5x7 shooters

[chris_4622]

Hi,

I would like some suggestions for focal lengths. I have a 110 and a 150mm and was thinking of either of these:
210 and 300 or 240 and 360. I'm going to be shooting farm houses, barns etc. trying to record what is being lost before it is.

Thanks,
chris

[John Kasaian]

chris,

I've got a 14" APO Artar on my 5x7 and can put the 159 WA Wolly on it for a wider lens. Niether are especially high dollar state of the art stuff, but it works for me when I'm after landscapes. A Kodak No.33 lives on the Speed Graphic. Maybe someday I'll add a 120 Angulon or 210 G-Claron to the menu (when I get too old to lug around the 8x10;-)!)

Cheers!

[Gem Singer]

Hi Chris,

Since you already have a 110 and a 150, I would suggest a Nikkor 300M or a Fujinon 300C to use as your longish lens. Either of those compact 300's would do the job that you described. I found the 240 to be a little short for 5X7, and a 360 would be slightly too long for the subject matter you mentioned. However, it would also be handy to have a 210 to fill in between the 150 and the 300.

[MIke Sherck]

My 5x7 lenses are a 180 Fuji CM-W, a 240 Rodenstock, and a 14" RD Artar. I don't particularly gravitate toward wide lenses and this set suits me just fine.

[Ted Harris]

I everything from 90 through 450 but find that my most frequently used lenses are 150 and 300.

[Michael Kadillak]

Find a fellow LF shooter in your area and try one of his/her lenses in the 200mm and 300mm category to see how that fits your perspective. My 300M Nikon is a light weight compact and reasonable priced optic that is tack sharp. There is nothing like seeing the results as per your question before you make the leap. I think that more of us offered to assist people in our area in these endevours there would be less interpretation and mystery about certain lenses and the results that they produce. I personally have seen any hard earned dollars go for expensive optics when as John said above, older lenses would work quite well. Also, I have discovered that these older cheaper lenses provide a unique and quite beautiful gradation of the tones within the scene that a modern lens could not replicate.

Cheers!

[Mark_3632]

My 300 works well isolating the subject, but I hardly ever use it. My 180 and 210 make up 99% of my work.

[Brian J Nelson]

Chris,

consider doubling your focal length if you are trying to save money or weight. If your subject allows, this is a good practice. When shooting exteriors you can make up some shortcomings by moving up or back from the subject. If you're doing interiors where you are more confined by space, you often need a 58,72,90, 110, 150, 180 etc. If you can move back or forward to make up for the range between a 150 and 300 you'll have a lighter load and less investment.

[Eric Woodbury]

Chris,

I have (what seems like) every lens for 5x7 from 72 to 800mm. I use the 150mm the most. I used to carry a 210 and a 300 and found that I almost never used the 300mm. Then I bought a 250mm Fuji for 810. It is such a nice lens that now I carry it and have tried leaving the 210 and 300 at home. Works so far. I always figure that one of the advantages of 57 is that I can crop quite a bit and still have lots of negative. If you don't believe in cropping, then get the 210mm.

[Bill_1856]

If you don't know what you need, you probably don't need it.