Classic Lens for 7x17

[Bruce E. Rathbun]

I have decided after 12 years of LF photography to pursue the 7x17 format. In my opinion the largest obstacle seems to be the lens selection. From the limited r esearch that I have done a classic lens looks like the solution. I am not aware of the choices and features of some of the older lenses. I do use a Kodak 10" an d 14" Commercial Ektars and they do a fantastic job. I do not know for sure what the image circle of the 14" Ektar is but if it did cover the 7x17 that would be a good choice for a general lens. I think that to start out with I would like a lens somewhere around the 14" length. Can anyone help out with some suggestions ? The price range I am looking into is the $1,000-$1,500.

[Jorge Gasteazoro]

Oh Men Bruce with a $1000 to $1500 limit the sky is the limit for you! Look check out my thread about a Modern lens for a 12x20 and all them lenses apply to you. I settled on the Nikon 450 M simply because it has the same filter size as all my other lenses, it covers 12x20 and it came out cheap on E bay. but at 467 mm diagonal you have plenty of choices, the Fujinons 350 and 450 would work, the Schnieders G claron 300 and 355 would work, heck men I think your problem is not going to be finding a lens but which lens of the many available. BTW I think also the Apo Ronars will work for you, but dont take my word for it.

[Jeff Buckels]

Check out www.bostick-sullivan.com -- The site includes quite complete data on lenses for ultra large format. -JB

[David A. Goldfarb]

Also check out this table of new and classic lens specs:

http://www.f32.net/Services/Equipment/Lenses/lensspecs.html

[Bruce E. Rathbun]

I made a small error on the first post. The amount that I would like to spend is $500 to $1,000. This might make a small difference. I did have a question for Jorge. Does that Nikon 450 have an image circle of 467mm? If that is the case that would be a good choice.

[Jorge Gasteazoro]

Bruce the 450 Nikon has an image circle of 440 at f/22, BUT! you will not be using the lens this open, at f/64 to f/90 the image circle goes to 600....way more than what you need!

BTW the fujinon 450 has an image circle of 486 at f/22 but only closes to f/64 as opposed to the Nikon that goes all the way down to f/128

remember these are all contact prints, so difraction plays a small role when printing and opposed to when you are enlarging.

[Bruce E. Rathbun]

Another question for Jorge. The Nikon is sounding better and better all the time. When the Nikon is wide open for focus does the image cover all of the ground glass for focusing? I have used several lenses that when stopped down cover the film. These lenses would not cover the ground glass to focus while wide open. This could have just been a cheaper lens. I am not sure. I do wish to have coverage when I focus. Does this make sense or did I just hit a fluke a few times?

[Jorge Gasteazoro]

Actually you got it Bruce, the lens will not cover the entire frame when focusing wide open, but think about it in your case you are only missing 20 mm....heck this is nothing! (well maybe a little but more since you have 440 mm at f-22, at f9 maybe you have 420)imagine you frame your shot and you focus on the middle of the image.....on the sides you will miss 1 cm for each side ...heck I wish it was that easy for me...:-)) OTH if you get the Fuji 450C you will have the entire image circle when you focus since it has 486 right from the start.

[William Marderness]

The Fujinon 450 C does stop down to f 128, but the f-stops are not marked past f 64. One could get the additional markings engraved on the scale.

[Carl Weese]

While the Nikkor 450 is an excellent lens, for some tastes (like mine) it is far too long for 7x17 format. My general lens for the 717 is a 305mm G-Claron. At f/32 and below it has more coverage than my Korona camera has rise so is much more than adequate. Sharpness and contrast are all you could want. Once in a while when I want more "reach" I use a 16.5" (~420mm) Dagor than usually lives on my 1220.