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Bozeman · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Rocky Mountains

Crazy question I suppose but I'm curious about practical usage of a 'barrel type lens' on a Pacemaker Speed Graphic 2x3 (focal plane shutter application). Has any one ever tried such a non leaf shuttered lens with any degree of success? Are there any good thread mount candidates that will actually fit or come close to the 'smallish' 2x3 lens board's shutter hole diameter or (as I assume) does it require a cutting a customized hole? I have seen some relatively small diameter and / or light weight med format SLR lenses from pre WWII KW Pilot, and the Fujica 66 but maybe their lens quality is mediocre at best. Not sure if a 85 to 135mm M39 'slow' lens or a T mount lens from a 35mm camera would even work? Maybe too long & heavy. M42 probably much too large a diameter and again far too heavy? Maybe this concept is only applicable to 4x5 format cameras? Please be kind in your response. I do not have much experience with med format or press type cameras. Maybe the common use of leaf shuttered lenses is the only practical way to go for very good reasons (compact, light weight, proven lens qualities & results).

DenisP · Joined: 14 Oct 2002 Posts: 43 Location: Croatia, Europe

Hi,
Yes, the Speed Graphic in 2x3 size can use barrel lenses, but not those you mentioned (i.e. lenses for 35mm cameras) - the image circle of those just covers 35mm film, and you need a lot more than that

OTOH, medium format camera lenses might give you coverage. Try it and see.

I have some info on my DIY lens hacks here:

http://www.hrtranslations.com/photo/SG_lens.html

It could point you in the right direction.

I have some other results of mating various oddball lenses to my SG 23 here:

http://www.hrtranslations.com/photo/funky/

Feel free to experiment - use cardboard lensboards to temporarily mount various lenses, and check the image on the ground glass - you might find something you like.

Other cheap sources for lenses are old unusable, broken, folder cameras, or even enlarger lenses, or process lenses (like the Repromaster lens on my site...).

Denis

[ This Message was edited by: DenisP on 2006-02-15 02:21 ]

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2146 Location: New Jersey

Bozeman · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Rocky Mountains

Thanks for the very informative replies. I'll keep my eye open for possible medium format lens candidates. Now I just need to buy a few lens boards.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2146 Location: New Jersey

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

Unless of course one is looking for fall off and dark corners with intent for selective cropping. In that case even a 6x6 might not suffice as the sides would do one thing and the tops another, while an old 35mm lens might be just the thing. And there is the other way to go and use 4x5 lenses which work very well on the littel Speeds, like the 135, 127, and many others. I just got a razor sharp late model 135 Xenar which I intend to take in my backpacking kit so I have some movements and no worries about sharp full frame 6x9 color. I think the bottom line is that one can use anything on a Speed so long as it can be focussed the way you want it and it can be mounted. Before going to any mounting trouble, one can simply hold the lens up to the front standard steadying with the hand and view image on the GG and get a good idea what it will do before the necessity of cutting out lens boards.
Have fun...