Does anyone know if this lens will work on a Crown? It does have a shutter. I have a symmar convertable that cannot focus when using it as a 265mm.

Quote:

On 2005-08-01 15:55, campy wrote: Does anyone know if this lens will work on a Crown? It does have a shutter. I have a symmar convertable that cannot focus when using it as a 265mm.

4x5 Crown, yes. Smaller Crowns, no.

Telephoto lenses have shorter back focus than usual given focal length, that's why.

It is a 4x5. So I will not have any trouble using at shorter distances?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-24 21:21 ]</font>

You should be able to focus closer than 10 ft., but not a whole lot closer, with a 380mm. Wollensak tele on a 4x5 "Crown Graphic." How it's mounted may have some effect on the close focusing distance. I can't imagine wanting to use a true telephoto much closer than that.

How do you get the symmar to focus that close? Are you taking the front or rear lens off? I can get it to focus if I take the rear off. If I take the front off the only way it will focus is if I pull the lens beyond the rails and hold it out there. I bought this on ebay and is in almost perfect condition.

I forgot to ask if the tele is worth buying or should I not bother?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-24 21:22 ]</font>

Quote:

On 2005-08-02 15:12, campy wrote: I forgot to ask if the tele is worth buying or should I not bother?

That's a question only you can answer

It is the only way you can use a 15 inch lens and many, many people like them a lot. I like mine and would never give it up even though I rarely use it. I'd even buy another if I found a deal on one (I like spares)... But I'm also envious of your convertible... It should make a great 'normal' lens...

So, for those that like them, it's worth buying. If you need a 15 inch lens, it's worth buying. If you're looking for the razor sharpness of a brand new prime super lens, you might want to pass it up. If you don't want to carry around a huge, heavy piece of glass, you might re-sonsider... It's all up to you...


And, if you really want to use the convertible and just have to use the rear element as everyone states, then you _can_ move that element to the front of the shutter. I use the old T&R convertibles with the front element left on the front, contrary to popular opinion all the time. I can see no difference between using an element in front or behind the shutter. But that is with the old T&R's and we all know how bad they are

The reason the 15" Teleoptar will focus closer than your Symmar is that the Symmar is a prime lens, ie the bellows draw is equal to the focal length when focused at infinity.

A telephoto lens cheats. I'm guessing on the numbers but the 15" teleoptar is probably a 10" lens with a negative element in the rear. This spreads the image out over a greater area, the film only picks up the center image making it seem like it's a 15" lens but the the bellows draw of a 10".

I took mine out west and for scenic shots it worked well, though heavy and prone to vibration. Use a cable release always!