11-inch or 280mm non-tele lenses ?

[Ken Lee]

Are there - or were there - any normal (non-tele) lenses that are of focal length 11 inches or 280mm ?

Thanks !

[Dan Fromm]

Exactly 280 mm? Why such precision?

There are certainly normal 270s and 300s, see http://www.graflex.org/lenses/lens-spec.html. Also look in the Vade Mecum for 11in, it shows some.

[C. D. Keth]

I have never heard of a 280mm. There is a 270mm g-claron.

[Ken Lee]

For 5x7 I find 240mm a bit too short, and 300mm a bit too long. It sounds silly I admit.

[Ken Lee]

Is the 270mm G-Claron useable as both a taking lens and an enlarging lens, or are there several models ?

[William Whitaker]

10 3/4" was a fairly common focal length and is very close to the length you're asking about. I believe it was intended for whole plate. They seem to show up all the time. I have a Velostigmat 1A, I believe, which is 11" FL, but I'll have to double-check.

[E. von Hoegh]

For 5x7 I find 240mm a bit too short, and 300mm a bit too long. It sounds silly I admit.

The Dagors, G-Clarons, Artars, and a few others were made in 10 3/4" / 270mm focal lengths. Not 280mm, but right in the middle of 240 - 300.

[Steve Goldstein]

There's also a Computar/Graphic-Kowa 270mm, in a Copal 3S shutter. They're probably overkill, having coverage way beyond what you could reasonably use for 5x7.

[goodfood]

Leica 280 mm f/4.8 Telyt for M with visoflex. I own this lens. Unscrew the lens unit and use an adapter to shutter. Sure can cover 5X7. The 135mm f/4.5 Hektor can cover 4X5 without dark corner with beautiful Leica colour.

[C. D. Keth]

Is the 270mm G-Claron useable as both a taking lens and an enlarging lens, or are there several models ?

I've never enlarged with one but it's a great taking lens. Very sharp like the other g-clarons. I have to imagine it would be a great enlarging lens, too.