PDA

View Full Version : Cheap (yeah, I know...) Wide Angle for 5x7?



William Barnett-Lewis
27-Dec-2012, 16:13
I recently got a 5x7 camera. I have 2 normals and a 300/4.5 longer focus lens. I'd like to find something that would be a bit wider than normal, say like a 127 is on a Speed Graphic, that covers 5x7.

As usual for me, my budget is generally non-existant so I have to sell stuff to get stuff. As a result, cheaper is better.

The camera does have a focal plane shutter so lenses in barrel are good. :cool:

What should I be looking for? I'm new to this big of a format, so I'm feeling almost as confused as when I started in 4x5 a few years back.

Thanks!

Ari
27-Dec-2012, 16:24
Lenses in the 180mm range get little respect these days, so they are selling for very little; many of them will cover 5x7 easily, and most are in working shutters.
Fuji, Nikon, Schneider, Rodenstock, etc you can't go wrong.
Here is a list of modern 5x7 lenses with their respective image circles:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF5x7in.html

Brian C. Miller
27-Dec-2012, 16:29
The Wollensak 8x10 6-1/4" (159mm) wide angle would fit the bill nicely. They aren't that expensive.

Gem Singer
27-Dec-2012, 16:44
A wide angle lens that is ideal for 5x7 is the Nikon/Nikkor f8 120SW. However, it is large, expensive, and used ones are not readily available.

The 120SW focal length on 5x7 is approx. equivalent to a the 90 focal length on 4x5.

However, a lens, such as the Fujinon f5.6 150W, will cover the 5x7 format with a some movement capability.

The 150 focal length on 5x7 is approx. equivalent to the 110 focal length on 4x5.

150's that cover 5x7 are usually available at a reasonable prices.

See: www.keh.com

rfesk
27-Dec-2012, 16:52
I use a 135mm Wide-field Ektar in a focus mount on my homemade 5X7 P&S. Works great. This is equivalent to a 28mm lens on a 35mm camera.

William Barnett-Lewis
27-Dec-2012, 17:01
(forgot the quote about the Wollensak)

Hmm. Good thought. Which also reminds me, I've got an old Vellostigmatic Triple Convertable (6 1/2", 9 3/4" & 16 3/4") I should mount that and see what kind of coverage I get...

Thanks!

William Barnett-Lewis
27-Dec-2012, 17:03
150's that cover 5x7 are usually available at a reasonable prices.

See: www.keh.com

Good to know. I see a couple of possibles there for the kinds of coin I can scrounge.

Thanks!

William Barnett-Lewis
27-Dec-2012, 17:05
I use a 135mm Wide-field Ektar in a focus mount on my homemade 5X7 P&S. Works great. This is equivalent to a 28mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Heh. If I ever find a Wide field Ektar I can afford, I'd need two lens boards because I'd want that on my Crown Graphic as well :) Nice to know it'll work on this format too. Appreciate the information.

Kevin Crisp
27-Dec-2012, 17:19
150 G Claron -- small, cheap, lots of image circle.

Dan Fromm
27-Dec-2012, 17:35
If you're looking for a wide angle lens to use on the 13x18 Mentor you mentioned in http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?98371-Questions-about-a-Mentor-13x18-camera , check the camera's minimum extension before you even think about looking for a lens. This because there are very few retrofocus lenses for formats larger than 6x7 and LR SLRs have fairly deep mirror boxes.

As for sharing lenses between the Mentor and your Crown (4x5), yeah, sure, why not, if they have enough back focus to focus to infinity on the Mentor. But remember that a w/a lens on 5x7 is at best a short normal on 4x5.

William Barnett-Lewis
27-Dec-2012, 17:42
Yep, that's the camera that it would be for. At this point, I'm just looking for something a bit wider than normal and really, for my purposes, something old, uncoated & in barrel is what I'd really like. But the minimum extension is something for me to check, thank you for the reminder.

