Wide Angle Lens for 2 1/4" X 3 1/4"

[sanking]

What modern lenses of 65mm and less cover the 2 1/4" X3 1/4" format with some movements.

Sandy

[IanG]

Super Angulon, Grandagon, those are my choices as I prefer to stick with German lenses but the Nikons etc are excellent as well.

Ian

[Dan Fromm]

SA, plain and XL, Apo-Grandagon are about it in modern lenses under 65 mm. If you'll go with ancient, the 60/14 Perigraphe is outstanding and much underrated and underpriced. Oh, and don't forget the 53/4.5 Biogon.

I haven't looked recently, but I think Fuji and Nikon also have 65s.

Sandy, which camera do you want to use y'r short lens on?

[sanking]

SA, plain and XL, Apo-Grandagon are about it in modern lenses under 65 mm. If you'll go with ancient, the 60/14 Perigraphe is outstanding and much underrated and underpriced. Oh, and don't forget the 53/4.5 Biogon.

I haven't looked recently, but I think Fuji and Nikon also have 65s.

Sandy, which camera do you want to use y'r short lens on?

Both 65mm SA and 65mm Fujinons are pretty common and not very expensive. Not much choice below 65mm, however, and all choices are on the pricey side.

Lens will be used with Calumet 6X9 roll film holder in a 4X5 back on a small view camera.

I assume the 65mm SA and 65mm Fujinon SW have a lot more coverage than an older lens like the 65mm Angulon?

Sandy

[Dan Fromm]

Lens will be used with Calumet 6X9 roll film holder in a 4X5 back on a small view camera.

I assume the 65mm SA and 65mm Fujinon SW have a lot more coverage than an older lens like the 65mm Angulon?

Sandy

To the extent that there's a consensus on them, it is that 65/6.8 Angulons and Raptars/Optars and other 65 mm +/- f/6.5 +/- 4/4 double Gausses barely cover 2x3. They all seem to be more-or-less functionally equivalent. Modern lenses have much larger image circles.

I haven't paid much attention for a while, but I have the impression that 47/8 SAs aren't that expensive. I think they're in #00.

I recently looked up a couple of modern short lenses' flange focal distances and took notes. 47 SA, 51 mm +/-, 47 SAXL, 59 mm, 45 Apo Grandy 55.5 mm, 35 Apo Grandy 43.2. Depending on y'r camera, you may have to budget for a recessed board and bag bellows.

If you want interestingly shorter than 47 and covers 2x3, the only modern choice -- 35 Apo Grandy -- is quite pricey. I'm not sure there are any ancient choices at all. The unfindable #0 f/14 Perigraphe is a 45, there's an unfindable 45/9 CZJ Goerz Dagor and an unfindable 40/18 Protar and I think -- may be mistaken -- that's it.

[Jody_S]

If you want to go truly ancient, the original Dallmeyer (1866-, from VM) WAR came in a very short focal length as well, a 2" f15. Wray's shortest (pre- 1895 or so) was 3.5", most others started around 4".

[Roger Hesketh]

Jody, Dallmeyer also made a 60mm Wide Angle Anastigmat . The lens is similar to a Cooke series VIIb .Nice lens, sharp and coated but only available in barrel which limits it's usefulness. Works nicely on a Miniature Speed Graphic.

[IanG]

Sandy, I use my 65mm f8 Super Angulon on my Wista mainly for 5x4 work it only just covers the format, however it's fine with a 6x9 roll film back. However I need to tilt the back and also the front standard to prevent the focus rail being in the image. While this is fiddly the first times it quickly beconmes routine and easy. You will need to see how your camera performs like this.

Beware the early 65mm Super Angulons in the Compur #00 shutters as they have no T or preview function, they are also small and awkward. Mine's Linhof select and would be fine on a rangefinder baby Linhof but less practical for very regular use on a 5x4 where you need to use the focus scree.

Ian

[ImSoNegative]

a very good 65mm lens that i had was a caltar 65mm IIn 4.5 never used it with my roll film back though, sold it a while back, my favorite wide that i used with 6x9 was a 47mm super angulon, would almost cover 6x12. it was an f8 lens in a compur 00 shutter which was a pain but it was a great lens.

[Drew Wiley]

Schneider has a 60 Apo-Digitar which is probably a lot sharper than a conventional view lens and with enough coverage for a little wiggle room, but way above my idea of budget.
I'd think the biggest problem with such a short FL on 6x9 would simply be critical focus
on a typical field camera. I'd want something with hard locks and fine helical gearing.