Lens reccomendation for graflex RB?

[Lightbender]

I am thinking about picking up my RB Super D again..

The regular lens, the 190mm ektar, is a bit too sharp.. Does anyone have a reccomendation on a lens 180mm-300mm focal length that would be good for portraits?

NOT looking for something that is wildly swirly bokeh or razor thin plane of focus.. but something that has a nice transition and bright enough to be used on a RB.
THX

[pierre506]

8 3/4 in VERITO~

[Mark Sawyer]

A set of Softar filters might take the edge off the Ektar while still letting you keep the automatic diaphragm.

[Lightbender]

Verito.. out of my 'fun' price range. Would love one though.

Softar filters: hmm havent given them much thought.. Do they have standard filter threads or will I need a series ? adapter?

[AtlantaTerry]

I was also going to suggest the use of soft focus filters.

What filter size do you have? Series something?

You can make your own soft focus filters. One way is to go to a hardware store with your filter holder then purchase a round replacement glass for flashlights. Then put dots of clear fingernail polish on it. When dried, the dots become small lenses. The effect of the plain cheap glass and the dots will break up any light coming into the lens. The amount of dots and their sizes will have an effect on the image.

If you purchase several round flashlight lenses you can experiment with them. Try making swirls with the clear fingernail polish, the out of focus highlights will take on the swirl effect.

If you have a filter holder that accepts square or rectangular filters you can have your local glass shop cut pieces of glass to fit. Then do as above with them. I have a Lindahl matte box that accepts both 3" and 4" square filters so had a glass shop cut a bunch of 4" square filters for me.

[Will Frostmill]

Another possibility is to add a 1+ diopter close up lens to the front filter ring. The focal length will shorten, but the overall SA will increase, potentially giving a mild softness and glow.

I believe that the 190mm lens is a Tessar formula. If the shutter permits, you could loosen the front element and bring it forward a bit to increase the softness. This too will slightly change the focal length.

[Lightbender]

The 190 does appear to be a tessar.. the f5.6 aperture is an odd size. There are no threads. Outside barrel seems to be about 43mm.

[monsta]

the 8.5 inch, i think it is, f2.9 pentac is nice on my 5x7 graflex.

[jnantz]

A set of Softar filters might take the edge off the Ektar while still letting you keep the automatic diaphragm.

+1

i use a 21cm tessar ... 10" teleoptars are nice as well..

[Will Frostmill]

The 190 does appear to be a tessar.. the f5.6 aperture is an odd size. There are no threads. Outside barrel seems to be about 43mm.

If it's in the original shutter, it probably took push-on Series filters. You can pick up a Series adapter that pushes on to the front and has threads on the other end. I'm curious, how is f/5.6 an odd size? I remember that some of the longer Ektars were f/4.3 at the largest, which I considered an odd size.