i need a lens suggestion

rkmiec · Feb 22, 2008

i have a project in mind and i need help with the lens.i want something that will give holga like results on 4x5.so i want lack of coverage at closer than infinity.most likely a 2ft x 3ft vertical area on 4x5 film.i am thinking maybe an old brass lens for a 2x3.i adapted a holga lens to my wista but it is only good for macro work and does not give anywere near enough coverage at infinity or as close to infinity as my camera allows.oh yeah cheap cheap cheap or free...

rkmiec · Feb 22, 2008

also i dont want tack sharp images with fall off,i want questionable image sharpness with fall off,also dont want that swirl i have seen with some brass lenses.may be an impossible reality but if anyone can help me it is you guys.

Ray Heath · Feb 23, 2008

rkmiec said:
also i dont want tack sharp images with fall off,i want questionable image sharpness with fall off,also dont want that swirl i have seen with some brass lenses.may be an impossible reality but if anyone can help me it is you guys.

g'day rk

how about a cheap nagnifying glass?

Ray

removed account4 · Feb 23, 2008

rapid rectalinaer ( brassie ) have a sweet spot and fall off
not too much swirly, just nice fall off ...

Ole · Feb 23, 2008

Good sharpness and falloff is easy; questionable sharpness and falloff is more difficult.

My first thought was something like (there was a url link here which no longer exists) - but that's actually very sharp in the center.

But what might do it is a triplet lens from a MF folder: Get something cheap like a Balda Belfoca, or a broken Bessa-I,a Zeiss Nettar or something similar in 6x9 format. Make sure it was an inexpensive model even when new. That should give you a front-focusing 105mm triplet lens, in most cases. Turn the front focus as far as it will go, which changes the focal length a little bit but at the same time takes it far out of optimum for infinity focus. Triplets are really very good when well optimised, but the just happen to be extremely sensitive to spacing and centering. Shoot wide open for poorest performance.

Coverage is unfortunately rather good, but I believe a 105mm should give a little falloff (especially when shot wide open) on 4x5". If not, you will have to get a 6x6 folder for the (80mm) lens.

André E.C. · Feb 23, 2008

Get an MF folder with a Triotar optic!

Cheers

André

rkmiec · Feb 23, 2008

thanks all,i have an agfa billy but it is to nice to rip apart so i will be on the hunt for some cheapy folders.this was what i thought of first but for some reason i didnt think the coverage would be enough.

please if anyone has anymore ideas let me know.

Mark Sawyer · Feb 23, 2008

I'd say Ray is on the right track. The Holga has a crappy single element lens, so you want a crappy single element lens too. Start playng with little magnifying glasses, looking for maybe 150mm focal length. Fall-off you can manage by the mechanics of the mount, like a lens hood...

athanasius80 · Feb 23, 2008

Why not salvage the meniscus lens from a 120 box camera?

rkmiec · Feb 23, 2008

thanks athanasius,i read your suggestion reached up to the mantle and pulled the lens from my ansco sure shot 6x9.the nice thing is it has the shutter is on top and is mounted with the lens onto balsa wood so it will be easy to try.so now i need to look for a replacement.

athanasius80 · Feb 23, 2008

LOL, I killed an Ansco. I feel dirty now!

Let us know how it goes and if you get the look you want. And how did an Ansco Shur-Shot get all the way to Athens?

rkmiec · Feb 23, 2008

just bought the replacement for it on the bay for 22.95 including shipping,the kicker is i didnt realize it was a 120 camera until i took the lens out and felt bad cause i could have used it,but the new one is almost new with the box and instructions so it will make a much better display piece and an excellent user(i hope)
i am in athens but athens georgia not greece

PBrooks · Feb 24, 2008

Have you tried a slightly to big pinhole, may work.

Larry H-L · Feb 25, 2008

You could also try unscrewing front or back elements from some of your existing lenses. I have a 127mm Ektar that gives interesting results when half of the lens is missing.

Leon · Feb 25, 2008

PBrooks said:
Have you tried a slightly to big pinhole, may work.

I've got a 5 x 7 pinhole with a supplementary plastic meniscus lens that gives the kind of effect you're after ... I'm on the laptop so I'll attach some examples later

sun of sand · Feb 26, 2008

This comes up with some frequency
Diana 4x5

Here is what I came up with

I took a horizontal 3A postcard f16 lens with 4 speed shutter and made it f8
I took a Brownie 2C postcard lens an made it an f8 barrel lens

The 3A lens is soft but not Diana like. Perhaps Holga like without vignetting. It gives the same softness to the entire image, basically. Like a screen
Not too much character, IMO. Maybe good for soft subjects for subtle glow.

Brownie is crazy. Either it barely covers or is just a horrible lens needing to be shot closed down. Oddly enough, a very sharp central image. MUCH sharper than the 3A. On the outsides stuff just gets obliterated.

At some point I'll try to find something it's good at. Stick on a too long hood and maybe even better.
The 3A will likely go back home

Here is a direct comparison I made once I got the brownie lens cardboard mounted

i need a lens suggestion

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