What lens?

MacCaulay · Sep 6, 2006

I have a Crown Graphic with a 127mm f4.5 lens for which the rangefinder has been set up. I'd like to use other lenses with this camera, and am aware that ajusting the rangefinder for other lenses can be difficult, so I expect to use the ground-glass screen.
My problem is I've no idea about using additional lenses on these cameras.
Can anyone advise on what I should be looking for? What should I know about lens panels?
All advice will be greatly appreciated.

Nick Zentena · Sep 6, 2006

What do you want? Longer? Shorter? More modern?

At the long end you're limited by the length of your bellows unless you get a telephoto design lens.

Outside of the limits set by the bellows it's basically up to you.

MacCaulay · Sep 6, 2006

I'm thinking wider initially. I'm a little confused by the different lens panels, too.

Ian Grant · Sep 6, 2006

MacCaulay said:
I'm thinking wider initially. I'm a little confused by the different lens panels, too.

As long as your other lens panel fits a Crown Graphic you have no problem.

A relatively inexpensive WA is a Schnieder 90mm f6.8 Angulon, should be around the $100 - $120 mark, far better is a later Super Angulon f8 or the more expensive f5.6. Another alternative are the slightly faster and superb Grandagons either the f4.5 or the cheaper f6.8 90mm lenses.

Back on a cheaper front try a Wray 89mm or a Wollensak 90mm but you are talking older technology / lens design.

Ian

Nick Zentena · Sep 6, 2006

Just make sure the lensboard you get has a hole that matches the shutter on the lens you're getting.

Dave Parker · Sep 6, 2006

Also, the lens board on the crown is a metal board with about a 1/16 in lip around the edge to fit into the grove around the outside of the front standard area, the older style flat boards that were used on the pre-anniversarys will not fit, also the graphic view boards will not fit, other than that, you just need to make sure the whole drilled in the board will fit the shutter your trying to mount, or you need to be able to enlarge it..to fit if to small..

Dave

Ole · Sep 6, 2006

A 90mm Angulon is a nice little lens for 4x5". Get an Angulon, not a Super-Angulon.

The 127mm you have is short enough that you will see a real difference with a 180mm if you come across one. A 210mm might be easier to find, but gives a bit much of a gap. Both 180mm and 210mm lenses come in lots of different makes and models - mine are Xenar and Symmar (and another Xenar and an Angulon), all of them from Schneider. That's just a coincidence - most lenses are better than my photography!

LF lenses come in shutters or barrels of varying sizes. These need different size holes in the lens board to mount the shutter on it. Fortunately these sizes are more or less standardized - in hole sizes called "0", "1" and "3" after the most common shutter sizes.

Yes, there used to be a "2" too, but not for the last 30 years. There were "00", "01", "4" and "5" too, all of which have been dropped in the last 30 years.

Dan Fromm · Sep 6, 2006

Hmm. Since no one has suggested it yet, get you to www. graflex.org and read their lens FAQs. Root around some -- I find it easier and more effective to start from the site map than to use the search function -- and see what you can find about Crown Graphics.

We're all assuming that you have a 4x5 Crown. There are three sizes, 2x3, 3x4, and 4x5. Each has its own lens board; in the US, we say board, not panel. There's only one kind of board for your camera, ain't no recessed ones. Two key limits. IF yours is a 4x5, minimum flange-to-film distance is ~ 53 mm. And its maximum extension, IIRC, is not quite 300 mm.

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

Donald Miller · Sep 6, 2006

I've used a 90 F8 Super Angulon and a 210 F 5.6 Symmar S on that camera. I had a sheet metal shop fabricate the lens board for mine. The metal lip is a requirement to prevent light leaks...at least on the one that I had.

Nick Zentena · Sep 6, 2006

Ole said:
Yes, there used to be a "2" too, but not for the last 30 years. There were "00", "01", "4" and "5" too, all of which have been dropped in the last 30 years.

Plus some of the Seikos are different.

phfitz · Sep 6, 2006

Hi there,

You should also look for a set of inf. stops for additional lenses on a SpeedGraphic. It gets to be a bother without them. Make sure they are for your style SpeedGraphic.

Just a thought.

Earl Dunbar · Sep 6, 2006

Jenni: This won't replace your "perfect" camera in your heart will it?

I can also recommend Fujinon lenses. Not sure what prices are like these days, but I have used Fujinons exclusively on my Toyo 45A, and they are very nice. When I bought them, they were much cheaper (new) than Schneider, Nikkor and Rodenstock.

Earl/Trius

MacCaulay · Sep 7, 2006

Thanks, everyone. There's a lot of helpful advice here. I'll take a look at that website too, Dan

photobum · Sep 7, 2006

I'm with Ole on this. The 90mm f6.8 Angulon or Optar. The Crown does not allow for much movement so you don't tend to miss the coverage of the other bigger lenses. Also the Angulon/Optar will fit into the camera folded up. The 203 Ektar will also fit into the camera. This makes it very fast to work with. Remember this is a press camera not a field camera. It was designed for speed over movements. This camera excells at fast work and night work. The matching lenses assist in using to its fullest.
Infinity stops set for each lens and the rangefinder set for your most used lens. I use 90-135-203. The rangefinder set on 135. And please don't go attacking the camera with a file or hacksaw making it into what it is not. Learn to use the drop bed for forward tilt. This is the best camera ever designed for L/F night work. Make the camera happy, use it as such.

BradS · Sep 7, 2006

The problem with the 90mm angulon on a 4x5 crown graphic is that you almost have to drop the bed to keep the rails out of the picture. The more serious problem is that the focal length is such that the front standard comes to just about the hinge point on the rails (when set for infinity). This makes working with the 90mm lens on a Crown Graphic a royal pain in the rump. It is a nice lens though.

MacCaulay · Sep 7, 2006

Earl Dunbar said:
Jenni: This won't replace your "perfect" camera in your heart will it?

I've been looking at the Linhof Master Technika, and the Toyo 45. They are a wee bit beyond my budget . But it's pointless dreaming at present. I got the Graphic quite cheaply and it works. I expect I'm going to have quite a bit of fun learning how to use this format effectively - and I've a lot to learn.
Again, thank you all for your help.

MacCaulay · Sep 7, 2006

I'm very superstitious; thirteen posts . Well, I am a Celt.

What lens?

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