Speed Graphic Lenses

[BrianShaw]

What is a convertible lens?

Multiple focal length in one lens. It is one focal length with both the front and rear element attached, and antoher ocal length when the front element is removed and only the rear element is used.

 

[Tom C]

Do you happen to know if these lenses are good/preferred or a compromise?

 

[Dan Fromm]

In general they're compromises. Schneider Symmars, for example, are convertibles and not all users were/are happy with results got using the rear cell alone. The Symmar-S replaced the convertible Symmar, was not sold as convertible, and is regarded as better, which is not to say that jes' plain Symmars aren't useful.

 

[michaelbsc]

Do you happen to know if these lenses are good/preferred or a compromise?

Dan is right that they are a compromise, but I think of them as an excellent compromise.

Sure, if I'm a famous guy shooting the Grand Tetons then maybe I don't want a compromise. But for an amateur looking for a reasonable single lens it works.

Obviously some convertible lenses are better than others. And I don't think anyone complains who had a Weston print from his convertible. But apparently there was one focal length configuration he disliked.

 

[Tom C]

I am having a great time trying to figure this all out. I'm reading all sorts of stuff. I appreciate the input and enjoy the interactions from folks responding.
I am an old 35mm black and white guy. I've now have a number ot 2 1/4 inch cameras and have built a darkroom with a number of enlargers including a Beseler 4x5.
Seems like everyone has dfferent approaches. Guess the proof is in the prints. Give me a few months and I will post my stuff. The Speed Graphic is my introdution to LF but I'm already looking at a true fully articulated view camera. Yea I know, there is always more to buy/play with.

 

[Pupfish]

If your Pacemaker Speed Graphic has a top-mount rangefinder taking cams, and you have any interest in handholding the camera, you may want to first consider lenses common to the Graflex era. It will be easiest (though not necessarily easy) to obtain a cam for any of these, and you may wind up having to grind your own cam for lenses that came later (even if the stated focal length agrees with the cam, it's the FFL that matters).
The most ubiquitous 135mm cams are for the Optars/Raptars and these don't work accurately on 135mm Sironars, much to my chagrin.
My first choice for a contemporaneous lens would be the Ektar 203mm f/7.7 in a Graphic/Compur shutter (as the cells can be later swapped into a modern Compur).

 

[Grif]

I am an old 35mm black and white guy. I've now have a number ot 2 1/4 inch cameras and have built a darkroom with a number of enlargers including a Beseler 4x5.there is always more to buy/play with.

Kindred soul. I did get to spend quite a bit of time with a C33 in the late 60's, getting back into it with my Nikon F stuff from the 70's,,, managed to borrow a 4x5 linholf technika, found a creampuff 6x9 speed graphic and so on and so forth,,, seems like once folks find out you're into old cool cameras all sorts of stuff shows up. Last was a rolliecord.

Dark room project framed up, working electrical now. Originally was just going to do film, and turn to the dark side for prints,,, but then,,,, and more so on and so forth, likely to set at least one enlarger up.

 

[TareqPhoto]

The Crown Graphic i bought used came with a lens Optar 162mm Wollensack, seems the person who sold his Graphic was using this lens maybe, or maybe he sold it as he has another lens and no longer he was using this 162mm, in fact i bought the Crown Graphic as it came with a lens so i can use it for my Speed Graphic which i bought without any lens or lens board, i am looking for another lens for those Graphic cameras and not sure which, 162mm is not bad but it is not that lens i want to use for everything or general.