 blade irises for smooth OOF renditions, they all have a nice 'look' to them.

Have fun with the hunt.

[John Bowen]

Ken,

I hate to sound like a wise ass, but if a 355/360 doesn't work for you then use the 450 and take a step back or use the 300 and take a step forward.

I have a 300 Symmar, a 305 G Claron, a 355 G Claron, a 360 Symmar and a 450 Nikon. The Symmars came with cameras I purchased, but they are the size and weight of small cars. For 4x5 & 5x7, where coverage isn't a factor, the 355/360 doesn't get used much unless I am someplace (like the middle of a stream or the edge of a cliff) where the ability to move a couple feet forward or back just isn't going to happen. The same goes for the Symmars. They have been collecting dust until I realized that the 1/2-1 stop gain in speed would be beneficial when shooting moving water on an overcast day. So now the Symmars get at least a little exercise every once in a while.

The 355 G Claron gets used a lot with my 7x17.

Any how, good luck in your quest. I hope you find the perfect lens for your purposes.

[Ken Lee]

if a 355/360 doesn't work for you then use the 450 and take a step back or use the 300 and take a step forward.

I may just do that. I just lost an eBay auction on a nice-looking 14" Commercial Ektar.

[Mark Tweed]

Ken, I have one of those Ilex 15" f9 Process Paragons Carsten was talking about. Mine is single-coated, mint condition and mounted in a Copal #3 shutter. It's extremely sharp and handles the 5X7 format with coverage to spare. It's a dialyte design with 4 air-spaced elements identical in construction to the Red Dot Artar, Schneider's Repro Claron or Rodenstock's Apo Ronar, all of which I own so I'm able to make a fair comparison. I've seen the Ilex's surface on ebay from time to time in shutters.

I hope this is helpful.


Mark