Is it OK for 11 x 14.

[normmamiya]

Hi everebody

I am a newbe in ULF. My 11 X 14 Seneca camera is in the mail and I'm waiting for it.

I don't have lens for the camera and I read a lot about G-Claron 355 mm, Nikkor and Dagor.
I want to use a moderate wide angle lens for lanscape and I'm thinking that 355mm is a good choice...is it?

What about a Artar lens 355mm f9 with a Alphax shutter?

See the link.
http://www.keh.com/camera/Large-Form...91247390?r=FE#


Any advice will be appreciated.

[E. von Hoegh]

No. The shortest Artar that covers 8x10 at infinity is the 16 1/2", so you'll need at least a 19" Artar for 11x14. This is according to a Goerz lens brochure. A 355 Gold Dot Kern Dagor will just cover 11x14, an older 14"/355mm CPG Berlin or US Dagor will cover with movements. Your best bang for the buck will probably be an older Symmar (Plasmat type) or something equivalent.

[TheFlyingCamera]

The 355 G-Claron will have a larger coverage circle than the Artar, and will most likely be in a more modern, reliable shutter than the Artar. A 14" Commercial Ektar will also cover 11x14, at least at portrait distances, and may still cover at infinity with minimal movement. The 14" Dagor will have similar coverage to the G-Claron. I don't know of a 360 Nikkor that has that kind of coverage, but I'm not very familiar with the shorter Nikon lenses. I have a 450 Nikkor-M that covers 14x17 with room for movements.

[rjmeyer314]

I also have an 11x14 Seneca. I have used the following lenses on it: (i)the lens I use the most is a 12"/21"/28" Turner Reich Triple convertible. The 12" will cover, although I have heard some people claim they won't. Mine does. (ii) a 480mm APO Ronar; (iii)a 600mm Nikkor, (iv) a 30" Kodak Process Ektar.

[jp80874]

Welcome to ULF. Enjoy your new camera.

As you may know a normal lens size is the distance between opposite corners of the negative. 7x17 is about 465mm. 11x14 is 448mm. 8x10 is 313mm.

355mm 14” G Claron as you say would be moderate wide
300mm 12” Dagor is a little wider and has great coverage on my 7x17. It is my favorite for 7x17 and 8x10
250mm wide field Ektar covers 7x17 with just a little movement. It would be fine for 11x14
210mm Super Angulon and Super Symmar XL will cover but are quite expensive, 3x the 355mm G Claron. The regular Symmars (300, 240, 210) don’t have the coverage you need.

There is about a ten year old 11x14 lens comparison Excel chart on the LF Forum that may help. Naturally it doesn’t have all the lenses available but it is a good start.
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/

Enjoy,
John Powers

[LJH]

305mm G Claron will also cover stopped down a little.

Some of the Konica Hexanon lenses are a cheap option (with reported massive coverage), but these are almost impossible to mount in shutters.

[johnielvis]

for that size range wide I'd recommend apo symmar or symmar 14" as first choice---coverage a plenty--then again that's what I use so maybe I"m biased. for the first LF lens I bought it was the exact same choice 355 g-claron or 360 apo symmar---I went for the apo symmar because I wanted to eventually upgrade to 11x14 in the future.

watch your max bellows draw--that will limit your choices in lenses--11x14 requires significant magnification over the smaller formats when you get up close, and 11x14 run out of bellows quick with longer lenses. Up close though, the g-claron should have better performance, but you're looking for landscape work, so the (apo) symmar is the one problably.

[jnanian]

I also have an 11x14 Seneca. I have used the following lenses on it: (i)the lens I use the most is a 12"/21"/28" Turner Reich Triple convertible. The 12" will cover, although I have heard some people claim they won't. Mine does. (ii) a 480mm APO Ronar; (iii)a 600mm Nikkor, (iv) a 30" Kodak Process Ektar.

i use a wollensak 1a triple (13,20,25 ) and it covers ( 11x14 ) at 13" too ... with lots of room to spare

[Andrew O'Neill]

I have a 355 G-Claron and it well covers my 14x17.

[LJH]

I went for the apo symmar because I wanted to eventually upgrade to 11x14 in the future.

The 355mm G Claron covers 12x20, so I have no idea why you would write that you "... went for the apo symmar because I wanted to eventually upgrade to 11x14 in the future..."

The Claron weighs over half a kilo LESS (1410 v 855g) and uses readily available filters (77mm). Do a quick search for availability and cost of 112mm filters, as used on the APO Symmar.

The APO Symmar is a massive lens. You'll probably be surprised just how big if you get one in your hands. At almost 1.5kg, it could stress your camera's front standard.