I'm new to the forum. Just got my first Speed Graphic last week, actually, and I'm all revved up about it.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone knows what is the widest lens that can be used on a Speed Graphic fitted with a 6x7 back. (I know 90mm is about the limit for 4x5, but theoretically the bed should not show as much using a 6x7 back.)

I'd be interested in hearing your experiences on this.

BTW, I'm on the lookout for some good 4x5 sites. I'm more interested in seeing photos than technical advice. Any good sites out there?

Cheers,

Who ever said that 90 was the limit for a Speed???

many people use 65's on Speeds including me. No problem.

The 55 and 47's may be for Crown only, but someone else should know...

It may also depend on what model Speed you have?

You could also do some searches here as the question has been answered several times...

1. I did do a search before posting the question. Too many irrelevant threads came up.
2. The 90mm limit was based on previous searches I had done, not on personal experience, which led me to...
3. ... post a question in the hopes that someone with real experience could help.

Thanks for your help. I'm glad to know I can go wider than 90mm, and with 4x5 no less!

I have three different speeds that I use a 65mm on with no problems at all....

Dave

Quote:

On 2004-08-31 17:03, Rangemaster wrote: I have three different speeds that I use a 65mm on with no problems at all.... Dave

Which 65, Dave?

I ask because my 65/6.8 Raptar would not make infinity on my 2x3 Pacemaker Speed. Its replacement, a 65/8 Ilex Acugon, does. The Acugon is much like a Super Angulon.

Cheers,

Dan

Rich,

It has a top-mounted Graflex rangefinder, so it must be post-1955. I can't be more specific than that, I'm afraid, since I'm new to both the Speed Graphics and 4x5s in general.

Cheers,

I managed to track down the source of that dubious information I read.

"The Speed Graphic bellows extends 12-3/4", which is sufficient for 1:1 reproduction using a 150mm lens and for portraiture using the 380/5.6 Graflex Tele-Optar. The camera also can be used with relatively wide angle lenses, a 90mm being the widest practical (this gives a similar perspective to that of a 24mm lens on a 35mm camera)."

http://www.photo.net/photo/speed-graphic.html

Quote:

On 2004-09-01 03:12, markj wrote: I managed to track down the source of that dubious information I read. "The Speed Graphic bellows extends 12-3/4", which is sufficient for 1:1 reproduction using a 150mm lens and for portraiture using the 380/5.6 Graflex Tele-Optar. The camera also can be used with relatively wide angle lenses, a 90mm being the widest practical (this gives a similar perspective to that of a 24mm lens on a 35mm camera)." http://www.photo.net/photo/speed-graphic.html

Mark, its actually not that dubious.

Old-style double gauss wide angles like the 65 and 90 f/6.8 Raptars and slightly more modern ones like the 65 and 90 f/6.8 Angulons have short rear element-to-film distances at infinity AND are tiny little things with the rear element close to the lens board. On a thick 4x5 camera (Speed, not Crown), 90 mm is the shortest old-style lens that will focus to infinity. On a thick 2x3 (Speed, not Crown), the 80 WF Ektar is the shortest old-style lens that will make infinity.

More modern wide angles like the Super Angulon also have short rear rear element-to-film distances at infinity but are much bigger. Their rear elements are farther behind the lens board, and this is why they can be used on thicker cameras than their old-style counterparts.

Prime examples for 2x3 are my old 65/6.8 Raptar and my 65/8 Acugon. The Raptar couldn't be used on my 2x3 Speed, the Acugon can. Against that, the camera could be closed with the Raptar mounted, can't with the Acugon in place.

The info you find dubious was taken from Graflex' own documentation, written before the SA and similar lenses came along. "Dubious" is less apt than "out-dated." And that's why I asked Dave which lenses he uses.

Cheers,

Dan

Hi Dan,

I have a couple of Ilex's that I use on mine

Dave

Quote:

On 2004-09-01 05:00, Rangemaster wrote: Hi Dan, I have a couple of Ilex's that I use on mine Dave

Much like Super Angulons? If so, they're more usable than Angulons and Raptars. And if so, they should be good. I'm very happy with my 65/8 Ilex.

Cheers,

Dan

Dan,

The two that I have are very nice lenses, and produce nice sharp contrasty photos, I use them for landscapes in Glacier National Park and have been very happy with them.

Dave

I stand corrected (again). Thanks for the explanation, Dan. That's really the type of information I was looking for.

Cheers,