Advice on longer lenses please

[mrladewig]

thanks for advice - which 210 did you get please?

... and the 210 I recently purchased has quickly become one of my favorite focal lengths.

I have a Fujinon 210/5.6 W bought used from a member here. Its the newer EBC type with lettering on the outside of lens in a silver ring Copal shutter, which should date it as roughly mid 80s. They seem to run around $250 on ebay and that is what I paid for mine.

On the downside, the 210 W is pretty heavy and large compared to my other lenses. On the upside, its very bright through the viewfinder and easy to focus.

So far, it seems like this focal length will work well for me and I think I'll get alot of use out of this lens.

[Nick_3536]

If you don't want too heavy you've ruled out the F/5.6 300mm.

So you're either looking at a slower 300mm or something shorter. I have a 210mm Fuji-W [first type] which I don't think is too heavy. I also have a Komura Commerical 210mm F/6. something I think. It's relatively tiny with I think 46mm filters [or is it's 52mm?] The Fuji covers a lot more but the Komura is cheap and cheerful and best of all tiny. Coupled with a tiny 150mm like my Fuji-W I've got a two lens set that weighs less then many single lenses. Light enough that carrying a third lens isn't an issue.

[Ole Tjugen]

You might be able to find a Schneider Xenar 210mm f:6.1 within your budget. If you do, I would advise you to buy it - it's a marvellous little lens!

Note that the Xenar 210mm f:4.5 is not a little lens - it's larger than both the Symmar 210mm f:5.6 and the G-Claron 210mm f:9.

The Xenar has less coverage than the others have mentioned, but sufficient for all but the very worst cases (on 4x5").

[Hany Aziz]

210 mm is not too close to 150 mm. It is my second most used focal length after 135 mm. Moreover since it was, and remains, a very popular focal length for 4x5 there is easy availability of many used lenses from all the 4 big lens companies at very reasonable prices. I do use my Nikkor 300 f9 lens also a fair bit but I would get the 210 first before going even longer.

Sincerely,

Hany.

[Anthony Lewis]

All I can say is what I use, and I am very happy with my lens choices. I have the 80mmSS Schneider, 110mmSS Schneider, 150mmL Schneider, 240mm Fuji, and 450mm Fuji. If one looks at the horizontal angles between these lenses, there is a fairly equal progression.
I feel if you get lenses too close together then you are just carrying too much, and it will be confusing. Too much gear, not enough art or enjoyment!
However I must say, I am amazed at how often I end up using my Fuji 240mm. It is one of my most used lenses and you will not be dissapointed if you buy it.

[neil poulsen]

Personally, I don't see that 210mm and 150mm are too close. Between 240mm and 210mm, I would recommend the 210mm. Lately, they've been very reasonably priced on EBay, under $400.

I think my next one would be a 300mm. (Or, maybe a 355mm or 360mm.) There's a 300mm Nikon M that's small. Or, the 305mm G-Claron. Or, the 300mm Rodenstock Geronar. These are in the smaller #1 shutters, versus the larger #3.