6x9 Monorail - Lens Recommendations

[ozphoto]

Wanted adverts work well here Nanette, might be worth a try

Ian

Thanks Ian - will do.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Next job - choose a wide angle lens. Seen a few on eB*** that appear to be well suited to my needs, plus I'm keeping my eyes on the Photrio classifieds and several camera stores that have listed online too. Biggest decision is probably how fast I need it to be - buildings don't move too much,nor do landscapes. Seen Nikons, Fujis, Schneiders and a couple of Wollensakes and Horsemans: so many on offer, I'm like a kid in a candy store.

You don't want a Wollensak. They made only one w/a lens for 2x3, the 65/6.8 Raptar, also sold by Graflex as Optar. It has marginal coverage.

You also don't want a 65/8 Angulon. Marginal coverage, again.

Be careful with Horseman lenses. Good lenses, but if for Horseman cameras their shutters don't have cable release sockets or PC terminals. Cable releases screw into a bracket on the lens board (won't fit 6x9 AS) and their PC terminals are also on the board.

You want a more modern lens, viz., a Super Angulon or similar for shorter than 80 mm. The f/4.5 65 and 75 mm lenses are for 4x5, have more coverage than you'll probably need. The 80/6.3 Wide Field Ektar is a fine medium w/a for 2x3 is you want a medium w/a. For more extreme, Apo-Grandagons (35, 45, 55 mm, all f/4.5) and the 47 Super Angulon (f/8, f/5.6) are likely. FWIW, I use my 47/5.6 SA much more than my 35/4.5 Apo Grandy, which is really quite a specialized optic. In my experience, 65 mm and longer lenses don't really need a concentric center filter on 2x3, shorter lenses do.

Consult https://1drv.ms/x/s!AggQfcczvHGNkFAX-mLyj6QZlHeQ for lenses 65 mm and shorter that cover at least 2x3.

 

[ozphoto]

Thanks for the heads up on what to avoid, Dan, and the link as well. Will now spend quite some time pouring over your list and seeing what matches my hip pocket vs. wants. Think I'll start out with a 24/28mm equivalent as I love these for landscapes - a wider one will need to wait until I have some more $$$ to burn at this stage (unless Santa leaves a wad of cash under the tree!)

These two have caught my eye and (I think) listed on your spreadsheet.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Schneid...rge-format-lens-mounting-options/113465131316
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/233059850180?ViewItem=&item=233059850180

 

[Dan Fromm]

Nanette, I have and have used a 65/8 Ilex. This is very much like a 65/8 SA. Good lens, and so is the SA. Very uncommon, don't waste time waiting for one to turn up. Mine is in a somewhat flaky shutter. A 65/8 Fuji SW came to me as part of a bundle, I haven't used it yet.

You can't go wrong with either if the lens and shutter are in good order.

24 mm on 35 mm still is equivalent to 55 mm on 2x3. 28 mm equates to 65 mm. I think the closest affordable lens you can get to 55 mm for 2x3 would be a 58/5.6 Konica Hexanon or Omegon (same prescription, apparently different manufacturers) for Koni Omega/Rapid Omega cameras. I have one, its very good and covers 2x3 but since it was made to cover 6x7 I doubt it will allow the movements you think you need. And you'll have to reshutter it, its native shutter is designed to be released by the camera body.

 

[Ian Grant]

A comment on the 65mm f8 Super Angulon's - be aware, (or maybe beware), many are in the small awkward Compur #00 shutter, there's no preview lever, parts have been unavailable for many years. I have one that I use for 5x4 which it barely covers but it's been useful on the odd occasion and I've made some great images not possible with a 90mm, I can live with the Compur #00 shutter as it gets such rare use.

The Compur #00 was also used for the earliest 90mm f8 Super Angulons, not a shutter for a lens you'd use a lot.

Ian

 

[Dan Fromm]

Good point, Ian. "T" with a locking cable release is the somewhat awkward solution to a lack of press focus.

 

[ozphoto]

Thanks, guys - your input helps me greatly, especially the tip on the #00 shutter. I will need to get another lensboard for the 65mm, would it need to be recessed? I do have a wide-bellows as well if that makes a difference?

Another Super Angulon is for sale also, although this one has a Compur shutter, no board - no big deal I have to buy anyway.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Schneider-Super-Angulon-65mm-f8-Lens-Compur-Shutter-4x5-av/192730973600

Both this one and the Fujinon are in a good price bracket for me; final question: of the two, which do you suggest would be the better option or are they both great choices?

Large format is a whole new learning curve for me, so please excuse what are probably very basic questions.

 

[Dan Fromm]

You shouldn't need a recessed board. I dislike them, operating shutter controls in a recessed board can be difficult. The bag bellows will make movements easier with short lenses, may be needed to allow focusing an ultrawide to infinity. 65mm is not ultrawide for 2x3. I use my 35 Apo Grandagon on a 2x3 Century Graphic and on a hybrid Cambo (4x5 rear standard, 2x3 front standard, tapered bellows between) with a home-made bag bellows. I'm not sure it will focus with Cambo's own tapered bag bellows.

Later 65/8 SAs were sold in #0 shutters. These have press focus (preview) and "T". As Ian pointed it, it is useful. As I pointed out, not absolutely necessary. But then, I'm stuck with a number of lenses in #00s so I may be rationalizing.

Here's a 65/8 SA in #0: https://www.ebay.com/itm/nice-Schne...-for-large-format/233026790523?epid=101704345 The stigmata are the "T" speed (see the second photo) and and stop-down lever (black triangle at ~ 4 o'clock in the first photo). #00s have speeds running B, 1, ...

