Clear Thinking on Nikon 450 F9?

[John Kasaian]

If the Nikon is not getting you where you want to be, what lens will?
I like 14" Commercial Ektar for my many of my 8x10 portraits---but you may prefer something else.
There is nothing wrong with selling the Nikon and getting something that allows you to pursue your vision.

[Armin Seeholzer]

For head and shoulder I would take a 360mm lens for some still live I would take a 210-240mm lens, just my 2 cts.

Armin

[Ari]

I constantly struggle to find the required lens-to-subject distance and/or bellows extension to use this lens easily.

This sums it up for me.
Gear is there to serve, not be a distraction or hindrance.
And if you're constantly having difficulty with this lens, it probably means you two aren't getting along.
Give it another chance, just to be sure, and while you're at it, swap out the 450 for a 300 (if you have one, or some other, shorter, FL) on one occasion.
If the 300 suddenly makes a lot more sense, then the 450 is not needed.

Personally, I would have bought the Nikkor 450 only if I were getting into something like 7x17; a format where this lens reputedly shines.
I like my 8x10 portraits with a 300, not longer.
But that's speaking personally.

[Drew Wiley]

If that 450 lens is really that lonely and underfed, I'd be willing to adopt it, even for free! No sense euthanizing the critter.

[Pfsor]

If that 450 lens is really that lonely and underfed, I'd be willing to adopt it, even for free!

For free I would not only adopt it - I would even feed it!