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Lens and lighting set-up for Crown Graphic

 
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finpoet



Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 1
Location: Philly

PostPosted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:41 pm    Post subject: Lens and lighting set-up for Crown Graphic Reply with quote

Hi,

First, thanks for all the great info here. I'm about to purchase a Crown Graphic; it's down to an early '50;s model with a 150mm Symmar-S MC lens or an early '60's model with a 127mm Ektar. Both are in great condition with Graflok back. Any preference? Also, what kind of lighting set-up do I need to do indoor portraits with either of these?

Thanks in advance!
Fin
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C. Henry



Joined: 13 Dec 2005
Posts: 360
Location: North East Georgia, USA

PostPosted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fin;

Everything else being equal I would prefer a 150mm lens to a 127mm lens for portrait work on the 4 x 5 film format. The last time I did any significant amount of portrait work (early to mid '90s) I used a 135mm on a 2 1/4 square format TLR.
There are many good options for a lighting set-up with personal preference and style deciding the hardware.
If I recall correctly I used a studio flash into a large white umbrella as a main light and a small on camera fill. Sometimes I added a slave strobe aimed at the background from a low behind the subject position.
Hopefully someone with more recent experience will give you a more specific answer on the lighting set-up.

C. Henry
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Les



Joined: 09 May 2001
Posts: 2682
Location: Detroit, MI

PostPosted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Find a window that faces north. Put the subject as close to it as possible, shoot wide open with the 150. focus with the ground glass.

No north light window? so the same with a soft box or umbrella with a white sheet. keep the flash down low. At very close distances and low f stops, you won't need much and the subject will thank you for it.

that's one type of portraiture, only 999 more to go. I'll let you figure the rest of them. It's not the destination, but the journey
_________________
"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison
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Billy Canuck



Joined: 04 Apr 2006
Posts: 165
Location: Calgary AB Canada

PostPosted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The 150mm will allow you to use movements. The 127mm won't. It's the normal lens for the 3x4 format but was often used on a 4x5 by press photographers (who didn't usually need movements) to get a slightly wider view. The 127mm just barely covers 4x5 with some loss of focus in the corners.
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