Graflex.org

cudave56 · Joined: 31 May 2003 Posts: 8 Location: east coast

looking for a 450mm tessar, or similar for sports work on a super d... any ideas??? (dont laff!).. i ve tried allt he usual suspects... but the joy of this place is the UNexpected..

david burnett
TIME Magazine
(speed grafic/aero ektar)

jpmose · Joined: 29 May 2001 Posts: 164 Location: Atlanta, GA

David,

The bellows draw on a Super D is only 12" (approximately). A 450mm Tessar would require 18" of bellows for infinity. Hence, you would require a telephoto for a longer focal length. A 15" lens (Tele Optar) was available as an option. I have heard mixed reviews about the quality of this lens. A 360mm Tele-Xenar or 360mm Tele-Arton (may be too heavy for the front standard) are options, along with older telephotos by Dallmeyer, Cooke, etc.

Mediumformatphoto · Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Washington DC, USA

David,
Congrats on those wonderful images of Olympians! I don't know about the Tessar, but the 15" (381mm) Tele-Optar is reputedly "quite sharp and contrasty," according to lens guru Richard Knoppow.

I just picked up a mint example of one of these already mounted on a Super D lensboard. The lens is a true telephoto design. According to the Super D brochure the 15" Tele-Optar has a minimum focusing distance of 110", has a healthy 202 degree image circle, and can cover 5x7. See this thread: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&selm=37d5d827.18261719%40nntp.ix.netcom.com

I have yet to test my Tele-Optar, but hope to this weekend.

R.J.

Mediumformatphoto · Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Washington DC, USA

Update: Successfully removed and reinstalled the lensboard on the 3x4 Super D no problem. I am going to make my own lensboard for the 15" Tele-Optar. The lens is now mounted on a seemingly mint metal lensboard 3.75" square.

Based on my measurements the Tele-Optar will use a 77mm screw-in filter. Does this sound correct?
R.J.