Has anyone used a lens wider than a 90 on a Crown Graphic 45? I was thinking about trying a 65 or 75 Schneider SA, probably on a recessed board, to focus by scale. But will it "see" the bed, even dropped?

The widest I've shot 4x5 with is 58mm with the bed dropped.
I've heard you an focus a 47mm lens.

You can't make a useable recessed lens board and get the shutter and your fingers in there.

Quote:

On 2003-11-17 15:54, disemjg wrote: Has anyone used a lens wider than a 90 on a Crown Graphic 45? I was thinking about trying a 65 or 75 Schneider SA, probably on a recessed board, to focus by scale. But will it "see" the bed, even dropped?

By analogy, it shouldn't see the bed.

I use a 38/4.5 Biogon on a Century with the bed dropped and it doesn't see the bed. Another user here ("notmpp") uses a 35 ApoGrandagon on a Century and he says it doesn't see the bed either. I also use a 65/8 Ilex Acugon (?), much the same as a 65/8 SA, on my Century's and my 2x3 Pacemaker Speed (YES!) and it doesn't see either's bed.

I focus my two on the ground glass, don't know what notmpp does.

With a 2x3 Pacemaker (don't hit me, the Century takes 2x3 Pacemaker board) a recessed board isn't possible for a lens in shutter. Even a #00 is too big. Maybe with a 40/18 Protar V in barrel, if one could be found ...

Go for it, but make sure you have the right to return it!

Cheers,

Dan

A question: the way you refer to your Pacemaker Speed piques my curiosity. Is there something unique or special about this model?
Just curious, as I have one on the closet shelf.

Quote:

On 2003-11-17 19:32, glennfromwy wrote: A question: the way you refer to your Pacemaker Speed piques my curiosity. Is there something unique or special about this model? Just curious, as I have one on the closet shelf.

No. Its just a plain ordinary 2x3 Pacemaker Speed. Older 65 mm lenses such as the 65/8 Raptar/Optar and Angulon won't focus to infinity on it because its minimum flange to film distance is too long. I'm very happy to have a 65 that works on the camera. That's all.

Cheers,

Dan

Thanks. I just thought there might be something about that model that I missed. I haven't used it yet, as I have so many different Speeds ready to go that there is no way I can use them all. So, it just sits there.

OK, so I did a quick check and found that I can easily get a 50mm distance from a lensboard to the GG in the body, which tells me that the lens will focus all right. From the earlier comments it also sounds like the dropped bed will not be "seen" by such a wide lens. Makes it all worth trying just for the fun factor of having such a wide point and shoot 45. We'll also have to be creative in coming up with a viewfinder of some sort to eyeball the setup.

What would be the shortest / widest lens that could mount on Graflex Pacemaker 4x5 considering it's size and minimal focus distance?

The 4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic's minimum flange-to-film distance, also called extension, is 66.7 mm. This link http://sdrv.ms/1i4czGa will take you to a large list of links to lens catalogs.

Happy reading!

Thanks for reply Dan!
So basically in theory most lenses with the back focus larger than 66.7mm will be ok on a Pacemaker if understand well?
I need some nice wide angle lens for my camera & was not sure what is the limit for the wideness

I have used a 65 mm Super Angulon on a 4 x 5 Anniversary Speed, with no need for a recessed lens board. With the bed dropped, there is no vignetting. However, you need to look out for one thing. On many Pacemakers and Annis the rails in the case are a bit loose from wear, and you may have a hard time getting the front standard to sit square against the pressure from the compressed bellows. With an ultra-wide angle like this, it is even more important than it is with other lenses to make sure that the lens board is parallel to the film plane.

Milos Gazdic wrote:

Thanks for reply Dan! So basically in theory most lenses with the back focus larger than 66.7mm will be ok on a Pacemaker if understand well? I need some nice wide angle lens for my camera & was not sure what is the limit for the wideness

Not quite right. Not back focus, which is the distance from the rear of the lens (vertex of the last element) to the film, but flange-to-film distance, the distance from the back of the shutter or mounting flange (for lenses in barrel) to the film.

Ok. true. got it. Thank you Dan!