Best 8x10 field lens 4 close ups w limited bellows

[Frank Petronio]

Being lazy I'll ask instead of try.

Of the so called normal range of 8x10 lenses - 240 - 300 - 360 - and a light 8x10 with limited bellows (30 inches or so) which is the best trade off of getting close without racking things out too far? I'm thinking of "found" still lifes in nature, with a light tripod and camera, and avoiding having any more bellows to the wind and shake than necessary? Which lens gets you closest with the least extension?

Merry Christmas and Happy Haunakha.

[John Kasaian]

240mm. IMHO the shorter the better. I once saw a wonderful portfolio in View Camera (I don't recall the Photographer's name) who used a 9-1/2" Dagor on marine specimens----beautiful!

[e]

You might want to consider a fast lens like the 135mm Schneider F 3.5, or 150mm 2.8. I know these are shorter than you mentioned but at 1 to 1 or so will cover fine and will give you a real bright GG with little bellows extension. I've even tryed the 135mm on 12x20 at real close distances and this little lens is a knockout. Emile/www.deleon-ulf.com

[David A. Goldfarb]

Have you tried your 4x5" lenses or something like a 12" or 14" Artar? They'll often cover 8x10" at macro distances without producing too much excess image circle.

[Neal Shields]

I second David's suggestion.

I have great fun using my 4x5 lenses on my 8x10.

I have even used my 75 Biogon on 8x10 for a twice life size shot of a Magnolia blossum.

http://truckgenerator.com/subdomain/sueandneal/biogon-on-steroids.jpg

http://truckgenerator.com/subdomain/sueandneal/magnoliacontactweb.jpg

Neal

[John Berry ( Roadkill )]

I tried my 210 macro - sironar on my 8x10 and liked it very much.

[Ken Lee]

At 1:1, a lens will cover twice as much as it does at infinity, so a lens like a 180 or 150 may do just fine, requiring only 360mm or 300mm extension, which, I presume, any 8x10 camera will provide. An affordable choice would be a 150 G-Claron, or a 180 Fujinon A, both of which do well when used very close.

[Jim Rhoades]

I've also used 4x5 lenses for 8x10 close ups. Down to even a 90mm Optar, very soft.
I have always been disappointed in my 210 schneider conv. as a close up lens. My best sucess for still life is always a 300mm Nikkor M. Light, small easy to carry and sharp at 1 to 1.

[fred arnold]

What about a 210 or 240 G-Claron, or a Ysaron? Those are optimized for close-up work, and are comfortably small and light.

[CXC]

I use a 240mm G-Claron. As mentioned everywhere, it is not just a macro, works fine at infinity when stopped down reasonably.