Why lens not 4x5 compatible?

[Aroundomaha]

I'm seriously shopping lenses for my Wista 4x5. Some of the ads I read on the auction site state that they're not sure if the lens will work on a 4x5 camera, and I'm curious whether this is grounded in reality or just a caveat on their part.

One of the focal lengths I'm looking at is 90mm so I'm curious if I need to exercise some caution on this.

Thank you,

David Elfering

[Sheldon N]

This has everything to do with the issue of coverage - defined by the angle at which the light is dispersed from the rear element of the lens, or the resultant size of that image circle when the lens is focused at infinity and stopped down to f/22. You need an image circle of roughly 155mm to cover a 4x5 negative, otherwise you would get dark corners on the negative, or in extreme cases a circular image on the center of the negative.

Here's some helpful reading material:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses-primer/

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses-wide.html

http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/kit.html

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses4x5.html

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF4x5in.html
(note the column "Image circle at f/22")

[Bob Gentile]

"... Some of the ads I read on the auction site state that they're not sure if the lens will work on a 4x5 camera..."
Are these "large format" lenses? Just curious... if they might not cover 4x5, do they say what format the lenses will cover?

[Ralph Barker]

David - many of the people selling photo gear on eBay are not even photographers, let alone LF photographers. As such, many may be unfamiliar with the specifics about the items they're selling, and are unwilling to make statements that might come back to haunt them.

The best approach, I think, is, as Sheldon suggested, to check the details about the lens on the home page here, or on other helpful sites, and limit the questions to the seller to those which can be answered without the technical background.

[Aroundomaha]

I went ahead and bought a used 150mm Fuji from Adorama. Not the most reputable seller on Ebay, but they appear to be ok. I was really eye balling the Rodenstocks and Schneiders, but the Fuji fit my budget and my need to get rolling in the next week.

Thank you to all for your help & advice.

[Oren Grad]

Are these "large format" lenses? Just curious... if they might not cover 4x5, do they say what format the lenses will cover?

Bob, there are 90mm lenses that won't cover 4x5 but will do fine on 2.25x3.25 sheet film and 6x9cm roll film formats. Some of these might also reach as far as 3.25x4.25 without quite making 4x5.

[Capocheny]

David,

Although there may be far more comprehensive (and prettier) charts and tables floating around out there... I tend to refer to this listing to ensure sufficient coverage for the format I want to use the lens on.

Take a peek:

http://www.egksystems.com/lenses/

Use it as a preliminary guide only...

Cheers

[Dan Fromm]

David,

Although there may be far more comprehensive (and prettier) charts and tables floating around out there... I tend to refer to this listing to ensure sufficient coverage for the format I want to use the lens on.

Take a peek:

http://www.egksystems.com/lenses/

Use it as a preliminary guide only...

CheersLive and learn. Until I visited that chart I had no idea that the 4x5 gate fit in a 162 mm circle.

[Ole Tjugen]

Live and learn. Until I visited that chart I had no idea that the 4x5 gate fit in a 162 mm circle.

It's smaller than that. Not only is the film slightly smaller than 4" by 5", but the holder blocks a little too. 153mm coverage is closer to real-life needs.

[Joseph O'Neil]

A nice web site to get some lens information is here

http://yandr.50megs.com/index1.htm

You'll notice it covers a lot more than just large format lenses, but by way of example, I can find stats for my red dot artar here, and WF Ektars.

Also, you have to be careful of some lens charts. According to a lot of charts, the image circle on my 210mm red dot artar is too small or barely large enough to cover 4x5. However, the above web page wil lead you to an old manual for Goerz lenses, and it states "my" lens is good to cover 4x6. I also find in real life use, that the stated lens coverage is sometimes conservative. I can get movments out of my artar just fine.

Yes, it can be and is confusing. I was looking for a 105mm lens last year. Nikon makes one - it will NOT cover 4x5, but the Fujinon one not onlyy will cover 4x5, but has room for movements. Both are good Japanese lenses, both are F5.6 lenses, but they are very different from each other.

It's almost if you find something you think you like and might buy, I would post a message here saying "hey, I am looking at buying an ABC 90mm super-duper-plasmat, is it any good?"

You'll get plenty of opinions real quick. :)

joe

[Bob Gentile]

Bob, there are 90mm lenses that won't cover 4x5 but will do fine on 2.25x3.25 sheet film and 6x9cm roll film formats. Some of these might also reach as far as 3.25x4.25 without quite making 4x5.
You're right, of course. For some reason, I tend to think of 4x5 as the "bottom end" of large format. My bad.