Edit: I went and checked the minimum extension and it's 10 cm from the back of the ground glass to the center of the front standard. I would think that would allow for the use of the 150's but I'd have real headaches with anything shorter.

Thanks!

John O'Connell
27-Dec-2012, 17:54
for my purposes, something old, uncoated & in barrel is what I'd really like. . . minimum extension and it's 10 cm.

Ah. Then you can use a 14cm f/18 Protar. They're cheap, small, and barrel only.

William Barnett-Lewis
27-Dec-2012, 18:25
Ah. Then you can use a 14cm f/18 Protar. They're cheap, small, and barrel only.

Ah, excellent. Now I have something to look for. Time to go see how good my google-fu is today.

Dan Fromm
27-Dec-2012, 18:30
Oh, my. Apologies. Y'r Mentor is a Speed Graphic equivalent, not a Graflex equivalent. Lotsa room for short lenses ... My error, sorry again.

William Barnett-Lewis
27-Dec-2012, 18:38
No problem, I appreciated the question because it saved me headaches later.

I'll tell you though that metal case makes a Speed look like a light weight!

Steve Hamley
27-Dec-2012, 19:17
Fujinon 125mm CM-W f/5.6 covers straight on, maybe up to 5mm rise.

Fujinon 135 CM-W covers about the same (smaller angle)

Fujinon 135mm W (single coated) covers with about an inch to spare in IC

Fujinon 150mm W (single coated) ditto

Most of these lenses can be had reasonably

Attached Fujinon 180mm-W (single coated) on 5x7 Ilford FP4+ in pyro.

Cheers, Steve86118

Steve Hamley
27-Dec-2012, 19:23
Attached, Shell station, Fujinon 125mm CM-W on 5x7 with a few mm rise, Ilford FP4+ in pyro.

Cheers, Steve

86119

C. D. Keth
27-Dec-2012, 19:41
It would afford you no lateral movements, but at least on paper a 90mm f8 super angulon covers 5x7.

Alan Gales
27-Dec-2012, 19:58
I paid less than $200.00 including shipping on Ebay for my Schneider Super Angulon 121mm f/8 lens in an accurate Compur shutter. It will just cover 8x10 with no movements.

jonreid
27-Dec-2012, 21:29
+1 for the Super Angulon 121mm f/8. Great wide angle lens for 5x7.

Ed Bray
28-Dec-2012, 03:49
+1 for the Super Angulon 121mm f/8. Great wide angle lens for 5x7.

I also have one which is great on 5x7 (lots of movements), a lot bigger than a 90mm f8 SA though, although with a minimum depth of 10cm the 90mm is probably out unless used on a recessed board.

William Barnett-Lewis
28-Dec-2012, 07:27
Thanks folks, I'm making a list of all these suggestions. It'll be the classic case of "whatever I find first" but at least with a list of good suggestions, I can know if I should bother with what I'm looking at.

William Barnett-Lewis
28-Dec-2012, 09:46
Spent a little time cutting, taping & glueing a temporary lensboard together and tried the old Wolly Velostigmat Triple Convertable with both elements installed (6 1/2" ~ 165mm) and I get light to the corners at f/6.3 so I'll play with that for starters.

But I'll snag any Protar or Super Angulon 121 I see that I can afford.

Thanks all!

Jim Andrada
30-Dec-2012, 23:40
115mm Grandagon will work just fine on 5 x 7. I use it on my 8 x 10 and it seems to just make it.

Kirk Fry
31-Dec-2012, 12:17
120 mm Angulon. Small, cheap, and covers well. NOT super angulon.

Carsten Wolff
2-Jan-2013, 22:33
Since you have a S-G and movements are no major consideration you may get away with more lenses than people suggest. Nice 5x7 wides are the Fuji-W (older version) 135mm. my widest 5x7 barrel lens would have to be the Wollensak 4" W.A. Raptar (or the old uncoated ExWA Velostigmat versions).