Originally posted by torashi I wonder how it looks.
I have seen a picture once. It had no shutter, because it was used on some kind of russian aerial camera.
Kind of the Aero Ektar, that you probably know because it has been modified by many to be fitted on a Speed Graphic.
As far as I remember the look was different from the Aero Ektar, it was flat, large and all black. I might be wrong, I have no documents that prove it, just going off the top of my head.
Regarding the question about the best portrait lens for large format, first I should know for which format.
The smaller the format the larger the choice.
For 8x10" I would consider the Veritar, it's coated, and it's one of the best soft focus lenses ever.
If you want sharper, there is the Voigtlander Heliar. I used it for work long ago, it was a 210mm on Compound shutter, ideal to to take portraits on 5x7".