Wide angle on 5x7

[B+WFriend]

Hi. I’ve read thru some of the older posts but thought I’d renew the question a little. I’m looking for a good wide angle lens for my 5x7. Lightweight is important, an image circle needs to be good enough for small movements. 5x7 seems like a hard format for really wide stuff as most good wide angle lenses are designed for 4x5. I’ve tried an old 6in dagor but the image gets a bit fuzzy at the corners. Thanks for your thoughts, there is so much knowledge here!

 

[sfphoto]

Just covers 5x7, sharp across at f16, tiny, later models are coated (and so marked)

100mm Meyer Gorlitz, f6.3, coated, in Compur shutter w/ preview & X sync

 

[GregY]

My standard wide angle on the 5x7 is a 4 3/8" Dagor. I have had no reason to change. The lens is small and the results are good

 

[B+WFriend]

Thanks. On your 4 3/8 inch Dagor, what aperture do you stop down to in order to get full coverage? Is it a Wide angle dagor…?
Also, focused at infinity? Maybe the 6in one I’ve used has coverage less than most, I’ve heard they can be quite variable.

 

[Ian C]

The diagonal of the opening in most 5” x 7” holders is about 208 mm.

The 90 mm f/8 Nikkor SW gives a 235 mm diameter image circle at f/22. It’s relatively lightweight and is rated by Nikon for 4” x 5” and 5” x 7” use. Image-circle diameters are given at infinity focus where the image circle is at minimum size.

The latest version of Fuji 90 mm f/8 SWS has a more generous image circle of 290 mm at f/22. The older version is rated at a 216 mm image circle.

http://www.subclub.org/fujinon/byfl.htm

 

[Rick A]

I love the Fujinon SW 90/8 I have on my 5x7 camera, it covers with some room for movements and I don't need a recessed board to mount it.

 

[GregY]

Thanks. On your 4 3/8 inch Dagor, what aperture do you stop down to in order to get full coverage? Is it a Wide angle dagor…?
Also, focused at infinity? Maybe the 6in one I’ve used has coverage less than most, I’ve heard they can be quite variable.

I typically use it at f22 or f32 & have never had coverage issues. Yes it is a w.a. Dagor.

 

[GKC]

159mm f/9.5 Wollensak yellow dot EWA borrowed from an 8x10 is my 5x7 WA.
No wiggle room on the 8x10 but loads of it on 5x7. A tiny and lightweight lens.

 

[xkaes]

5x7 seems like a hard format for really wide stuff as most good wide angle lenses are designed for 4x5.

You do sorta hit a wall at 90mm with 5x7, but even with 90mm there are lots of options depending on how much movement you need. Fujinon, for example, has the 90mm SW, NSW, and SWD to choose from. If you really want to go wider, there are a few options. You might consider a 75mm -- several to choose from that get to 4 3/4 x 6 1/2". Pretty close -- and a little cropping never killed anyone.

And don't despair!!!

Another option is a close-up lens. Slap a #1 diopter CU lens on a 90mm lens and it becomes an 83mm lens. Use a #2 and you have a 76mm. No kidding.

http://www.subclub.org/fujinon/close-up.htm

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

150W Nikkor for moderatley wide. 120 SW Nikkor, for even wider (I use it on my 8x10 for extreme wide). Extreme wide a 90mm Nikkor or Fujinon (if you can find one!)

 

[GregY]

I also have the tiny G Claron 150, it's almost my normal lens, while the 4 3/8" Dagor for wider.

 

[B+WFriend]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts. I was hoping for something in the 90mm-100mm range but light weight enough to carry backpacking.
Perhaps the Nikon/Fuji 90mm f8 isn’t too much of a beast. I’ll do some searching for weights and such.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Consider a 90/14 Perigraphe Ser. VIa. Relatively inexpensive, not hard to find, tiny. But and however, in barrel. Not hard to stuff into the front of an Ilex #3. To use one on 5x7 you'll probably have to have the shutter's rear tube trimmed severely to reduce mechanical vignetting. SKGrimes did this for me, attached the shutter to a board by screws that go into the back of the shutter body. Glue is an alternative.

 

[Rayt]

I typically use it at f22 or f32 & have never had coverage issues. Yes it is a w.a. Dagor.

How much room do you have for movements?

 

[xkaes]

I have carried the Fujinon NSW f8 90mm backpacking for years. It's a big lens, for sure, and it may or may not meet your 5x7 needs.

What's the widest lens that you currently use?

 

[GregY]

How much room do you have for movements?

I work with mountain landscapes.... rather than interiors...so movements have never been an issue for me

 

[Rayt]

I work with mountain landscapes.... rather than interiors...so movements have never been an issue for me

I only use a bit of front rise when I shoot buildings outside. I’ll experiment. Thanks.

 

[AnselMortensen]

You might look for a Wollensak 5x7 Extreme Wide Angle Velostigmat or Raptar...~ 4" (~101mm) focal length, f/12.5, but opens up more for focusing.
Usually found in a tiny Alphax or Betax shutter, quite inexpensively. Barely any movement, though.

 

[Rayt]

I am using a 150mm Rodenstock Sironar W for 5x7. It‘s small and light, has plenty of movements.

 

[abruzzi]

I'm not that into ultra wides, so probably the widest I've used on my 5x7 is the 135mm Kodak Wide Field Ektar. There is a tiny amount of movements available when stopped down.

 

[tom43]

Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 4.5 with Green stripe is maybe the newest and one of the best for 5x7 wide angle. Super Symmar 110 XL is another killer lens and slightly less wide. Most others mentioned above have no or much older coatings, maybe with disadvantages in landscape in harsh lights.

 

[Besk]

Agree: "Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 4.5 with Green stripe is maybe the newest and one of the best for 5x7 wide angle. Super Symmar 110 XL is another killer lens and slightly less wide."

But: I also consider a 90mm wide angle to be a ultra wide angle with 5x7. Roughly equivalent to a 19- 20mm lens on 35mm camera - horizontally speaking. Almost no movements and good chance of vignetting also. My Nikon 90/8 covers the format but has never been used.

A 135mm to 180 would be a wide angle in that format.

 

[Steve Goldstein]

Following up on Bob Eskridge's comment, either the 125mm and 135mm "inside lettering" Fujinon-W will meet your light weight criterion. The 125 (image circle 211mm) won't really give you any movement at infinity, the 135 (image circle 228mm) will provide a bit.

 

[Vaidotas]

Tiny shuttered lens:

Mentioned above Hugo Meyer Aristostigmat in 100 120 mm range

Wollensak series III ~110 mm

Medium sized:

Fujinon 125, 135 mm

Jumbo:

Grandagon 115, well, it worth to carry.

Anything wider than 100 is not for my consideration on 5c7

 

[Vaidotas]

And Angulon 120!