Has there ever been a retrofocus wide that covers 4x5/9x12 or larger?

[ic-racer]

You might look into creating your own retrofocus lenses by altering the lens formula with a high-quality converter.

I ran into similar issues looking for short lenses that would clear the shutter and prism of some of my movie cameras. In the picture I'm using a 0.5x adapter to create a 2.5mm lens. In fact, in the cine industry, wide angle adapters are common place.

[RedGreenBlue]

Yes, I have one for 4x5 format. I've known of 3 others. The focal length is 133mm and back focal distance is 215mm That would allow infinity focus on a 4x5 Graflex body. They are as common as hen's teeth unfortunately.

I also have the Curtis 90mm retrofocus lens for 2x3 format. I haven't seen the back focal distance of the 90mm lens mentioned in the Curtis literature. I could measure it but I haven't. My photos are of the 133mm, previous owner's of the 90mm.







Scott

[Dan Fromm]

Following up on Corran's posts, my 75mm f/6.3 Komura has a measured-by-me flange focal distance of right around 100mm.

That's a bit short for a 2x3 Graflex, and flange-focal distance isn't all that matters. Back focus is the real killer.

[Dan Fromm]

Yes, I have one for 4x5 format. I've known of 3 others. The focal length is 133mm and back focal distance is 215mm That would allow infinity focus on a 4x5 Graflex body.

That's really neat, also new to me, so I don't mean to disparage it but although 133 mm isn't much wider (59 degrees on 4x5) than Oren's 190 (43 degrees), it isn't particularly wide for 4x5. More of a short normal lens like the 127 Ektar or 135 Optar/Raptar.

Similarly, 90 mm an 2x3 is really a shortish normal lens for that format. Wonderful for a one-shot color camera.

Thanks for mentioning it,

Dan

[Oren Grad]

Oren, what is the minimum FFD on the 9x12 or 4x5 Graflex SLRs?

Couldn't get the board out for an exact measurement just now, but my Super D looks to be somewhere in the 170-180mm range.

Yes, I have one for 4x5 format. I've known of 3 others. The focal length is 133mm and back focal distance is 215mm That would allow infinity focus on a 4x5 Graflex body. They are as common as hen's teeth unfortunately.

Scott, that is spectacular - thank you for sharing!

That's really neat, also new to me, so I don't mean to disparage it but although 133 mm is much wider (59 degrees on 4x5) than Oren's 190 (43 degrees), it isn't particularly wide for 4x5. More of a short normal lens like the 127 Ektar or 135 Optar/Raptar.

Call it wide or semiwide - I'd use the latter term. Either way, 135 is my most important focal length for 4x5. I'd be thrilled to have one that would work on a Graflex. The lens we've just been shown is unobtainium, so odds are still overwhelming that it's never going to happen. But I'm surprised and delighted to see an existence proof, at least.