Lenses for 6x17 film back on 4x5?

robrover · Mar 9, 2018

My latest photographic crush is 6x17 format, having drooled over Nick Carver's panoramic photographs on YouTube. I have an Intrepid 4x5 and a MPP Mk8 both with international backs.

I am also waiting for an Intrepid 8x10 to be delivered.

Can anyone tell me which of the following lenses I own will work with a Shen Hao 6x17 (120 roll film) back when fitted to a 4x5 camera? I read in another thread from 2015 that you can't go longer than 150mm with this film back on 4x5.

1. 6.8/90 Schneider Angulon
2. 5.6/105 Nikkor W
3. 5.6/150 Schneider Symmar
4. 5.6/210 Fujinon W
5. 9.0/240 Rodenstock Apo Ronar MC
6. 5.6/300 Fujinon W

(I bought 4. and 6. for use with the new Intrepid 8x10.)

Would another option be to buy a 4x5 reducing back for the Intrepid 8x10 and fit the 6x17 film back to that? This will be quite cumbersome but may overcome some limitations.

Words from the wise will be well appreciated.

ic-racer · Mar 9, 2018

17cm = 6.7in > 5.0in
I'd check with Shen-Hao about limitations of the product

robrover · Mar 9, 2018

ic-racer said:
17cm = 6.7in > 5.0in
I'd check with Shen-Hao about limitations of the product

I understand that the Shen Hao 6x17 film back places the film plane a few cm further away from the lens which increases the diagonal coverage. I will try to contact Shen Hao with the same question. Thanks.

Steve Goldstein · Mar 9, 2018

Assuming you can fit it to a 4x5 camera, that you've got the same lens-to-groundglass and lens-to-filmplane distances, and that you're not trying for more than 15cm in the long dimension, any of those lenses will cover straight on. You'll have really minimal movements with the 105mm Nikkor-W at f/22, more with the Angulon, and I believe no issues with any of the others.

But I have to ask, what's preventing you from using your 4x5 as-is and cropping to panoramic when you print? That seems a whole lot easier and less expensive than trying to fit something intended for a 5x7 camera onto a 4x5. The only drawback I see is that you'll be dealing with film holders rather than a rollfilm back.

Vaughn · Mar 9, 2018

A Deardorff Special might work well with a 6x17 back -- while often seen with a 4x5 rotating back, it is basically a 5x7 camera. Any of those lenses would work on it.

Old-N-Feeble · Mar 9, 2018

RE longer lenses: I can't remember specifically, but if the longest non-telephoto focal length which doesn't vignette with the Shen-Hao 6x17cm back is 180mm(?), then I would think longer lenses of telephoto design would exhibit less image blockage due to being closer to the film plane.

WilmarcoImaging · Mar 10, 2018

Nikkor SW 120/8 covers 8x10. I use it on 4x5 and it gets the job done.

In principle any lens that covers 5x7 or 8x10 should work, subject to the limitations of the camera (front standard weight capacity, bellows draw, etc.). I am unfamiliar with the camera.

What is the limitation of the camera, preventing lenses longer than 150? Bellows extension?

adelorenzo · Mar 10, 2018

This should help

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF6x17cm.html

Ian Grant · Mar 10, 2018

I looked at buying one of the Shen Hao 6x17 backs some years ago the issue is the edges of the frame being clipped by the existing 5x4 camera back, this is the limitation that prevents lenses longer than 150mm and the extra rear extension prohibits wider than a 90mm. I ended up buying a Gaoersi 617 camera as I wanted to use a 75mm lens.

Sometime maybe this year I'll make a dedicated 6x17 field camera. using parts from an Quarter Plate Graflex.

Ian

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 10, 2018

I had a DaYi 6x17 back for a 4x5 several years ago and posted about it a few times in the past. Try the search engine, and you’ll turn up several threads on this topic from around the time these backs started appearing on the market.

Here’s one of my posts from that era:

David A. Goldfarb said:
Or even cheaper, look for a Crown Graphic and a 6x17 back. These backs work with any camera that has a Graflok or international type back. On my Linhof Tech V I use a DaYi 617 back, which I've been satisfied with. The Focus 617 back is an updated version made by the same company.

These 6x17 backs for 4x5 cameras work full-frame with lenses from 72-150mm, as long as they can cover the format, and as long as the subject isn't too close. Longer lenses, or lenses with in the range but at very close subject distances (like a 150mm lens closer than 6 feet) will vignette, but you'll still get a pretty long panoramic image--like 6x15 or 6x16.

If you get a Graphic with a rangefinder and a separate viewfinder for 6x17, you can even have a handholdable, rangefinder coupled 6x17 camera, with lenses around 120-150mm. I use 6x17 back this way on my Linhof Tech V with a rangefinder cammed 150mm lens and a Gaoersi adjustable 6x17 finder.

And here’s an image I made with the 6x17 back at the time:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/media/riverside-park-and-hudson-river.8954/

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 10, 2018

Also, if you have an 8x10” on the way, consider making a half frame darkslide mask (use the search engine to find out how) to make 4x10” images, which are about the same size as 6x17cm—a little bigger, but a similar feel. The darkslide mask is less bulky and cumbersome than a 6x17 expansion back, though of course an 8x10” camera is larger, and if you shoot color especially and send out for processing, you might find rollfilm easier to deal with and less costly. I sold my 6x17 back and sided with the half-darkslide approach for this format.

E. von Hoegh · Mar 10, 2018

robrover said:
I understand that the Shen Hao 6x17 film back places the film plane a few cm further away from the lens which increases the diagonal coverage. I will try to contact Shen Hao with the same question. Thanks.

You need to learn a very great deal of things, the above is absolutely nonsense.

xya · Mar 10, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
You need to learn a very great deal of things, the above is absolutely nonsense.

why is this absolute nonsense? I have a 5x7 rittreck view camera with an 8x10 back and it works! perfectly! it's a kind of cone that places the film plane a few cm further away from the 5x7 plane. I dont know the shen hao film back, but IF it places the film plane further back, you might gain a few cm, just enough for 6x17. well, I don't know about focussing this back...but I wouldn't say it's nonsense.

Old-N-Feeble · Mar 10, 2018

I think we probably have a language misunderstanding. Also, some of us old goats are a bit grumpy.

Lenses for 6x17 film back on 4x5?

robrover

ic-racer

robrover

Steve Goldstein

Vaughn

Old-N-Feeble

WilmarcoImaging

adelorenzo

Ian Grant

David A. Goldfarb

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David A. Goldfarb

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E. von Hoegh

xya

Old-N-Feeble

Lenses for 6x17 film back on 4x5?

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