5 1/2" f4.5 ilex paragon

[ronlamarsh]

anyone out there know the coverage of this lens? would like to use for 4x5 but would like a little movement.

[John Kasaian]

I think its a tessar design, widely considered a "normal" focal length for 4x5. It should cover nicely but will probably be a bit soft at the edges if you push the envelope. Tessars are usually very sharp, especially the f/6.3 versions. YMMV.

[bob01721]

... a tessar design... It should cover nicely but will probably be a bit soft at the edges if you push the envelope. Tessars are usually very sharp, especially the f/6.3 versions. YMMV.

John, does that also apply to the C. Zeiss Jena Tessars? Specifically, the 15cm f/4.5? Will it cover movements okay on a 4x5? How far to stop down for sharpest images? Thanks in advance.

[Ole]

The Carl Zeiss Jena Tessars are the "original" Tessars, so anything said about other Tessar-type lenses goes for them too. The 15cm f/4.5 covers 4x5" with a little movement, and is nice and sharp even wide open. Sharpest probably around f:16?

[bob01721]

Ole, thanks for the reply. The lens seems pretty sharp to me, but I'm still so new to LF that I don't trust my own observations -- nothing to compare them with!

I haven't played around yet with the movements, but I guess I'll find the lens's limitations when I do. Thanks again.

[ian_greant]

This is the lens that commonly was mounted on Press style cameras, yes?
I have one and I love it dearly. Coverage is not one of it's strong points. It does cover 4x5 and you can do basic corrections with it but large amounts of rise will move you into the soft part of the lens. Personally I like the limited coverage and soft edges but that's me.

Cheers,

[bob01721]

This is the lens that commonly was mounted on Press style cameras, yes?

Ian,

Dunno. Mine was mounted on an old 4x5 monorail I bought. I understood at the time that 15cm was a "normal" lens for a 4x5, and that 30cm is a nice portrait length, but that's the extent of my knowledge.

I haven't noticed the "soft edges" you mentioned, but that may be because of the apertures I use... or it may be that I'm still so awed by the size of the neg that I've simply overlooked it. (Coming from 35mm, these negs are huge! 8x10? Ha! Makes me dizzy just to think of it.)

[Dan Fromm]

This is the lens that commonly was mounted on Press style cameras, yes?

<snip>

Cheers,

Hmm. I don't think it was standard issue from Graflex, they tended to offer their own brand (Optar) with Ektars as an option. But who knows what other makers may have done?

Cheers,