on 4x5 cameras and lenses.

[Stephanie Brim]

I think I'm finally going to get a larger format camera. 4x5 is as high as I'm willing to go at this point, though, with a baby on the way. I bid on a Speed Graphic without lenses that looks a bit rough (cosmetically horrible and the bellows may need patching, but that's not a big problem), but otherwise it's usable. The focal plane shutter even works.

Considering I don't get a lens with the camera, I have more choice for a first lens. What's a good, decently cheap lens, in a shutter or not, that would work well for landscapes and general photography with slow shutter speeds?

[rwyoung]

Any barrel lens with sufficient coverage. For 4x5, 150mm is considered about "normal". Most Graflexes had 135mm and 127mm and some had 90mm. All of these are a bit on the wide side. Which considering the camera was meant mostly for press use and a lot of "shooting from the hip" a slightly wide angle lense makes good sense.

If you can put your hands on a 135mm Kodak, Graflex or Wolensak (spelling?) I think you would be pretty happy. Lots of those float by on eBay. Lots of good barrel lenses too. Slow film, small apeture and you may not even need your focal plane shutter, just the lens cap.

I suggested this to the guy with the "new" 8x10 too. Consider a pinhole lensboard too. Can't ground glass focus, but you can at least play with the camera, and at almost no addtional cost (cost of the lens board, some brass shim stock and a beading needle).

[Peter Schrager]

No offense but for a first time user she will be having enough issues without the use of a shutter. There are a zillion good lenses out there going for nothing on epay. only a fool would be so naieve as to NOT buy a lens with a shutter. I struggled plenty over 30 years ago with a an air bulb;etc. do not waste time and energy-make pictures you know will come out. as an aside you would be way better off with a 5x7 camera as it is almost 50% larger image and you can contact print with a light bulb!! think about it Stefanie....
Best, Peter

[Stephanie Brim]

The camera has a focal plane shutter...the lens having a shutter doesn't really matter.

[Ole]

Peter, Stephanie does have a shutter - the focal plane shytter in the camera.

The main difficulty with barrel lenses on a Speed Graphic is that the tend not to fit in "standard" lensboard holes, so some "tuning" may be necessary.

I've got a Speed Graphic myself for exactly that reason: Playing with old, cheap barrel lenses.

[Stephanie Brim]

I have a Dremel and I know how to use it!

...or, well, my grandfather does.

[Terence]

Pretty much any 150mm lens made in the last 30 years should be fine and is a great all purpose focal length. A lot of folks like wider, but I find for landscapes it just makes everything too small. My favorite lens on 4x5 is my 210mm G Claron.

For making lens boards, I cut up a piece of tempered hardboard from the 99 cent clip boards at the drug store, Kmart, etc. A piece of black mat board on the back completes the light seal and prevents any reflections/glare.

[rwyoung]

- the focal plane shytter in the camera

Hmm, a "shytter" might not be the accessory you were hoping for. Especially if it shyte into the camera. Seems like you would be spending all your photo-time cleaning up after it.

(Just teasing Ole, your English and grammar is usually better than mine!).

[Stephanie Brim]

Yes, we all love Ole.

(I'd love to have most of his cameras.)

[Terence]

You can have the cameras, if I can have the lenses and lens irises.