convertible lenses

[scott russell]

The longest lens i have for 4x5 is 150mm. Is there a good place to start when looking for convertible lenses? Keh doesn't seem to have a lot. any recommendations?

[Gene McCluney]

While they might not call them "convertable" any Schneider Symmar (not Symmar-S) is a true convertable and you can find these readily. Be very sure that you have enough bellows for a "converted" lens. Your 150mm (if convertable) would be about a 300, and actually take more bellows than a non-converted 300mm. Look back thru the online lists of LF lenses and look for Schneider Symmar (and not "Symmar-S)

But if I were you, I would just look for longer focal length lenses, rather than convertable ones. They will be sharper than a converted lens.

[Walter Calahan]

How about http://cgi.ebay.com/Turner-Reich-Gun...QQcmdZViewItem

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/TURNER-REICH-TRI...QQcmdZViewItem

If your pockets are deep, there's this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-Nikkor-T-E...QQcmdZViewItem

But what do you want to do with longer glass.

You might simply need a 240 or 270 mm. Have you tried longer glass from a friend to see what fits your vision? I mean a quick drive out the Carroll County with a lunch stop at Baugher's might be in order. Their pie is excellent.

[lenser]

You also might search for either the Acuton or Caltar 215mm. They appear to be one and the same from Ilex and usually go for somewhere around $150 at the auction site. A great convertible lens with fine sharpness at every focal length.

[Jan Pedersen]

In addition to the 215/355 4.8 Acuton there is also a 150/247 4.8 Acuton both fine performers. the 150/247 covers 5x7 and is a bit more rare than the 215/355

[Turner Reich]

Find a TR 4x5 triple convertible.

[seawolf66]

May I suggest you go to the following web site and do some reading thru the vast booklets of lens this has to offer ; you will find that some mfg's state that their doppel or double anastigmat lens are convertable; I do not profess any knowledge on that subject; so go here cameraeccentric.com and have fun learning:

[jnantz]

you might poke around for a symmar 210/370.
it is a nice lens, as long as you have enough draw for the 370 part ..

[Ole Tjugen]

Here's a little table of Symmars with focal length of rear cell and minimum extension for infinity focus with the rear cell alone:

100 / 175 - 215
135 / 235 - 285
150 / 265 - 325
180 / 315 - 380
210 / 370 - 415
240 / 420 - 500
300 / 500 - 610
360 / 620 - 760

as you can see you need quite a lot more bellows draw with a converted lens than with a normal lens of the same focal length.

[Darryl Baird]

re: "240 / 420 - 500"

So my new 240/420 Symmar will require 1000mm of bellows to shoot 1:1?

That puts a tiny damper on my purchase ( but then again I really wanted the shutter for the 305mm G-Claron, so the Symmar lens is a bonus)