What's in your 4x5 Lens kit?

My active kit right now is my new (60 year old) 4x5 Speed Graphic with a 135mm F4.5 Zeiss Tessar.

Roger

Since you're deciding on focal lengths, I'll tell you my tale of focal lengths. The standard starter set for 4x5 is a 90mm, 150mm, 210mm and 300mm. I started with a 150mm, 210mm, and 300mm since wides tend to be more expensive, and I used the 150/210/300 combo for several months. Reviewing my compositions and field experience, I felt the compositions were a little "tight" or "crowded", and being in the Appalachian area, a lot of times I couldn't back up to get a wider view either physically or compositionally.

So I ended up doing an 80mm, 110mm, 135mm, 180mm. My longer lens is a 10-3/4" Red Dot Artar custom mounted in a Copal 1 as opposed to the more common 300mm. I've been very happy with this set of FLs and haven't had any desire to change. These are usually what's in the backpack.

I also have a 55mm Apo Grandagon, and a 120mm Macro Nikkor which many of us picked up when Nikkor discontinued LF lenses and these could be had new for a song. I'd used a 65mm previously, and may add that FL back. The 55mm is wonderful, but a 65mm is easier to shoot some times from a composition standpoint.

I've also picked up a 400mm Apo-Tele Xenar from one of our forum members but haven't had it out over winter.

So I'd try a 150mm, 210mm, and 300mm for a while to see how they feel. I'd probably buy good used first or second generation lenses from a reputable dealer. That's what I did because I didn't want to deal with hazy glass and balky shutters while on the learning curve.

Cheers, Steve

Started with an initial purchase of someone else's set-up. Very lucky find. Zone VI 4x5, SA 90mm f8, SA 121mm(wonderful), 210 Symmar-S. Added 65mm Nikon, Linhof 150 conv Symmar and 270mm Linhof Tele Arton. Just a couple of weeks ago, fell into a coated f4.5 150mm Heliar and 9 1/2" uncoated Dagor. Which I havn't had on yet, came with older Technika boards, that need to be traded for Linhof boards (hint. Anyone?) Some of these do double duty on 2x3 & 5x7. Bill

I started with a Toyo 45A field camera which came with a 90/6.8 Angulon and a 210/5.6 Symmar MC. I added a Computar 150/5.6 and also got a Fujinon 150/6.3 for its small size. Needing some wide-angle movements, I obtained a Super Angulon 90/8, but it's bigger than I like for field work. I also have a 300/5.6 Symmar convertible for 8x10 and a bunch of oldies that I'm struggling to fix shutters, find boards to mount and time to do all this stuff. Paul

For starters I had a 150, then added a 90 and 210. As it stands now:

Caltar 75mm
Caltar 90mm
Nikkor Macro 120 mm
Caltar 135 mm
Schneider Apo Symmar 150mm
Caltar 210 mm
Schneider G-Claron 210 mm
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar W 210 mm
Schneider G-Claron 240 mm
Nikkor-M 300 mm
Schneider G-Claron 305 mm
Schneider Apo Symmar 360 mm
Fujinon C 450 mm
Fujinon c 600 mm

Some of these I use for 8x10 also. If I had to pick one lens for 4x5, it would be something that I don't have, a 180 mm, which would have excellent coverage and be in between my most commonly used lenses of 150-210mm.

My main kit:

Nikkor 90/8
Sironar-N 135/5.6
Fujinon-A 240/9

In reserve: Angulon 90/6.8
Ektar WF 100/6.3
Ektar WF 135/6.3
Fijinon 150/6.3
Sironar-N 180/5.6
Afga Super Integon 300/9
Artar RD 19"/11

90mm Grandagon

150mm Symmar and G-Claron

210mm Symmar and G-Claron

305mm G-Claron

and on the rare occasion when I feel the need to pretend that I’m Reinhart Wolf – a 480mm Apo-Ronar

Usually I just carry the Grandagon and the 210mm G-Claron.

A 127/f4.7 only. I'm new.

Nikkor-W 135 f/5.6. Additionally, I have no intension of getting more lenses for that camera. I might choose to use the 240 (8x10) on 4x5, but I doubt it.

For my 4x5 Zone VI I have a Fuji 125mm, a Fuji 210mm, and a Nikon 300M

Mike