Graflex.org

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

I just got this and was wondering what it was intended for? Will it cover a format larger than 4X5, or is it just a long focus lens? I got this thinking I would put it on a Pacemaker Speed, but now that I see it I am sure it would be happier on my RB-D

And it has the W in the circle indicating that it is coated, but this marking is in lavendar instead of the usual white. Does this mean anything?

Anyway, it looks like fun, was relatively inexpensive, and is in rather good shape except for an edge separation in the rear element. I hope that never grows any worse.

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

Whoa! Bellows draw is going to be an issue. Just a quick and crude test by holding the lens in front of my Speed suggests that I may not be able to make infinity on that camera, much less the RBD. If I can make infinity there sure won't be a lot of bellows left for closer distances. I'll try again tomorrow when I can do a proper infinity test.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2144 Location: New Jersey

Siu Fai · Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 15

I have the same lens but mins is in a Alphax shutter. With this lens, I can focus as close as 2 meters on my Pacemaker Speed. Are you shure you have both elements? The complete lens should be about 15cm long.

JoePhoto · Joined: 13 Oct 2001 Posts: 75 Location: New England

I've got a 15" Tele Xenar and I drop the bed of my Anniversary Speed Graphic, remove the front standard from the rails, raise the bed and reattach the standard to the front of the rails. This gives me enough bellows to focus infinity.

_________________
If the best can't be had let the worst continue....

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2144 Location: New Jersey

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

I just checked infinity by holding the lens in front of the bellows; the camera will do it with the mounting ring of the lens between the focusing axle and the edge of the bed. So it can be done by mounting the front standard almost all the way to the end of the yoke. That leaves only about 4" of movement in the yoke to cover close focusing, and I suspect that that may not get me as close as six feet. Only time will tell after I get a lensboard to mount it on. Now I know what was on all those used lensboards that have BIG holes in them.

My lens sure looks complete, but is only about 117mm long. Without taking it apart, the design appears to be two cemented elements at each end (hence the separation issue mentioned in my first post). I do not think there are any interior elements.

Glad to hear it is intended for my Speed; I was beginning to wonder if I had a paperweight.

t.r.sanford · Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 9:09 pm Post subject:

My 15-in. "Tele-Optar" (on a 4x5 "Pacemaker Speed") will focus to about 6 ft., at which distance the field covered is a little more than 15 ins. wide X 12 ins. high. This one is in a shutter, which may add half an inch or so to the total extension.

I think you're right about the design; the usual large-format telephoto design of half a century ago seems to have been a two-element positive group in front and a two-element negative group behind.