I am considering adding a 210mm lens to my 4x5 kit for the purposes of portraiture. I already have a 90/150/240 combo of modern glass that I use for landscapes with my Wista DX. However, I'm finding that about half of the shooting I do in 4x5 ends up being portraiture.
My personal tastes in portraiture run towards the ultra shallow DOF, "mojo" sort of vibe. I've used the 150mm (APO Sironar S) wide open with some good results, but I find it a little on the wide angle side for close in work. My 240mm (Fuji A) is also great, but not fast enough for what I'm trying to do. Plus, I don't have the bellows to focus it close enough with my Wista.
So, I'm thinking 210mm as a reasonable focal length compromise, and looking for a faster lens, possibly f/4.5 if possible. The Heliar seems to come up as being the "best" portraiture lens short of a Cooke (which is well out of my price range). Fine folks such as Jim Galli and Chris Perez seem to swear by it.
I guess my question is what alternative lenses I should be looking at, esp for shooting wide open. Jim Galli had mentioned a 190mm Ektar f/4.5, and I've even considered a Commercial Congo 210mm tessar as a cheap option. Or, is the Heliar the way to go? (And anyone have a spare?)
Any guidance would be welcome!
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