G Claron & other process lenses

[Geoffrey Poulton]

G Claron lenses are detailed as being capable of infinity focus when stopped down to f22.

When taking landscape images I almost invariably use forward tilt and a degree of hyperfocal distance focusing.

When the G Claron lenses (etc) are described as capable of infinity focus at f22, does this refer to the lens already having been focused out to infinity or take into account a degree of focusing employing hyperfocal distance?

Knowing the official explanation of this is probably more helpful than trying to work it out by taking a number of shots to see the effect, which is quite expensive where 5x4 film is concerned and which may not lead to a better understanding.

Extra stopping down beyond a certain point is not usually a good idea either.
I'd be grateful if anyone has any information on this or even the definitive answer.

Thanks Geoff

[Kevin Crisp]

There are certainly dozens of threads on this subject. Use your G Claron just like any other lens. They are sharp at infinity at f:22 and f:16 in my experience with virtually the entire line up. I suspect infinity looks just fine at f:11 too, but I haven't actually tried that. You don't have to stop them down to get a sharp image at infinity. There is no "effect" to see and test for. If you really must test, take one photo at infinity at f:16 and you'll see what I mean.

Several people have reported that the later ones are optimized for more distant objects but I've not seen anything official on that. My experience is with new and old versions.

[Kevin Crisp]

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...laron+infinity

[djdister]

My 270mm G-Claron is extremely sharp - I use it for landscapes and other detail studies, typically at f/16 or 22. You should just take it out and shoot with it...

[Corran]

I could be misinterpreting but it sounds like you are asking whether or not the lens will have a sufficient image circle when employing hyperfocal focusing and/or tilts.

If so, generally the answer is yes, of course depending on the focal length you are using. The GC lenses are well-known for very generous image circle specs.

If your question is about image quality, well, I think that's also a foregone conclusion - excellent all around.

[Kevin Crisp]

I interpreted the question as starting from the position that the lens couldn't handle infinity, but could you still get there by stopping down. But I could be wrong.

[Drew Wiley]

Just because G Clarons were originally advertised for closeup tabletop photography and were especially well corrected for this doesn't mean they're any less suitable for infinity than a general-purpose plasmat. In fact, they're even better than most at infinity, even at f/11, though smaller stops like f/22 are more frequently employed due to other issues like film plane flatness, variations in subject plane relative to swings and tilts, etc. They're wonderfully versatile lenses
in the field.

[dave_whatever]

Just because G Clarons were originally advertised for closeup tabletop photography and were especially well corrected for this doesn't mean they're any less suitable for infinity than a general-purpose plasmat. In fact, they're even better than most at infinity, even at f/11, though smaller stops like f/22 are more frequently employed due to other issues like film plane flatness, variations in subject plane relative to swings and tilts, etc. They're wonderfully versatile lenses
in the field.

+1 this.

[Luis-F-S]

I'd waste the 4x5 film since everyone responding may not know anymore about the question than you do.

[Drew Wiley]

Nonsense, Luis. I've been shooting and printing G-Claron images for decades, both color and b&w. So have a quite number of other people on this forum.