which shortish lens for macro work on WP?

[katie cooke]

I need a little advice or some suggestions, please. I'm looking for a lens I can use on my lovely Victo whole plate camera, for doing close up work on wet plate.

I've currently got an 11" Cooke series V on there, which is terrific, but I'm looking for something shorter so that I can go to more than 1:1 without seven yards of bellows extension. Ideally I'd be able to use something as is on the existing packard shutter (which has, um, 45mm threads or thereabout). I've been using a sweet little wollensak raptar 101mm lens on my 4x5 camera for making 2:1 closeups of flowers and dead things, so, I'm looking for something along the same lines to use with on the Victo. I don't need mad swirlies or anything. My budget is limited and probably runs out at about the 200 dollar mark before shipping... anything particular I should be looking out for? Any suggestions would be useful.

thanks.

[Nick_3536]

How about a shortish G-claron? Or since you don't need a shutter other process lens. The ones that don't fit a shutter should be a small fraction of your budget.

Are you saying there is a ring mounted on the front of the packard? And you want to use that?

[domenico Foschi]

Katie, I can't wait to see the work.
Domenico

[Colin Graham]

I've been using a Zeiss jena 105 f4.5 on 5x12 for some macro work. Hardly a model of sharpness and contrast, but I really like the look from it, and it's pretty common I believe. (Pardon the brush marks, from when I was first learning kallitypes.) Xenars also work well, better contrast and general technical quality. I have a 135, 150 and 180 that look nice on the format and cover very well at macro range. But I'm a fool for tessars.

[Bernice Loui]

APO artar in shutter or similar lens should work fine down to 1:1. If more magnification is required, use a reverse mounted enlarging lens. The exposure times at these magnifications and long bellows draw might allow the lens cap to be used as the shutter.

[erie patsellis]

If you have a few Componon's or Rodagons in the darkroom, try a 135 or 150, you'll be pleasantly surprised. If not, they go unbid often on "that" auction website. The Componons were available in shutters for just this reason.

[Mark Sawyer]

I've used a 150mm Konica GR-II and a 150mm Eskofot Ultragon (both process lenses) on 8x10 with very good results. These are also relatively inexpensive.

[E. von Hoegh]

Ms. Cooke, could you suggest a site on which I can find info. about making wet plates? I have the article in my 11th. ed. Brittanica, and a basic understanding of the process, so I don't need to start from square 1.


Thank you.

Bill.

[Wimpler]

I'd recommend the agfa repromaster 150mm f9, I think it is the same lens as the eskofot ultradon Mark Sawyer mentioned. Should be available very cheap.

[Ernest Purdum]

There is an article amongst those at the bottom of the Home Page that I think would be helpful to you.