4x5 - Schneider 210mm Symmar-S/MC f/5.6 - It was a great lens and is the reason I recommend newbies go with the 210mm focal length first.
8x10 - 12inch Kodak Commercial Ektar f/6.3 - Wonderfully sharp, but would recommend starting with a 14inch Kodak Commercial Ektar f/6.3 if portraits are the targeted subject matter.
7x17 - 355mm Schneider G-Claron f/9 - It just seems "normal" to me in that format. I also have a 305 GClaron and it's just not the same to me on this format.
For 4X5, the Schneider 150 Symmar-S (multicoated). I eventually lost it in a home burglary, but the negatives from that lens are as sharp as any. Replaced it with the APO version. If I had to do it over again, I think I'd go with the 150 g claron since it is smaller and lighter and covers more and gives movements on 5X7 which the Symmar does not. 5X7, the 180 Schneider-S (multicoated) still my favorite 5X7 lens. 8X10, the 355 G Claron.
I started out in 4x5 with a Nikkor W 180mm. At first I found it boring, and rapidly expanded with an SSXL 110mm and a G-Claron 240mm, both of which saw more use. After a few years, though, I started to appreciate the 180mm more. Its huge disadvantage, for me, is that it doesn't cover 8x10, which I now prefer.
I ended up with: 80 - 110 - 180 - 240 - 355 - 450 - 600.
In hindsight I would be better served by: 90 - 150 - 210 - 305 - 450 - 600. For me the 80 is too wide for 4x5, and the 110 is too wide for 8x10. Better a 90 for 4x5 only, along with the 600 for 8x10 only.
4x5 first lens: f 6.3 , 10 in. (256mm) Caltar (tessar design). It is a good first lens because it is very bright in the ground glass, making composition quite enjoyable, and focusing a breeze. Wide open the gg looks like a 4x5 inch LCD image. My 90mm f 6.3 is dismally dark compared to the 10 in. Caltar. It's also a very sharp lens, even though it was inexpensive. I think I paid $50.00 for it used (1972). Currently the Acme shutter still works, albeit the slower speeds are obviously way slower than marked. I took many fine images with that lens, and have no intention of ever getting rid of it.
I knew LF was my thing, so got a three right away:
SS 90 f/8, Sironar 150, Nikor-T 360/500 for Arca 4x5. I upgraded since to SS 90XL with CF (90 f/8 anyone?), and added an Apo 210 and the 720 rear element. 72/75 is tempting ...
4x5: 127mm Ysaron. Surprisingly large image circle, considering it came from a copy-camera. Augmented it within a year with a 203 7.7 Ektar, which better fit my field of view.
I purchased a 210mm f/6.8 Caltar II-E (same as a Rodenstock Geronar) after I bought my first 4x5. This is a multicoated triplet design. Light, small, and with enough movement to cover 5x7. Very sharp within its image circle. It is quite sharp and nice to carry in the field. The person who sold it to me (at Calumet) said that I would really like this lens. He was right. I thought that I would get rid of this eventually, but I like my little triplet and have no plans to replace it. BTW, I use it for B&W. No real experience with color using this lens.
for 4x5, it was a Sinaron (aka Rodenstock) 210 F5.6 . Shortly after I got a 4 3/8" Dagor Am. Opt. f8 to give me a mild wide-angle.
For 8x10, it was a 14" Commercial Ektar. I actually had the lens for six months or more before I had the camera to put it on.
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