What to do? Its really your decision, depends on how soon you want to have a lens, how much you're willing to spend and how willing you are to put up with lack of press focus. The Fujinon you're looking at is more expensive and functionally equivalent to the SA. A less expensive one will turn up sooner or later. How much less expensive? How soon? I dunno and I dunno. They are both choices and at reasonable prices. If you get the SA and decide you really want press focus, you should be able to resell the lens for at worse a small loss.

If it were my decision, I'd probably get the Fujinon. Either way, find a friendly camera store or repairman that can test the shutter's speeds. They don't have to be within 30% of nominal, although that would be nice, but they have to be consistent. If they're consistently off, make a calibration sheet. If they're inconsistent, the shutter should be overhauled. Used lenses are often in shutters that need to be overhauled. Clean, lubricate, adjust.

About press focus. The usual shooting procedure is, starting with a camera that doesn't have a film holder in the back: open shutter; open aperture wide; focus; compose; close shutter; set shutter speed as desired if the lens doesn't have press focus; cock shutter; stop down to shooting aperture; insert film holder; check that shutter is closed and cocked; withdraw dark slide; shoot; reinsert dark slide; withdraw film holder. If the lens has press focus, the shutter can be opened and the aperture opened with the shutter set at shooting speed and the shutter doesn't have to be set to shooting speed after it is closed. If the lens doesn't have press focus, to open the shutter, set to B, cock, fire shutter with locking cable release. To close the shutter, unlock cable release. The procedure for closing the shutter when it has press focus varies, may require moving the press focus lever. Many steps either way.

 

[ozphoto]

You shouldn't need a recessed board. I dislike them, operating shutter controls in a recessed board can be difficult.

Agree 110%!

Thanks also for explaining the "press focus" - I'm pretty sure this is the method I used throughout college and that used by the photographers I have assisted in the past. I'm confident I can also get my head around a "non-PF" version; if nothing else, it would slow me down, even more, to concentrate on the image I'm shooting rather than the mechanics involved.

What to do? Its really your decision, depends on how soon you want to have a lens, how much you're willing to spend and how willing you are to put up with lack of press focus.

I'm not in an enormous hurry. However, I wanted to get as much info before purchase so that I have a reasonably good idea of what to look for. i.e., which lenses are good and which I should steer well clear of.

Shall keep looking for now, and print out your list to compare with what I see online either on e*** or camera store listings. Sadly there aren't any stores in my hometown that stock used LF gear (even the small stuff is getting rare) any more, so I need to look to other states here in AUS for purchases, or stores OS.

Thanks again, Dann - appreciate your input! Have a great Christmas.

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks, guys - your input helps me greatly, especially the tip on the #00 shutter. I will need to get another lensboard for the 65mm, would it need to be recessed? I do have a wide-bellows as well if that makes a difference?

Another Super Angulon is for sale also, although this one has a Compur shutter, no board - no big deal I have to buy anyway.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Schneider-Super-Angulon-65mm-f8-Lens-Compur-Shutter-4x5-av/192730973600

Both this one and the Fujinon are in a good price bracket for me; final question: of the two, which do you suggest would be the better option or are they both great choices?

Large format is a whole new learning curve for me, so please excuse what are probably very basic questions.

I'd be concerned about whether that's the correct shutter with regards to the Aperture scale which is marked f5.6, my guess is the shutter's been swapped and the aperture markings are for a different focal length. Schneider never sold any lenses in shutters marked with faster apertures than the actual lens design is capable of.

Ian

 

[ozphoto]

I'd be concerned about whether that's the correct shutter with regards to the Aperture scale which is marked f5.6, my guess is the shutter's been swapped and the aperture markings are for a different focal length. Schneider never sold any lenses in shutters marked with faster apertures than the actual lens design is capable of.

Ian

Good to know Ian - thank you!

 

[darinwc]

Hi Nanette!
I just wanted to put in my comments based on my experience.

It is worth it to spend a bit extra on a good wide angle lens. The modern designs and coatings are much more flare resistant. And the brighter designs (f5.6) make it easy to focus the edges.

I think your best option right now is the 65mm fujinon swd here:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/153311951366

There are also older versions of the super Angulon 65mm f5.6 that are inexpensive:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/254042686218

65mm is about like a 28mm on a 35mm camera, and either will give you tons of coverage.

Other lenses not mentioned are the 75mm f8 super angulon, which is an older version with single coatings.
Also rodenstock made a 58mm f5.6 grandagon.

But again, that fujinon is a steal at 200 plus shipping

 

[darinwc]

I think i still have a47mm super Anglon and a58mm hexanon some where I'll let you know.

 

[ozphoto]

Thanks for your help and comments Darwin - I do appreciate.
You must have read my mind, as I'm actually watching both of those lenses. Still trying to determine which is the better option: Fujinon or Schneider.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Thanks for your help and comments Darwin - I do appreciate.
You must have read my mind, as I'm actually watching both of those lenses. Still trying to determine which is the better option: Fujinon or Schneider.

Have you ever heard of the man who was condemned to death and offered his choice of deaths? He could be tied to four wild horses, pulled apart by them and then strangled, if necessary, with his own intestines. Or he could be broken on the wheel and then burned at the stake. His response? "They are both very bad."

Thinking of both being very bad, the two ebay listings that Darrin suggested have lenses in problem shutters. If you're up for having the shutters repaired, well and good. Otherwise keep on waiting.

 

[ozphoto]

Thinking of both being very bad, the two ebay listings that Darrin suggested have lenses in problem shutters. If you're up for having the shutters repaired, well and good. Otherwise keep on waiting.

Thanks, Dann. I've been checking several and keeping in mind any repairs that may be required. In no rush - I want to be sure I make the right decision. Halfway there - next lens will definitely be 65mm or wider!!