Advice - lightweight 14" or 360mm lens for 4x5?

[Jeff Bannow]

Just depends on the camera itself and whether on not you'll need to use the same lens on
8x10 film too. Big heavy lenses with 3 shutters don't typically work well on many 4x5 camera because there's just not enough mass on the front standard - things can get wobbly. But telephotos can cause similar issues due to excess wt. The Fuji 400T is in a no.1 shutter, but of no use on an 8x10 if that if being contemplated. I really like the Fuji A
because it works so well on both formats, and at almost any focal distance.

Not planning on 8x10 at this point. I would prefer to stay away from telephoto designs due to the size of the lens. I have plenty of bellows as well.

The Fuji A looks really nice, but seems to be about as common as unicorns.

I think my best bet is to sell my RD Artar in barrel, and buy either a 14" repro-claron in Compur #2 or 360mm apo-ronar in Compur #2.

[Jeff Bannow]

... and buy either a 14" repro-claron in Compur #2 or 360mm apo-ronar in Compur #2.

Anyone know if either of these lenses have filter threads?

[Mark Stahlke]

There is Schneider's Apo-Tele-Xenar 350/11 in a Copal 1 shutter. No, it's not a telephoto despite its name.

[Jim Rice]

WRT the filter threads, a $5.00 step up ring with an ID just larger than the OD of the front of the lens barrel will do the trick. Get a bag of assorted rubber bands from the drug store. You will find one small diameter one with a cross section thicker than the step up ring that will make a nice gasket for the ring-to barrel interface and will hold everything together tightly. Mash ring onto barrel with rubber band in between. Works like a charm. For Artars, I always used a red one, of course. Completely reversible too.

[vinny]

OR, get a step up ring slightly smaller than the front element diameter and stick it on with some ATG tape (rolled into a thin rope). That's what I did on my 24" artar and it worked flawlessly.

[Mark MacKenzie]

I have a Kowa Graphic 360 for sale here on the classifieds. It is f9 and in a Copal 3S. It is compared to the Computar and said to cover more than 11x14. It is also said to have been used on a 5x7 copy device. To be honest, I haven't used the lens. It was mounted on a TOYO lensboard and I looked at it on the ground glass on a 4x5 OmegaView. It seemed very sharp but wanted a whole lot of bellows. This lens has been compared to the Artar as well. There are threads discussing it, too.
It would be a less expensive option and a modern lens in a modern shutter.
Don't mean to be shamelessly self-promoting. Good luck with your search.
Mark

[Louis Pacilla]

Hey Jeff. This is why it would be a waste of good money to pay to have your barrel mounted 14" RD Artar installed into a proper shutter. The cost would far exceed what you can buy a comparable mint condition 360 process lens factory mounted in shutter.I bet it would cost a couple hundred more then what Daniel is selling his 360 APO Ronar in Copal 3

I have no connection to seller.http://www.largeformatphotography.in...m-all-in-Copal

[Jeff Bannow]

[SIZE=2]Hey Jeff. This is why it would be a waste of good money to pay to have your barrel mounted 14" RD Artar installed into a proper shutter. The cost would far exceed what you can buy a comparable mint condition 360 process lens factory mounted in shutter.I bet it would cost a couple hundred more then what Daniel is selling his 360 APO Ronar in Copal 3

Yeah, I think you're right on that.

For the moment I picked up a Symmar convertible from eBay for $74. This should tide me over until I decide which option to choose.

The new Apo-tele-xenar looks pretty nice, but a bit spendy.

[Alan Gales]

The Fuji A looks really nice, but seems to be about as common as unicorns.

I had one once but sold it. Never had a Fuji A though.

[Graybeard]

I have a 14" RD Artar that I am considering mounting into a shutter. Looks like the cost of the shutter, cleaning, and mounting will probably be $600+ though. This doesn't include the cost of lens caps (might need custom) and an adapter to allow filters to be used. By the time everything is done I could have $1000 into this, and there's no way I could recoup that cost if I decided to sell it.

Before I go through with that, I would like to look at my options. Anyone have a suggestion for a small & lightweight lens, with reasonable room for movements on 4x5?

Not really interested in a 300mm right now - too close to my 240mm. I don't think I could focus a 450mm either.

You might also consider front mounting the Artar on a less expensive shutter such as an Ilex #4 or Alphax#4 (see the S K Grimes website). Grimes charges about $85 for a simple front mount.

Even if a small amount of vignetting does occur there should be a sufficiently large image circle available for plenty of movements on a 4x5.