Wide-angle leaf shutter lenses that cover at least 6x6?

BHuij · Dec 15, 2022

I am making a Goodman Axis camera, which is, essentially, a monorail camera but miniaturized for shooting medium format instead of large format. It has a wide range of both front and rear movements.

I already have an excellent 85mm Solinar and a 101mm Ektar, and would like to round out the collection with something wider. While normal and short telephotos are pretty easy to find and plunder from various cheap folder cameras and whatnot, it doesn't seem like there are many options for wide 6x6 lenses that aren't designed for a Hasselblad, Bronica, Mamiya Press, or similar. Unfortunately those lenses tend to be a lot more expensive than your average Agfa or Kodak glass

Anyone aware of any options with focal lengths at or below 65mm, at least decent glass, and not too expensive? I'm not averse to old Soviet stuff or what have you. Just prefer something that isn't huge and bulky, isn't more than a couple hundred USD, and of course it needs to either come in a leaf shutter, or be possible to mount in one. Bonus points if it covers larger than 6x6 so I can have some wiggle room for tilt/shift.

Dan Daniel · Dec 15, 2022

47mm Super Angulon. Older f/8 and newer... well, less older f/5.6 design. The 5.6 is bulky. The f/8 is small. There is also an Ilex Wide Angle Acugon 47mm f/8, similar formula, but much harder to find.

There is a Mamiya 55mm that is hard to find and is fairly small, but I think it may have very limited movements.

Paul Howell · Dec 15, 2022

The Mamiya 65mm not too expensive

[Exc+5] Mamiya Sekor 65mm f/6.3 Lens For Universal Press Super 23 From JAPAN
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Pre-Owned · f/6.3 · 65mm · Wide Angle
$169.99
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OAPOli · Dec 15, 2022

The SA 47mm f5.6 (non-XL) is pretty small actually. Covers 6x7 wide open and more stopped down.

Mamiya TLR 55mm f4.5 or 65mm f3.5

The Bronica ETR (645) lenses can be reshuttered in a mechanical #0 shutter, likely you can do the same with SQ or GS lenses. Flange-focus is large though. Same with the RB67 lenses but in a no.1 shutter.

Mamiya press 65mm 6.3 or 50mm f6.3 (big and heavy), 6x9.

Topcor 65mm f/7, 6x9

Koni-Omega 58mm f5.6 and 60mm f5.6, 6x7

ic-racer · Dec 15, 2022

If it is a view camera with movements, 6x6 lenses won't be much use, because you won't be able to use any of the camera's movements. Maybe I don't understand the question.

Dan Fromm · Dec 15, 2022

If you have the money and can find one, the38/4.5 Biogon as sold on the Hasselblad Super Wide and descendants was used on several aerial cameras. I have one from an AGI F.135 aerial camera that Steve Grimes remounted in a Copal #0 for me. Come to think of it, years ago I sold 18 of them. Great lens, usable circle covered is 84 mm. OP, it won' fit your budget.

OP, use "the list," look at the item "Short lenses that cover 2x3." Sorry, I'm not going to type that information again.

If you don't know what "the list" is, ask.

Paul Howell · Dec 15, 2022

ic-racer said:
If it is a view camera with movements, 6x6 lenses won't be much use, because you won't be able to use any of the camera's movements. Maybe I don't understand the question.

I think your right, the Mamiya Press was made for 6X9, the Super Horseman wide's were also made for 6X9 and designed for movement, the standard Horseman, made by Topcon will likely provide some movement on a 6X6 negative. Not sure about the Hassy, Superwide or any of the Kowas or Bronica lens as they were made for 6X6 without movement.

BHuij · Dec 16, 2022

You make a good point - I'll have to see if my Solinar is capable of covering 6x6 when I introduce movements. Likely not. Luckily if I want to shoot macro with it, my image circle gets bigger, and that's the most likely scenario where I'd want to be able to use tilt/swing anyway at a normal focal length. The 101 Ektar was intended for 6x9 cameras I believe (or some sheet film of nearly identical size), so it should have some wiggle room.

Thanks all for the recommendations! A few standouts that look like a good value.

@Dan Fromm can you enlighten me on "the list?"

nosmok · Dec 17, 2022

There's also the Rodenstock 58mm f/5.6 Graflex Grandagon, made for the Graflex XL. Covers 6x7 for sure. It'll fit on a Baby Crown Graphic lensboard, but you have to take the GG off the camera back to mount the rear group.

