Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1

    Join Date
    Dec 1997
    Location
    Baraboo, Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,697

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    I recently acquired an 8x10 camera with 30 inches of bellows. I don't know how w ell, if at all, I'll like this format so other than the relatively high initial cost of the camera, I'd like to keep my start up expenses down. I have a 300 mm Nikon M lens that I figure I can use as my "normal" lens. I'd like something sho rter and/or something longer (more interested in longer than shorter). If anyone has any suggestions for shorter and longer lenses in the $400 - $700 range that will cover 8x10, or if anyone knows of a source for discussion of such lenses, I'd appreciate your suggestions. I'll be doing only black and white contact prin ts and I don't mind single coating.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  2. #2
    Whatever David A. Goldfarb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    Honolulu, Hawai'i
    Posts
    4,658

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    Commercial and Wide-Field Ektars are fine lenses in that price range. I have a 10" WF Ektar that covers 8x10" with lots of room for movement. It comes in an Ilex #5 shutter, though, so you might take that into consideration, if you are concerned about weight.

  3. #3

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    Brian,

    I could not agree more with Eric. Simplify your life. Learn to use your camera with the lens you have. A 12" lens with the 8x10 format is a great combination. There's very little you cannot do with it. Sergio.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Feb 1998
    Posts
    287

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    I agree. Use the lens you have until you know you want to stick with 8x10. AA once said he prefered having just one lens. 'If I have several lenses, then I never have the right lens.'

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jan 1998
    Posts
    262

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    Or a 210 Claron. It's what I use for sorta-wide 8x10 and it works great. Not much in the way of movements but a little bit and a terrific 4x10 lens. Same goes for the 7 inch Dagor, which can be had for a song in barrel. You're going to want at least a 210 I think; anything longer is going to be too close to your 300 in my view. For longer lenses you'll probably end up with a red dot artar in the 18 or 24 inch focal length. I'd stick with 18 personally but I have a rickety camera and take pictures in windy places.

    If you want really wide you'll either have to shell out a lot of cash or go for the 6x8 Protar V: about a 5.5 inch focal length and amazingly offers movements on 8x10. It's even pretty sharp. But good luck focussing the damn thing: it's an f18 lens.

  6. #6

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    Of course, the advice to use one lens for a while is good. That said, I'd agree with a 19" Artar on the long end (to save money get the plain APO, not the later Red Dot). On the short end, two lenses that haven't been mentioned are the 165mm Angulon, which will cover with a little movement stopped down, and the Wide Angle 8x10 Wollensak, which is about 158mm, I think. It comes in two versions f/9.5 and f/12 (if memory serves).

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Dec 1997
    Location
    Baraboo, Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,697

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    Thanks to all who responded. I should have made it clear that I don't plat to rush out in the next week or two and buy two more lenses. I was interested in the information for the future, assuming that using just the 300 mm initially is enough to encourage me to pursue the format.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Manchester, UK
    Posts
    50

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    Dittos to Sheldons recommendation of a 12-19-24. I have use one converted to 19 and 24 extensively over the last 3 years and if used properly, i.e. with an orange filter behind the lens and focusing at the taking aperture with the filter in place when converted, they produce excellent images.

    I am especially fond of the 19 inch focal length in 8X10, but you really do have an excellent lens in the Nikon. As the others have said, explore that focal lengyh, and see what its limitations really are. I used a only a 135mm on 4X5 for 14 years and really got to know and appreciate that focal length. As luck would have it 12" is pretty close to that length in 8X10 so the move over was easy from the stand point of composition but if I weren't as familiar with the focal length, I would have been truly starting from scratch.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Dec 1999
    Location
    Forest Grove, Ore.
    Posts
    4,679

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    I think that the Caltar S II's are excellent lenses, which are Schneider Symmar S's. I purchased a 300mm (415mm image circle) for $625 and a 360mm (500mm image circle) for about $750. They're heavy, but they're excellent.

  10. #10
    lazy retired bum
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Lake Oswego, Oregon
    Posts
    264

    Inexpensive (relatively) 8x10 Lenses

    Why don't you just stick with the one lens, learn the format and the style, before investing financially or in more learning curves in other lenses. If you like 8x10, you'll like it with one lens, if you don't, more lenses will not help. Some of my own personal best work was done when I had only one lens for 4x5. It radically decreases the number of decisions one makes when making an image. Good luck.

    Eric

Similar Threads

  1. Inexpensive Liability Insurance
    By John Sarsgard in forum Business
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 13-Jun-2006, 23:55
  2. Inexpensive Fresnel Lens
    By Mitch Abate in forum Gear
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 14-Sep-2003, 22:25
  3. Inexpensive Gel Filter holder
    By Erik Asgeirsson in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 8-Dec-2001, 09:54
  4. have a 6" goerz dagor and want to buy an inexpensive used 4x5
    By Stephen Jensen in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 28-Dec-1998, 21:31

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •