Which Wide Lens for 8x10

[Uri A]

Hello everyone,

I have a question which I have been trying to answer for a long while, and while many people on many forums have been enthusiastically replying, no-one has been able to answer my actual question. Here it is:

I am in need of a modern (multicoated, sharp) wide angle lens for an 8x10 camera with certain characteristics.

Things I DO care about:

1. Wide to approx 24mm equivalent on a 35mm camera (yes, I know the format has different proportions which means there is no exact equivalent- I am talking about the same angle or "feel" as a 24)
2. Has enough coverage for a reasonable amount of movement - nothing too extreme.
3. IMPORTANT: retains a non-distorted image when used with a little vertical movement. (For example my 24mm MF AI-S Nikkor looks fantastic in the corners and retains parallel verticals beautifully, as long as it's level)
4. Even illumination across the field (with center filter, if req'd, is OK)

Things I DON'T care about:

1. Price (well sort of - try me)
2. Weight

Lenses I am considering (but open to suggestions):

1. Schneider Super-Symmar XL 150/f5.6 (seems very wide - is there distortion at edges? Does it need centre filter?)
2. Schneider Super-Angulon 165/f8 (bloody expensive)
3. Rodenstock Grandagon 155/6.8
4. Rodenstock Grandagon 200/6.8 (is this wide enough...?)

NOW - feel free to post whatever (obviously), but I would love to hear from someone who actually owns and uses such a lens.

Sorry in advance if this post sounds arrogant or unfriendly, but if I had 5 cents for every post from someone whose cousin Billy once overheard 30 years ago that lens X had edge softness at f45.... :)

Many thanks in advance and happy shooting!!

[Gem Singer]

Don't rule out the Nikon/Nikkor f8 150 SW.

It fits all of your requirements.

If you want to go wider, the Nikon/Nikkor f8 120 SW will cover 8X10, with very little movement capability.

I own both of these lenses. The i50 SW is an awesome lens for 8X10 and the 120 SW for 5X7.

[nelson_chan]

I'll second that on the Nikon 150 SW. It's a beast, but a great wide angle lens for 8x10. It would definitely fit the bill and I think a few people are selling one here on the forum. I would suggest a center filter however.

[Walter Calahan]

I own and use the Schneider Super-Angulon 165/f8.

It is a beast in size just like the Nikon 150 mm.

That said I can't live without it. Fabulous lens. Fits perfectly between my Nikon 240 mm and my Nikon 120 mm.

Good luck on what you end up getting. As always (which is tough now a days) try to test the lens before buying.

[IanG]

Like Walter I have a 165mm f8 SA, big lens but superb quality, they can be reasonable prices second0hand, I paid around $350 for mine.

Ian

[Louis Pacilla]

Hi

I have the 155 Grandagon N. Love it!
Louie P

[Jim Galli]

The older design Super Angulon 165 in it's latest iteration should not be more expensive than the 150XL which supplanted it. What you really want is a modern 183mm B&L Protar V, but there aren't any. The modern world makes the jump from 150 to 210 with nothing in the middle. A 210 is rather like a 28mm and a 150 is like a 21mm. The late multicoated 165 Super Angulon is as close to your criteria as you will get.

[John Kasaian]

Being an optical "bottom feeder" I can't suggest an appropriate lens which would meet your criteria, but something you might want to care about is wieght. Years ago I looked at a 165 SA at Adolph Gasser's and discovered that it was such a big and heavy (and beautiful) piece of glass that I felt it would tax the limits of my old camera's structural integrity.
Just a though!

[Robert Hall]

I have the 150, it's awesome. I have the center filter but really never use it as I shoot black and white and any fall off is usually a help to me. If you get this lens and would like the center filter, I would be happy to sell you mine. :)

I have the Nikkor 120 as well. I find I use both but I use the 150 more, but this is simply a personal choice.

I wouldn't want to give up either.

[ljsegil]

Love the 150 SSXL, usually do not need the center filter except perhaps for chromes with a lot of sky. The lens is so good it can sometimes almost make me look like a photographer. Also a great lens for 5x7, beautiful medium wide. I find it worth the bulk for the quality.
PM also sent.
Larry

[ic-racer]

The diagonal view of a 150 will be like a 21 on your 35mm camera. In terms of "feel" you may wind up seeing too much unwanted foreground with a 150 on 8x10 than your 24mm.

I love a 28mm on a 35mm camera, so for 8x10 I went with a 210mm which has about the same diagonal. However, I am still getting used to the increase in foreground view, as the 8x10 format is more square. I can see why Ansel had a platform on the top of his car.

So, you might want to try a 210mm to match the "feel" of a 24.

Since I projection print, another thing I have been doing to match the "feel" is to crop my 8x10 negatives to a somewhat wider aspect ratio.

[Mark Stahlke]

I'm very happy with my Schneider Super-Symmar XL 150/f5.6. I've never felt the need to use a center filter with it. Others may have different opinions about that.

You don't mention what camera you're using so I'll throw out this cautionary note even though it may be irrelevant. Pay attention to the size of the rear element, some of them are quite large. My Canham 8x10, with it's 110mm lensboards, will not accept some of these lenses because the rear element will not fit through the opening in the front standard. The 150 SSXL has a comparatively small rear element and fits the Canham easily.

Cheers,
Mark

[Uri A]

Wow - a dozen replies in (less than) a day! Thanks to everyone who replied!

Allow me to pick your brains a little further:

Good point about the added foreground, but I will be above ground. Basically, I am trying to do some hyper-detailed landcapes a la Massimo Vitali (If you are in the mood check out http://www.massimovitali.com/ - such awesome work..).

Now, I don't know how the hell he gets those super wide shots (I reckon its gotta be a 150, no?) and must use some front movement to get the perspective right (it's shot from a platform 3m over the ocean), and still has no distortion or falloff.....

Years ago, shooting wide on 4x5 I often had trouble with falloff (LOTS!) if I used any rise or tilt. I can't remember what lenses, they were hired, but they must've been rotten ones.

In a nutshell: I need a very wide, super sharp lens for 8x10 with lots of coverage, minimal distortion and falloff. If anyone can advise on the likely lens for this kind of work, do let me know.

If you are selling such a lens (150 SSXL or 165 SA?), also drop me a line.

Thanks everyone!

[GPS]

Wow - a dozen replies in (less than) a day! Thanks to everyone who replied!

Allow me to pick your brains a little further:

Good point about the added foreground, but I will be above ground. Basically, I am trying to do some hyper-detailed landcapes a la Massimo Vitali (If you are in the mood check out http://www.massimovitali.com/ - such awesome work..).

Now, I don't know how the hell he gets those super wide shots (I reckon its gotta be a 150, no?) and must use some front movement to get the perspective right (it's shot from a platform 3m over the ocean), and still has no distortion or falloff.....

Years ago, shooting wide on 4x5 I often had trouble with falloff (LOTS!) if I used any rise or tilt. I can't remember what lenses, they were hired, but they must've been rotten ones.

In a nutshell: I need a very wide, super sharp lens for 8x10 with lots of coverage, minimal distortion and falloff. If anyone can advise on the likely lens for this kind of work, do let me know.

If you are selling such a lens (150 SSXL or 165 SA?), also drop me a line.

Thanks everyone!

I think you're completely mistaken about the focal lengths you preferred photographer (Massimo) uses. His pictures are not taken with a super wide lens. It seems it's just the opposite - a longer lens used at a distance.

[Uri A]

Sorry my bad - I should have clarified: look at the diptychs!

I own a print, which is the one I'm most familiar with, which is definitely shot with a wide, but you are right that some of them (esp the first few in the portfolio section), are shot with long(ish) lenses.

In any case the project I am doing requres a wide lens.

Thank you!

[GPS]

The "diptychs" on his web site are just two quasi stitched images taken with the same longish lens at a distance.
I have no doubt you're looking for a wide lens for your project. Good luck!

[federico9001]

Massimo Vitali's favourite lens is the 360mm Apo Symmar, on 8x10" and 11x14".

I work with him.

This is a Massimo's dyptich that I scanned, restored and printed with him at Grieger lab in Dusseldorf:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/castorscan/6766674429/in/photostream