Crown Graphic and Lenses

Hello

 

I recently purchased a Crown Graphic Special on ebay and sent it to

Fred Lustig in NV for repair. Just got it back from Fred last week

and have been shooting polaroids---it is awesome!! If you have a

Graflex camera that needs repair, Fred Lustig is the master Graflex

technician.

 

My question is what is a good 90mm lens and portrait lens for the

Crown Graphic. I shoot 28mm with my small format equipment all the

time. I do not do a lot of portraiture but I would love to take

portraits of family and friends with the crown.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Ross

I have shot the Schneider SA 90 F8 for years. I like the lens alot and I shot it on a Crown at one time. Insofar as a portrait lens in 4X5 I would opt for something in the 210 mm range.The limitations that you will experience with the Crown is bellows extension if you go much longer. I do know that I shot that focal length on the Crown.

You may want to look here: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=003Etd

 

The 90mm WA Raptar is a good performer in a low priced lens.

I agree on the 210mm or some of the older telephoto 250mm (as long as it for portraits and you don't need extreme sharpness). However with the 210mm you would NOT be doing head shots but nice waist up or a little higher. You will want to use the ground glass for focusing since at that close of a range your rangefinder may not have the needed accuracy. I agree with you on Fred. I have never had such pleasant business dealings or the quality that I receive from him. He is great.

 

-jerry

Ross, so far I'm using two lenses on my graphics---a 162mm f4.5 Wollensak series 2 velostigmat, and a Kodak 127mm Ektar. I can recommend both lenses. The Wolly came with one of the cameras and I bought the Ektar for something like $75 in a working supermatic. It might be an alternative if you can't find a 90mm in your price range. If the 127 Ektar was good enough for Weegee, I guess it'll do anything I'll ever ask of it. The Wolly, though uncoated, takes a downright flattering portrait(I know its not because of me, 'cause I don't know what the heck I'm doing most of the time!) Cheers!

i bought a rodenstock simar s 135 for my crown in the 90's and it does magnificnetly.. it foulds up in the camera and is ready to go.. and shoots marvelous pictures.. i just got a 90 f8 super angulon to finish out the set and it fits nicely in the bag, but wont close in the camera.. the 210 schnieder is huge and if you focus on the eyes the ears will be out.. groups of people are almost imposible witout lots of flash lighting.. the depth of field is prohibitive and they hate the wait and will move around on you between shots giving you a focus nightmare.. for people get a 120 (6x6,4.5x6, 6x7 etc)camera.. for scenics still life, bridges, buildings,floweres,macro and etc the 4x5 is tops.. good luckk... dave.

I use a Crown with a 90mm Ilex-Caltar WA, similar in design to the Super Angulon but (and this is VERY important to me!) a lot cheaper. It's a fine lens for the price -- I bought mine for about $100. I also have an Ilex 210mm and it does make a nice portrait lens -- good for waist shots in 4x5, but get yourself a Graflex roll back and you can do the head shots in medium format. I have a lot of cameras, but I love the Crown!

hi ross:

 

you have gotten some great advice :)

 

there are a handful of lenses you might think of buying and using for portraits.

i and not sure how fast a lens you are looking for ... the wollensak raptar

(same as the optar) is a nice 90mm lens. you will get full coverage on your

4x5 negative, and can usually find them to be coated. there is usually a "C"

encircling a "W" which was the mark wollensak used to signify their coated

lenses. another lens you might think about is a wollensak series 3 exwa

(extreme wide angle) . it would be a little slower (f12) and mounted in an

alphax unsync-ed shutter, but it is a nice lens that stopped down will cover a

5x7 negative.

i have used both lenses shooting color as well as black and white for

assignments and only recently sold them off. they are small "field" lenses and

will fold up into the body of your camera.

 

you might check out "mike's place" and http://www.equinoxphotographic.com.

( mike's place is a link on the equinox website)

they usually have good lenses that and the prices won't break your bank.

and while you are there ... you can even pick up a fiber case with a handle for

you newly restored camera ( that is if you don't already have one!!)

 

good luck!

 

john