looking to build a speed graphic portrait camera

[Ian Grant]

I use a Wista 45DX it's been my main LF camera for 30 years. Mine doesn't have a Graflok back but Wista make (or made) a 6x9 roll film back with a screen protector that slips under the ground glass screen holder, I bought one soon after buying my camera.

Personally I'd find a 240mm a touch too long for portraits but used wide open you should get what you're after, probably the same with a 210mm. Rodenstock only made the Geronar in two focal lengths 150mm & 210mm.

Ian

 

[anorphirith]

I use a Wista 45DX it's been my main LF camera for 30 years. Mine doesn't have a Graflok back but Wista make (or made) a 6x9 roll film back with a screen protector that slips under the ground glass screen holder, I bought one soon after buying my camera.

Personally I'd find a 240mm a touch too long for portraits but used wide open you should get what you're after, probably the same with a 210mm. Rodenstock only made the Geronar in two focal lengths 150mm & 210mm.

Ian

have you ever had to change the bellows ?
do you have any samples portraits taken wide open at 210mm ?
thanks !

 

[shutterfinger]

For your DOF concerns use a DOF Calculator such as https://fcalc.net/ for the lens focal length and format the lens was designed for.

 

[Ian Grant]

have you ever had to change the bellows ?
do you have any samples portraits taken wide open at 210mm ?
thanks !

My Wista 45DX has had a very hard life, it was second hand when I bought it, I've given it heavy use, and really it needs retiring It fell to bits a few weeks ago. The bellows are thin but perfectly light-tight but not good they don;t fold well.

While I have both 150mm and 210mm Geronars I've not used them for portraits yet, too many family issues have put things on hold, I bought the cells on this or the LF forum for next to nothing and had shutters to put them in.

My ways of working are quite different I'd rarely if ever soot at wider apertures so I can't help there.

Ian