Originally Posted by
Dan Fromm
Ah, Daniel, so you want a 125 mm +/- lens faster than f/4.5 or so that will cover 4x5. Speed isn't a problem, just remember the 125/2 Xenon, but coverage is. Most of the lenses that are fast enough for you are double Gauss types that cover at most 50 degrees. Do the arithmetic and you'll see that this isn't enough to cover 4x5.
If a fast 150 mm lens will do for you, accumulate your small monetary units and wait for a 6"/1.9 Dallmeyer Super Six to come to market. Or wait for one of the large 6"/2.8 Elcans (s/n begins with 180-) or equivalent aerial camera lenses to turn up. None of these is inexpensive.
Don't get a 6"/2.8 Elcan whose s/n begins with 138-; these bon-bons cover only nominal 6x6. Also avoid 6"/2.5 Aero Ektars and the B&H equivalent; these little delights seem to have been delivered in barrels without diaphragms.
You could also go down in format to nominal 6x9. Then, if you have the money and can find one you could get a 4"/2.0 TTH Anastigmat as fitted to, e.g., Vinten F-95 aerial cameras, or a KOMZ Uran-27 as fitted to, e.g., AFA-39 aerial cameras. I have one of each; both cover nominal 6x9 wide open but are a bit soft wide open, really want to be stopped down a bit. The TTH is better at large apertures. Both work on 2x3 Speed Graphics.
Sweet dreams, happy hunting,
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