Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18

Thread: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Mar 2024
    Posts
    7

    Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    I am looking for good portrait non antique lens for an 8x10 wet plate with a 5x7 adapter back. not techy on this. would like under 1k.. thanks for any help.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Sheridan, Colorado
    Posts
    2,457

    Re: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    Do you currently have any lenses?

  3. #3
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Stuck inside of Tucson with the Neverland Blues again...
    Posts
    6,269

    Re: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    300mm f/4.5 Tessar, perfect for 5x7 portraiture, traditionally a little short for 8x10 portraiture, but you can pick up a longer lens later. Coated is better, and you don't need a shutter. The Russian Industars are usually around $100, Xenars and others around $200.
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Collinsville, CT USA
    Posts
    2,332

    Re: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    300mm f/4.5 Wollensak Velostigmat Series II in a Betax No. 5. With or without diffusion settings of the front element... personally never liked this optic's diffusion settings. Some people swear by them though. Traded my Velostigmat with diffusion settings for a pretty much mint one with out the diffusion settings. Never have I had a problem with Betax shutters and that's since the late 1970s.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Tokyo, Japan
    Posts
    316

    Re: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    I am not sure when you say non-antique lenses, but here are some lenses for 8x10 and 5x7 portrait.

    For under 1K,
    Xenar 300mm f4.5 in compound V or f5.6 in copal 3
    Heliar 300mm f4.5 in compound V
    Plasmat 300mm f5.6 in copal 3 from Nikon(W), Schneider(Non L), Fuji(CM or non CM, not C), and Rodenstock(N series)

    Certainly you are not asking the old brass petzvals, right?

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Posts
    383

    Re: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    projector lenses (non-zoom). fast and cheap(ish). buhl, leitz, kodak, lots of options. image circle usually roughly matches focal length. russian projector lenses are dirt cheap but some are just unusable junk. industar-37 300mm f/4.5 is popular for wet plate. enlarger lenses aren't the fastest, but there are some really sharp f/5.6 lenses out there.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Mar 2024
    Posts
    7

    Re: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    i have a studio century 8x10... i have two lenses one that needs repair...still trying to figure out if they are working lenses. both lenses are about 100 yrs old and i would like to use modern lenses. i have several inserts to make several sizes of plates so i am asking this particular size 5x7

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Mar 2024
    Posts
    7

    Re: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    interesting. i imagine whatever is chosen a lens board has to be made with the proper falange.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Mar 2024
    Posts
    7

    Re: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    i will look at these, thank you

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Mar 2024
    Posts
    7

    Re: Lenses for 5x7 wet plate recommendations needed

    Quote Originally Posted by mhayashi View Post
    I am not sure when you say non-antique lenses, but here are some lenses for 8x10 and 5x7 portrait.

    For under 1K,
    Xenar 300mm f4.5 in compound V or f5.6 in copal 3
    Heliar 300mm f4.5 in compound V
    Plasmat 300mm f5.6 in copal 3 from Nikon(W), Schneider(Non L), Fuji(CM or non CM, not C), and Rodenstock(N series)

    Certainly you are not asking the old brass petzvals, right?
    yeah, when i say non antique i am looking for a more modern lens that can provide more depth of field and when i buy i can be guaranteed it is in good shape.

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 2-May-2021, 16:48
  2. Need recommendations for 5x7 wet plate holder
    By NCAmother in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 5-May-2020, 18:30
  3. Recommendations for a 1,000+mm lens for 11x14 needed
    By Greg in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 18-Oct-2017, 09:18
  4. Recommendations for B&W negative intensifier needed.
    By Greg in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 25-Aug-2017, 14:54
  5. Any recommendations for Arca-Swiss plate for 4x5?
    By chris kleihege in forum Gear
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 26-Sep-2016, 13:06

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •