wdavidprice Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 I have shot my first roll with a *new to me* Century Graphic/Linhof 105/3.5. No good pics just test shots of trees, sheds, and such at my little tree farm out in the country. Based on what I learned from that roll I'm looking for something wider, mainly for landscapes. After reading what I could find on photo.net, APUG and Graflex.org I think what I want, and what I want to pay, is a 65mm, probably a Schneider from the 60's or 70's. Any advice and suggestions would be welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Watch out for the little Compur 0 shutters often found with the 65 Angulons. There is no press focus lever, or even a "T" function, so to focus you have to set on "B" and use a locking cable release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_fromm1 Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Hmm. A Century has minimal movements, so there's no need for a super duper 65 that covers 4x5 with movements. 65/8, 65/5.6 Super Angulons or 65/8 Ilex (designed and made in Rochester, very similar to the 65/8 SA) will do just fine for you. 65/6.8 Angulon and Raptar/Optar (different designs, similar performance) won't be as sharp in the corners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicaglow Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 The 65mm f/8 Schneider Super Angulon (get the Linhof if you can find it) is a terrific lens and very sharp. I used it all the time on 4x5, though coverage is pretty tight. I used a center filter and got some extremely sharp photographs. They're in the $300 to $325 range used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyandrews34photo.net Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 I can confirm that a Schneider Super Angulon 65mm lens would make a fine lens for your Century Graphic. I've used them on Linhofs and a 6x9 Crown. The latest multi-coated "MC" version would be best, but the single-coated earlier lenses are not prone to flare either. Linhof select lenses are units submitted to Linhof who test to their exacting standards, before mounting them in shutters with the Linhof name on the dial. I got tired of the weight and bulk of my field cameras and went to the Fuji GSW690III. Its 65mm lens is an even newer formula than the latest Schneiders and the multi-coatings are matched to the performance characteristics of Fuji film, which I use almost exclusively for my slide presentations. Of course, you give up the ground glass and the ability to Scheimpflug, while gaining some additional film flatness, lower weight and more compact dimensions, not to mention speed of loading. I'm starting to get arthritis, after 65 years of climbing around the mountains and deserts with heavy equipment. So doing away with weight and fumbling with itsy bitsy knobs was a welcome change for me. KEH or Midwestern Photo Exchange would be a good place to pick up a Super-Angulon. EBay source could be good too, if you have a return privilege and lots of positive feedback to reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul.droluk Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Horseman made a 65mm f7 specifically for their 6x9 technical cameras (900 series, VH, VHR). There was an earlier f5.6 version which is just so-so, but the f7's are really good. There are two versions of the 65/7... a Super and a Super ER. The Super is single coated and the Super ER is multicoated (the ER version is very hard to come by). Both will actually cover 4x5 (with no movements). Horseman also made a 75/5.6 Super & Super ER as well, which are very sharp lenses. All of the Horseman lenses are equipped with Seiko shutters, which are slightly smaller than Copal 0. I recently picked up a couple of the 65 Supers on eBay for under $300 each, which I use on 612 format cameras.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdavidprice Posted February 24, 2006 Author Share Posted February 24, 2006 Thanks everbody, I appreciate the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profhlynnjones Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 Hi David, The f8 Super Angulon is just fine, the f 5.6 Super angulon is excellent but you have ask yourself if the price is worth the extra 5 degrees of coverage. Contrary to so some opinions, the regular Angulon f6.8 which covers 85 degrees is very sharp. The best buy's however are tha Ilex manufactured lenses. The are better than all but one of the above (the 5.6 Super). They are about 103 degees and are listed as WF Caltars (90mm only), B&J Acugon, BBOI VeriWide, and Ilex WA Paragon. With all super wide angle lenses of 90degrees or wider, you must FOCUS IN!120/121 focus on the subject but not further than 50 feet90mm focus on the subject but not further than 35 feet, 75mm focus on the subject but not further than 30 feet, 65mm focus on the subject but not further than 25 feet, 47mm focus on the submect but not further then 15 feet. If you readers don't believe this focus at 200 feet, and then shoot at the above distances carrying focus by depth of field. You won't even need a magnifying glass to see the difference. Lynn Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdavidprice Posted February 24, 2006 Author Share Posted February 24, 2006 Thanks Lynn, Pardon my inexperience (read ingnorance) but I'm not sure what you mean by *FOCUS IN*. Could you unpack that for me? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tito sobrinho Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 The best 65mm/7 is the one I use on my 6x9 Horseman as noted by Paul. Excellent and hey, it's a Biogon clone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_g Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 the best 65 that money can buy is... the 58xl ! Larger but better ! It covers 4x5, very fine modern lens ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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