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Rhodes
17-Mar-2014, 05:10
Thinking of buying this (or of the same type) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151253962979?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D151253962979%26_rdc%3D1#ht_411wt_1161 lens for my Speed Graphic. Now, I can use this lens on my camera, right? And I have to get a lens board for it, but which one?
Main reason, to have a portrait lens and also to give "a vintage look" to the photos.

Leigh
17-Mar-2014, 06:05
I very much doubt that you could use a 15" (380mm) on any Speed Graphic.

According to this page from graflex.org the bellows is only 12-3/4" (324mm):
http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/pacemaker-speed-graphic.html

You don't have enough bellows draw to focus at infinity, and certainly not enough for closer focus.

Here's an earlier thread on Speed Graphic lenses:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?1690-can-I-use-most-lenses-on-a-speed-graphic-press-cam

- Leigh

EdSawyer
17-Mar-2014, 06:25
The 15" / 360-380mm to use would be a telephoto one, eg. tele arton, tele xenar, Nikkor T, Wollensak tele optar, etc.

goamules
17-Mar-2014, 06:52
Not only that, but I wouldn't buy from that seller. Every B&L triplet magic lantern lens they unscrew from an old projector becomes a "Cooke Triplet". After getting complaints, they added the word "configuration" in their ads. But their intent it to deceive knowledgeable buyers into paying more because it happens to be a triplet...and...well.....Cooke made triplets...and they were famous!

Rhodes
17-Mar-2014, 06:57
Thank you! So, for this kind of lens, what would be a good one for the speed graphic? Or should I go for one like this:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=171270572021#ht_153wt_1399 ?

jp
17-Mar-2014, 07:22
The second one won't be a vintage look; more of a generic look. It's a good lens that would make most people happy, but it's not vintage looking. If you want a good triplet to use with the speed graphic, get a meyer trioplan. They should be $200-300 if you're patient. A bit older a rapid rectilinear is good vintage; aka planatograph. Something of a tessar design will be sort of 1940's/50's looking or older without much distortion.

djdister
17-Mar-2014, 07:23
Thank you! So, for this kind of lens, what would be a good one for the speed graphic? Or should I go for one like this:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=171270572021#ht_153wt_1399 ?

Unless you have some special purpose in mind, I would suggest looking for the type of lens that normally was included with a Speed Graphic, such as a 135mm Graphex Optar, or perhaps a 150mm lens, rather than the longer focal length lenses you are looking at. Otherwise you will have problems with fitting the lens to the lens board and as pointed out, issues with the maximum bellows extension. Plus, the price for a 135mm Optar is generally less than a Schneider lens.

Wayne Aho
17-Mar-2014, 08:13
I have that same lens on an old glass-slide projector, sitting in the attic. Might try the lens out someday, but it doesn't appear to be worth the asking price (in my opinion).

Rhodes
17-Mar-2014, 08:20
My camera has the normal lens that come with it (the 127mm ektar, I think). I just want a LF lens more portrait oriented.

Drew Bedo
17-Mar-2014, 08:20
I have used a Wollensak 15" f5.6 on my little Wista (its a beast on this little camera). Infinity focus is at ~9 inches. I understood that these were designed for use on the Graphics.

djdister
17-Mar-2014, 09:52
My camera has the normal lens that come with it (the 127mm ektar, I think). I just want a LF lens more portrait oriented.

Okay, so overall focal length and shutter size remains a consideration on a Speed Graphic. You might look for one of the shorter Wollensak Verito/Veritar diffused focus lenses (classic portrait lenses), or maybe one of the *stigmat (Anastigmat, Velostigmat, etc) lenses for a vintage look, keeping in mind the max shutter size and focal length of the Speed Graphic bellows.

Leigh
17-Mar-2014, 10:46
Also consider the overall length of the lens.

The Speed Graphic and its brethren were designed to close with the lens mounted.
This limits the length on both sides of the lensboard.

- Leigh

Will Frostmill
17-Mar-2014, 12:22
I've never owned a Speed Graphic, but I've looked in to portrait length lenses for them. According to one source, bellows draw stops at 12.5 inches. A 12 inch lens will be at 12 inches when focused at infinity, leaving not enough additional draw to focus much closer. I did calculate that a 10 inch lens (254mm)will be at 11.6 inches, when focused at 6 feet, giving a field of view of about 2 feet by 2.5 feet. But, I may have done my math wrong, because that seems a bit close, and a bit wide.

One useful rule of thumb is to take the 35mm equivalent focal length, and multiply it by 3. An 80mm portrait lens would be roughly equivalent to a 240mm LF lens, or a 9-inch lens. (85mm is like 10inches).

As for a lens with a vintage look, it kind of depends on which era. 1850-1920 soft, dreamy focus? A meniscus lens. Late 1800's sharp in the center, swirls on the edges, a petzval. Pre 1920's styles: doublets, triplets. 1930-1950's 'style', uncoated Tessar. There are tricks and traps here - this kind of lens nerdery gets complex fast.

The very best thing you can do for yourself is to go look at the images posted in the image sharing forum. There is a lot of excellent work, done with every kind of lens, helpfully labeled with the name of the lens, and threads helpfully sorted by subject.

Keep looking, keep asking us questions, and good luck!

Jim Jones
17-Mar-2014, 15:41
The Ektar f/7.7 203mm lens permits the camera to close with the lens attached. On a Crown Graphic it will focus down to almost 1:1 magnification. 200mm is a good length for many portraits. However, its relative small aperture isn't as good at throwing the background out of focus as wide aperture portrait lenses, and its image is sharper than some of those older lenses that some photographers prefer. There are other modern lenses in that focal length with similar performance.

Rhodes
17-Mar-2014, 15:58
Thank you all. Let's see if I can summarize the answers. There is not much problem if the camera can not the closed with a bigger lens, because I can let her open when the lens is mount and just stay were I have the cameras, or after I take the pictures I change the lens, etc. In terms of vintage look, well a 1850-1920 soft, dreamy focus; a meniscus lens; late 1800's sharp in the center, swirls on the edges, a petzval. Pre 1920's styles: doublets, triplets. :rolleyes: 30's beyond look does not pull me, in terms of LF.
I will look for a lens, having in consideration what you all said and any questions or doubts I will post here.

jp
17-Mar-2014, 17:16
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/12892369545/
is an option too.