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Thread: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

  1. #1
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    Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

    I recently got two brand-new, new-style 8x10 film holders for only $30 each. I'm not sure what to do with them since I don't have, nor can I feed and care for, an 8x10 camera. I figure I can make an 8x10 pinhole that uses the film holders, but that's pretty expensive for a pinhole camera (I have opinions on how much one should spend on a pinhole camera). I also already have a single-shot 8x10 pinhole camera.

    I figure I can make a fixed-focus box camera, with a lens set to be hyperfocal at some f/16 or something. The problem is getting a lens that will cover 8x10. It needs to be cheap (like sub-$50, preferably sub-$5) or it will bust the budget and I'd rather just sell the film holders. I was looking on Surplus shed for cheap $10 ish lenses but I can never tell if they will cover the format or not. I could try using some of the loose double-convex lenses I have around here but have the same issue with them

  2. #2

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    Re: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

    You're going to have a difficult time finding a lens that covers 8x10 for less than $50 if you want a shutter. However, if you can live with a barrel lens you may have some hope.

  3. #3
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    Re: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

    I don't care about shutters

  4. #4

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    Re: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

    Then if you don't mind some cosmetic issues and "maybe" a little edge separation you'll find lenses to fit your needs. Do you care what focal length?

  5. #5

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    Re: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

    Sounds like you'd want a Metrogon lens? Cheap, AND wide!

  6. #6
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    Re: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

    Well I can't afford to be picky, but wider would be better because it would have more DOF.

  7. #7

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    Re: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

    Hi, BetterSense. I just built an 8x10 box camera myself, and am using a Wollensak 10 1/4", f/10 Apochromatic Raptor (maybe from a process camera?) that I picked up on the Dreaded for about $50 a few years back. No shutter; I just stop down to f/64 and do the "one Mississippi..." thing. It works just fine.

  8. #8
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    Re: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera


  9. #9

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    Re: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

    It might cover but the fixed aperture will limit your DOF. Why not just look for an old lens in a broken shutter... should go for cheap. If you can't repair the shutter it doesn't really matter.

  10. #10

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    Re: Recommend cheap lens for 8x10 box camera

    Look at Alan Greene's book Primative pPhotography to see how to build a simple landscape lens, then go the Anchor Surplus or Surplus Shed and find the lens elements you want.....great fun! Even a simple miniscus or achormat (sp?) can be interesting.

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