Help Me Pick A Lens: 5x7 Home Portrait Graflex

[David A. Goldfarb]

The Heliar will be a fine lens, but will it fit the lensboard? I have my doubts, if it uses 4" lensboards like the 5x7" Press Graflex.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

JP,

The 305/2.5 Carl Meyer Speed Anastigmat is a repackaged 12" Aero-Ektar; not the best portrait lens. I think the Universal Heliar would be perfect.

[J. P. Mose]

The HP Graflex uses 5x5 boards so the fit would not be a problem. The bellows draw is another story and limits the use of any lens longer than 12" (cannot focus close enough for head shots). A 10" or 11" may be more suitable but I would prefer perspective better from a 12". I also have a 8x10 enlarger so I can crop in for head shots.

David....I have been on the lookout for a nice 5x8 lens for my Press Graflex (it came with a 330mm Cook Anastigmat). How would you compare a Kodak Anastigmat, B&L Tessar and Zeiss Tessar? Are they all about the same?

[J. P. Mose]

I mean Cooke!!!

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've never tried the Cooke anastigmat, and there's so much variation in Tessars that it's hard to make any prediction without trying the lens. Here's a shot I've posted before with the B&L 5x8, which turned out to be a much better lens than I expected, and they're usually pretty cheap--

[Ernest Purdum]

The "Universal" version of the Heliar has a variable soft focus adjustment. Judging the quality of soft-focus lenses is very subjective, but many people consider this a very desirable lens for portraits. Being coated, of couirse, would be expected to run the price up significantly.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Hi there,

J.P. Mose;

"One opportunity I have is a 12" f4.5 Universal Heliar but it is coated."

If it says 12 in not 30cm it's before 1920, not factory coated. Buy it anyway but check the coating.

Good luck with it.

[Glenn Thoreson]

No. 33 Kodak Anastigmat. I have an extra one if interested.

[J. P. Mose]

Glenn,

A No. 33 Kodak Anastigmat is 7 1/2" in focal length. 10" is the shortest recommended lens for an HP Graflex due to the large mirror (larger than a Press Graflex mirror due to revolving back). Thanks anyway.

Regards,

JP Mose

[Glenn Thoreson]

Ah, yes. Forgot about the mirror. I have a 33 on my 5X7 Speed Graphic and, for that application, it works beautifuly. Good luck with your search.