Graflex.org

[Emil Zelasko]

Hello,

I am considering buying a 90mm lens for use with my Super Speed Graphic.

Is a 'recessed' lens board required for this focal length? What is the purpose of a recessed board?

Lastly, I have noticed a few Graflex 90mm lenses on E-Bay. Are these lenses sharp and of good quality? How 'bout the Fuji 90mm lens?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Emil

[t.r.sanford]

You can use a 90mm. lens on a "Pacemaker Speed Graphic" without needing a recessed lensboard. Since the "Super" cameras have a shallower body, I'm sure they are even more suitable for use with a lens of this focal length.

A recessed lensboard is similar in function to the classic macro lens "sunk mount" for 35mm. bellows and extension-tube work. The idea is to make a lensboard incorporating a more or less shallow box that extends back into the bellows, to get the lens closer to the film plane than it would be if mounted on a conventional flat board. This is necessary if, for example, you want to use a 65mm. lens on a bellows camera which measures 75mm. from lensboard to groundglass when completely collapsed.

The design objectives are to make the box as deep as possible without allowing its corners to vignette the image, and while still allowing access to the diaphragm and shutter controls. You can get a small gadget that screws into the cable release socket of the shutter to make it easier to lead a cable release out of the recess without bending it through an impossible angle.

I've not seen a recessed board for "Pacemaker" or "Super Graphic" cameras. There isn't a whole lot of area to work with in forming the box. I can imagine one designed to work with the old extra wide angle lens types, e.g. 75mm. f:9 "Wide Angle Dagor" and equivalent "Protar"; these are tiny lenses. It would be very tough to do for a modern W.A. lens.

[Les]

Recessed boards are normall used on view cameras where the bellows limits how close the lens can get to the ground glass.

The front standard and bellows on all Graphic, (Pacemaker, Super and Anniversary) are designed so you don't need a recessed board.

If you are thinking of getting not only a 90 but something wider down the line, you might look into a Pacemaker Crown body. The Pace Crown body has linked rails inside the body, so that you can still focus the lens even when sitting inside, as is the case with some 90s and anything shorter.

The Super series eliminated that feature, so you have to push and pull the front standard to focus the lens. Not a real good combination.