Modern 5x7 lens to fit 2" opening? for antique Folmer & Schwing 5x7 camera

keithostertag · May 30, 2022

I have been using this antique Folmer & Schwing 5x7 camera for awhile with barrel lenses and a homemade guillotine shutter... a fun experiment but tedious and error prone. I'd like to find a modern lens to fit this camera. As you can see in the attached photo, the lensboard is approx 2.75 square and the lens opening is only about 2" diameter!

When I say "modern" lens I really mean a lens fitted with a modern shutter, I am OK with a non-coated lens, for example, I just don't want a lens with an antique shutter, I want a lens with a working modern shutter that won't need a CLA. I tend to shoot at slow speeds so the shutter must work properly at slow speeds (within reason, consistent is OK) and have a bulb (or T) setting.

The only charts I have seen listing specs for large format view lenses ( for instance at https://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenseslist.html or https://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF5x7in.html) don't provide lens mount info except shutter size.

Can you suggest specific lenses which will fit and that aren't difficult to find or afford? Looking for portrait (not soft-focus) or slightly wide focal length. I only shoot B&W.

Thanks,
Keith

randyB · May 30, 2022

I haven't measured yet but I would think most of the 180mm lenses from Schneider, Rodenstock, Nikon and Fuji should work. 180 will cover 5x7 well when stopped down to f/16-22 My early (1975) Sironar 150mm will cover 5x7 with just a tiny bit of softness in the actual corners. Also, the (210mm/8.5in.) Apo-Ronar, Repro-Claron, Red Dot Artar, Tessar, Xenar in shutter should also work. After I have my 2nd cup-o-joe this morning I will measure.

randyB · May 30, 2022

Coffee finished, here is what I found, keep in mind these sizes are for the rear component not including the retaining ring. Also, these are for my lenses, you may find slight variances in size depending on year of manufacture.
150mm f/5.6 Sironar (1975) = 1 5/8"
150mm f4.5 Xenar =1 1/2"
Wollensak Raptar 190mm f/4.5 = 1 7/8" a much under-rated lens, Tessar formula
Red Dot Artar 8 1/4" f /9.0 = 1 5/8"
Repro Claron 210mm f/9.0 = 1 1/4"
Fujinon W 180mm f/5.6 = 2 1/8" I was surprised it is this big, the other brands may also be this big.

Have you checked if you can enlarge the hole to accommodate a bigger lens?

Also keep in mind that on the longer lenses, the shutter may actually be bigger/wider than your lens board which would make it difficult/fiddly to mount.

Good luck, RB

keithostertag · May 30, 2022

Thank you so much! Quite helpful!

randyB · May 30, 2022

Please re-read my post, I corrected a few things. I was having a senior moment plus too much coffee.

David Lindquist · May 30, 2022

If you are looking for a 210 mm lens, the f/6.1 Xenar comes to mind. Its rear cell diameter is 42 mm, came in a No. 1 Copal. It would be coated of course, pretty sure they were single coated. These do turn up on eBay and usually at reasonable prices.

Probably a 210 mm modern plasmat wouldn't work. My information shows the rear cell diameter of the Symmar S, for example, was 57 mm.

The 210 mm process lenses like the Repro-Claron, the Apo Ronar and the Red Dot Artar would fit but are generally not rated by their makers to cover 5 x 7.

Of course the 8 1/4" Dagor would cover 5 x 7 and would fit but asking prices for these are typically high.

David

abruzzi · May 30, 2022

I was also going to recommend the 210mm f6.1 Xenar. It’s a great Tessar style lens relatively compact and light. It’s on a Copal 1 shutter. Another option is a Kodak Ektar 203mm f7.7. It is single coated, but takes great photos. If you find one in a Compur shutter, the elements can swap into a recent shutter (I paid $60 for the lens with a busted Compur, and $140 for a 210 Geronar in a modern Copal 1, and swapped the elements over. Since 210 and 203 are pretty close, I can use the Geronar’s aperture scale. So $200 total for a classic Kodak lens in a modern shutter.)

Jim Andrada · Jun 2, 2022

I'm quite sure a 300mm Repro Claron will fit. Don't have mine at hand at the moment. I mainly use my 5 x 7 with the 300. The 203mm Ektar 7.7 will certainly fit (and it's a great lens.) I normally use it on my 4 x 5 Technika and I think it was rated for up to 5 x 7, albeit not with a lot of room for movements.

GKC · Jun 4, 2022

A Kodak 10" Commercial Ektar in an Ilex #3 should fit snugly into a 2" hole, as it's 1.985" diameter, according to:

Lensboard Hole Sizes

Nokton48 · Jun 4, 2022

Schneider Xenars are my go-to's for LF portraiture. And at F4.5 they are easy to look through and bright on the ground glass. Maybe 210mm or 240mm for 5x7 would do nicely.

keithostertag · Jun 12, 2022

I found a very nice Schneider Xenar 210mm f6.1 on eBay for around $230.

It did take some effort to fit it due (as randyB suggested earlier) to the Copal 1 being just a bit larger than the lens board... but with some creative (albeit poor) carpentry I was able to make a custom lens board that fits! Yay!

Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions!

AnselMortensen · Jun 12, 2022

Congratulations on the 6.1 Xenar.
I had one of those as my only lens on my Calumet CC-400 ...it got me through college, it did everything I asked of it.
A good all-around lens.

Modern 5x7 lens to fit 2" opening? for antique Folmer & Schwing 5x7 camera

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency