300 or 360mm for 8 x 10

[bill farrell]

i just purchased a calumet 8 x 10 and would like to get a used lens for it. i am interested in landscapes, but would also like to be able to do studio portraits and some still lifes. i have a 210mm i use with my 4 x 5 and i would like to know which is the best way to go: 300mm or 360mm based upon what i want to be able to do. also, good make/model number if you have any suggestions. would like to fit a lens board for the 210mm to use on my 8 x 10 also.

[Richard Boulware]

For many years, I used a 360mm Symmar on my monster Linhof Kardan in my studio. Of all the lenses I had for this camera the 360 was by far, the most used. Good luck.

[John Kasaian]

I'll second that! My 14" Commmercial Ektar was the only real 8x10 lens I owned for several years before I got a 'puter and discovered eBay.

BTW, I think the older Symmars were convertibles, which would double your bang for the buck!

[Christopher Perez]

I agree with the previous comments. 14" Commercial Ektar or 360mm somethingorother. How about a 355 GClaron?

If you don't mind the size of the lens, they can come cheaply these days. There's a guy I met at a local swap recently who wanted $350 for a 360mm Fuji. I nearly bought on basic principal: Don't leave good stuff that cheap laying around!

[John Kasaian]

If your 210mm happens to be G-Claron, then a 355mm G Claron, as Christopher Perez mentioned, should fit the hole---same size copal shutter. The 14" Commercial Ektar rides in a #5 Universal and will need a "long throw" cabel release(like a Gepe) to fire reliably.

[Jim Galli]

Hold on there John. A 355 G-Claron is much too big for the Copal 1 that the 210 240 270 and 305 G-Claron's use. It's a copal 3 lens. Still smaller than the giant symmar's though. A 305 G-Claron is a fantastic lens for 8X10.

[Jeremy Moore]

I have a 355mm G-Claron for my 8x10 so I may be biased, but I find it to be a wonderful lens and paired with a 240mm it makes a nice 2 lens set.

Now if I could just get a 165 and 480 to round out the set....

[Robert Skeoch]

You wouldn't be wrong with either length but I find that I use a 300 mostly for the landscape work.
It happens to be a fuji 300C. For people I tend to use the 450C most of the time. It has a slightly narrower view so I don't have to worry so much about running out of background in the studio.
-Rob Skeoch

[John Kasaian]

Jim Galli,

Your right of course----I got the 355 confused with the 305(boy am I embarrassed!) Is there a Fuji 355 that fits into a Copal 1?

[Ed K.]

Bill - rent one of each and see. If you like your 210 on 4x5, chances are you might like something longer than either one if you have the bellows for it. Even the 360 may seem a tad wide after using a 210 on 4x5. Check to see that your 210 will actually cover 8x10 at the distances you intend to focus to. While my Fujinon 360 is so wonderful and sharp, I use the 450 Nikkor more in general. Everybody has their own preferences, your mileage will vary.