I'm interested in getting a portrait lens for my 4X5 Speed Graphic. I've read that a 270mm Tele-avtar or Telerotelar is a nice lens for this, but in looking at some pictures on ebay of these lenes they look huge. My question is how do they attach to the camera. Surely a lens board and retaining ring isn't enough support. What will I need to actually attach the lens to the camera.

Also any advice on the lens selection for a portrait lens would be greatly appreciated.

For general portrate work a lens in the 150-180mm ramge works best. Imho

Thanks for the suggestion, but isn't that a rather short focal length for portrait work? Wouldn't that be equivelent to about a 50mm-60mm on a 35mm camera? Seems like I'd want at least the equivelent to about a 70-80mm lens on a 35 mm camera, which I thought would be about 210mm-240mm.

A 203mm f/7.5 Optar (or Ektar) or a 250mm Tele-Optar might fill the bill, as all of these are designed for the Graphics and wouldn't cost a fortune. You might find one at the Ft. Washington or Trevose camera shows. I use the 203 Optar as a long lens on my Century Graphic.

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On 2002-06-14 07:51, Stevewest07 wrote: I'm interested in getting a portrait lens for my 4X5 Speed Graphic. I've read that a 270mm Tele-avtar or Telerotelar is a nice lens for this, but in looking at some pictures on ebay of these lenes they look huge. My question is how do they attach to the camera. Surely a lens board and retaining ring isn't enough support. What will I need to actually attach the lens to the camera. Also any advice on the lens selection for a portrait lens would be greatly appreciated.

Steve, the 10" TeleRaptar/Optar isn't that huge. I use one on a couple of 2x3 Graphics and it doesn't stress the front standard too much. Not only that, Graflex recommended them for all sizes of Graphics.

The 8" TeleRaptar/Optar that Henry (I think that's who it was) is much smaller and lighter, also won't cover 4x5. IIRC, its image circle is ~ 130 mm.

Hope this helps,

Dan

Hello, Dan---

I recommended the 10" (250mm) Tele-Optar, not the 8" (200mm). "Graphic Graflex Photography" (10th edition, p. 32) says the 10" will work on "all three Graphics"---2x3, 3x4, and 4x5.

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On 2002-06-15 09:36, Henry wrote: Hello, Dan--- I recommended the 10" (250mm) Tele-Optar, not the 8" (200mm). "Graphic Graflex Photography" (10th edition, p. 32) says the 10" will work on "all three Graphics"---2x3, 3x4, and 4x5.

Henry, as usual you're right and I'm wrong. Time for new glasses, I fear.

Cheers,

Dan

Thanks to all who responded. Your suggestions really helped and cleared things up for me. I'll start looking for a 203mm-240mm. And I'm relieved I won't have to have anything special built to fit the lens to the camera. Again, thanks for the help.