No retrofocus WAs for LF?

Why aren't there any retrofocus design wide angles for LF? It seems

to me it would make sense; on some cameras the standards hit each

other at about 80mm of bellows draw, this problem would be eliminated

with a retro design. Furthermore, field cameras might be able to get

by without a drop bed. I realize that a bellows factor would be

needed even at infinity, but couldn't the aperture scale be modified

to take this into account?

I for one am more than prepared to endure the inconveniences

of sunk lens panels for the ability to get super-sharp, undistorted

wide-angle images.

 

Beyond the optical differences it is also a delight not to have to

bear the burden of the weight, bulk or expense of retro-focus

lenses.

 

I am sure that retro-focus lens design would pose major issues

in terms of image circle also.

 

I am able to use lenses down to an Apo-Grandagon 35mm on

my Technikardan 45S and that'll do me.

 

WG

I think that retrofocus wide angles were developed to fix the problem of rear elements getting in the way of 35 mm SLR mirrors. But the retrofocus design is a compromise. The Hassleblad Super Wide (or whatever they're calling it this week) has a non retrofocus design and I doubt that they're doing it by accident.

 

Would a retrofocus lens have a different bellows extension factor? How big would the image circle be? I wonder. So although retrofocus might cure one problem it wouldn't be a better optical lens or soleve many other problems.

I can think of a lot of reasons, but basically it's a nonstarter as an idea on a

number of fronts: image circle, price of designing and engineering the lenses

would probably not be recouped as the LF market is very small.

The retrofocus design means more elements in the lens thus more weight, more additional correction. It's an advantage to solve these problems by mechanical means rather than by the optical construction.

You are mistaken if you think that the retrofocus lens (or the telephoto lens) need the bellows factor to be calculated according to the physical flange focal length. What is valid for its calculation is always the optical focal length. See the thread bellow : Bellows exten. factor and tele lenses...

As soon as any manufacturer produces one, everybody will follow suit. Until then, it's business as usual -- don't make waves. I think it's a great idea.

i don't think anyone evr designs a retrofocus wide by choice, only

necessity. they are necessarily very complex designs, and as

such are inevitably less well-corrected than non-retrofocus types.

the design sprang into being only with the advent of the slr. apart

from the technical challenge in making a really sharp retro, they

are also HUGE, with very large front groups. while short

standard to standard distances can be a nuisance, there are

much more elegant solutions than a retro lens. linhof, for

example, produced the very handy wide angle focus device

which i use all the time with my 47 and 65. recessed boards, as

noted, are another simpler approach. i should also add that

movements are generally unnecessary with superwides due to

inherent vast depth of field. in any event, it's not going to happen.

Per Norman McGrath in "View Camera" magazine, the newest generation of Schneider ultrawide lenses are retrofocus designs. At least that's how I remember it...