Richard Man · Dec 17, 2022

There's a Biogon 38mm barrel lens on the auction site for $1700 right now. Nuts

ic-racer · Dec 17, 2022

BHuij said:
You make a good point - I'll have to see if my Solinar is capable of covering 6x6 when I introduce movements. Likely not. Luckily if I want to shoot macro with it, my image circle gets bigger, and that's the most likely scenario where I'd want to be able to use tilt/swing anyway at a normal focal length. The 101 Ektar was intended for 6x9 cameras I believe (or some sheet film of nearly identical size), so it should have some wiggle room.

Thanks all for the recommendations! A few standouts that look like a good value.

@Dan Fromm can you enlighten me on "the list?"

Maybe he means this list of lenses that do and don't fit the Horseman 6x9cm view cameras: https://www.kenko-pi.co.jp/horseman/e/lens_list.pdf

xya · Dec 17, 2022

I have the Super Angulon 47mm 5.6. already mentioned, in a Cambo Wide https://www.oddcameras.com/cambo_wide_470.htm it covers 4x5 with a little bit of shift. I use it mainly for 6x12.

I also have the Super Angulon 65mm 5.6 which I use in an Instant Wide Camera https://www.instantphoto.eu/other/superwidestax_option.htm (9.9 x 6.3). I remember that it covers 4x5 with quite some movements.

Both are wonderful lenses which should not be too expensive.

Dan Fromm · Dec 17, 2022

BHuij said:
@Dan Fromm can you enlighten me on "the list?"

Look at https://www.largeformatphotography....to-look-for-information-on-LF-(mainly)-lenses. There's a link to a list of interesting links in the first post. Click on the link, download the list, open the file (it is a pdf) and go to the link I mentioned above.

Short lenses lenses that cover 2x3 is an Excel spreadsheet. It lists all of the lenses no longer than 65 mm that cover 2x3. This list is probably incomplete; I'd be happy to be told about lenses that should be on it. I didn't and don't see the point of listing longer lenses. You might also want to read my lens diary http://www.galerie-photo.com/telechargement/dan-fromm-6x9-lenses-v2-2011-03-29.pdf

lobitar · Dec 18, 2022

In the 'olden days', i.e. a few decades ago, the most commen 65mm wide angle (at least here in Europe) used to be the Schneider Angulon 65mm f.6.8 designed to cover 6x9 cm (perhaps even with a little bit of shift, dont remember). Likewise used to be the cheapest, I think; but one should be careful to get the post-war version. Usually came in a SynchroCompur-00 shutter, and the lot is tiny!

abruzzi · Dec 18, 2022

lobitar said:
In the 'olden days', i.e. a few decades ago, the most commen 65mm wide angle (at least here in Europe) used to be the Schneider Angulon 65mm f.6.8 designed to cover 6x9 cm (perhaps even with a little bit of shift, dont remember). Likewise used to be the cheapest, I think; but one should be careful to get the post-war version. Usually came in a SynchroCompur-00 shutter, and the lot is tiny!

no joke, you could almost lose it under a US quarter. I have one but have only taken a few shots with it so far, because it took me a while to figure out mounting, both because of the 00 shutter, but also becuase the one I had didn't have a place to screw in a threaded release. It just had a shutter release lever with a hole in it. I got it working by modifying the thin rod used on recessed lens boards, but cutting it and bending it 90º at the appropriate spot. Its also like most of the 90 Angulons in that the shutter you find it in usually doesn't have "t", so you need to use "b" and a locking relese cable..

lobitar · Dec 20, 2022

abruzzi said:
no joke, you could almost lose it under a US quarter. I have one but have only taken a few shots with it so far, because it took me a while to figure out mounting, both because of the 00 shutter, but also becuase the one I had didn't have a place to screw in a threaded release. It just had a shutter release lever with a hole in it. I got it working by modifying the thin rod used on recessed lens boards, but cutting it and bending it 90º at the appropriate spot. Its also like most of the 90 Angulons in that the shutter you find it in usually doesn't have "t", so you need to use "b" and a locking relese cable

As an aside I seem to remember having read a few years ago, that the Angulon is triple convertible (with different focus of the front and rear-groups, and according to a Schneider leaflet, if I'm not mistaken). But ofcourse then it's not a wide-angle.

Dan Fromm · Dec 20, 2022

Folks, the most comprehensive list I'm aware of is at https://1drv.ms/x/s!AggQfcczvHGNgYhYGeQuOzsBIyw8Og?e=XQwugI

Wide-angle leaf shutter lenses that cover at least 6x6?

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