Using an Ektar lens for Large Format

[Ned Fenimore]

Hello,

I have a question about a Kodak lens I would like to use in a view camera. I'd like to use the 100mm Kodak Ektar lens and supermatic shutter from a spare Kodak Medalist II medium format camera I own. Question one is whether anyone has use d this lens and shutter combination with a lens board? Question two - will this 100mm lens cover 4x5 photography with a standard view camera? I am looking at getting a Bender 4x5 view camera kit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Ned Fenimore

[Pete Andrews]

"Question two - will this 100mm lens cover 4x5 photography with a standard view camera?"A: No, which also makes question one a bit redundant.

[Alec Jones]

Well, it won't cover 4x5, but it would cover 2x3, so there's still hope if you can mount a roll film back on that camera.

[Kevin Crisp]

Ned: The above posts are right, it will not cover. The 127mm Ektar (available used as low as $75) will (barely) cover but delivers reasonable sharpness to the edges. If you want to use some of the features which make view cameras so enjoyable (i.e., movements) you'll need a lens with a bigger image circle.

[David A. Goldfarb]

On the other hand, that lens is an absolutely gorgeous lens, so use it for something else or use it in your 4x5" camera with a rollfilm back. I adapted one for 35mm use as a portrait lens. Bob Monaghan was kind enough to post a few of my test shots with the adapted lens on his medium-format website at:

http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/medalist/