Question about Ektar 102mm

[curtis_nelson]

Hi,

 

Someone is selling an Ektar 102mm lens, indicating it's for a Graflex

Combat Graphic KE-4 camera. Was this lens designed to work only with

that particular camera, or can I use it on my Calumet 45N as well?

 

Any comments about the lens?

 

Thanks,

 

Curtis

[dan_fromm1]

The lens is in barrel. To use it at all on your Calumet you'll have to put it in front of a shutter. The possibilities are many, including (I'm not joking) the Thornton Pickard Roller Blind Shutter.

 

The Combat Graphic shot, IIRC (failing memory, please don't kill me if I got the size wrong) 6x7 on 70 mm film. The lens won't cover 4x5. Fine if you want circular images 90 or 100 mm in diameter, not so fine if you insist on 4x5.

 

So you could put it on a 2x3 Speed Graphic and use the focal plane shutter, although I'm not sure putting it on the board will be a snap. But its not a good idea for your Calumet.

 

The old truths, including the one that goes "Ain't no good inexpensive wide angle lenses for frames larger than 24 mm x 36 mm" are still true. Some would extend it to "Ain't no good inexpensive wide angle lenses at all."

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

[curtis_nelson]

Thanks, Dan. Guess I'll keep looking.