favorite LF and ULF lens if you had only one lens

[Greg]

Back when I was a student at RIT in the 1970s, I wanted to learn the Zone System. Found a used 8x10 B&J wooden view, a 12" f/4.5 Wollensak Velostigmat in a Betax shutter, some used 8x10 holders, a B&J wooden tripod with simple wooden head, and one very primitive spot meter. For probably the next 10 years, this was my LF outfit.

In the 1980s found an 11x14 Improved Empire State view camera, 2 holders, and a 508mm f/7 Caltar. For the next 20 or so years that was my ULF outfit.

Would love to know which is your favorite one lens for your LF and ULF camera.

For me:
4x5: 178mm 7 inch f/3.1 Darlot Portrait (Petzval)
Whole Plate: 210mm Nikkor
8x10: 12" f/4.5 Wollensak Velostigmat... my first 8x10 lens
11x14: 508mm f/7 Caltar. again my first 11x14 lens

[Alan9940]

I don't shoot ULF, but for me:

4x5: 210mm Schneider Symmar-S
8x10: 360mm Schneider Symmar-S (even though the front cell is the size of a small dinner plate and it weighs about as much as a bag of sugar!)

[ic-racer]

Fujinon 300mm for 8x10. I can't say it is my favorite lens, but if I had only one 8x10 lens, this one gets the job done more times than not.

[Jeffrey Arthur]

For the 14x17 I have an affinity for the little 12"/22"/27" Gundlach Perigraphic convertible. Also works great on my 8x10. Uncoated with alphax shutter.

[chassis]

Right now I am enjoying an 11" no-name meniscus in a Betax shutter. Equal or second choice is a Nikkor W 150/5.6. Nothing fancy but they get the job done.

4x5 only for me.

[Luis-F-S]

12" Dagor!

[mdarnton]

I guess my choice would be my 12"/6.3 Paragon, for both 5x7 and 8x10. If I were only shooting 4x5 and 5x7, it might be my 190mm/4.5 Raptar.

But maybe since we're allowing multiple formats but not lenses, the Paragon would work for all three sizes and I'd just change formats instead of lenses. :-)

Bottom line is that the Paragon is my favorite lens of all of them.

It's interesting how many people are choosing a twelvish-inch (if we can include that one 11") lens, but for a variety of formats!

[David Karp]

In 4x5 I want to say my 125mm Fujinon NW, but the reality is that I use a 210mm more, so I have to say 210mm Fujinon L our 210mm Caltar Pro (Xenar). They are equal.

Not sure yet about 5x7. Maybe the 300mm Nikkor M.

On my Whole Plate camera, the same Nikkor. Although, like Greg, I like a 210mm on Whole Plate too. Mine is a Caltar II-N. The 300mm Nikkor edges it out though.

[MAubrey]

For 11x14, my one lens is two: the Symmar 360mm f/5.6 Convertible--real element is 620mm f/12. It's really all you need, I'd say.

[Tim Meisburger]

135mm Fujinon for 4x5 (if I only had one lens). Otherwise, my 300mm Universal Heliar.