Graflex.org

[RyanAllan.com]

I have a Graflex Super Speed Graphic and I am not satisfied with the sharpness of my Rodenstock 135mm Optar Lens.
I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a nice sharp lens that I could mount on my current lens board.

Thanks for any help/advice.

There are some examples of my Speed Graphic work on my website. Anything 4x5 was shot with it.


[ This Message was edited by: RyanAllan.com on 2006-12-11 12:35 ]

[Les]

The 135 optar in a Graphex 1000 shutter is pretty well mated with the lens board. To keep the value of the lens/shutter/board I suggest you buy a new standard (one piece) Graphic board.

The best lens I can think of in the old school line would be a 203 ektar. Damn sharp and nicely long.
Also in the old school line, but not always found on a Graphic would be a 5 or 6" dagor in a shutter. The focus shift takes a little getting used to, but the contrast is great and again, brutally sharp.

I"m not up on all the new (ie post 1970) lenses but a 150 Symmar S would do very well, later incarnations might do better.

[R_J]

You might find a standard Caltar 135mm f5.6 lens gives more than enough resolution and contrast definition.

I have an Optar (for a Century Graphic). Although it is reasonably useful (stopped down), it doesn't have the same calibre of resolution and contrast (the latter being more important for me) to render it generally useful.

Have you tried alternative film processing and printing techniques to increase the sharpness of the images taken with the Optar?

Good luck.