Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 23

Thread: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    46

    Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Hi,

    This is my first post here. I used to shoot Velvia on 135, but now primarily medium format Leaf digital back. Exploring the idea of 4x5, due view and different way of working please help me with following advises:

    My purpose is to use 4x5 for flat stitch panoramas, thus using the full 5 inch width of 4x5. For such purpose, what are affordable yet very sharp analog lenses?

    Of following I should perhaps choose 2; 58mm, 65mm, 75mm, 90mm. Any advises much sincerely appreciated!

    I am looking at using on an Ebony SW45 or Shen-Hao TFC45-IIB, and posted question of these in another thread.

    Yes, dont worry... of course I would be keen to use Velvia in it also... it is just different medias, but film a little difficult because I live overseas and on much travels, current Hong Kong. Yet the look of Velvia remains magic to me

    Much thanks!

    Regards
    Anders

  2. #2
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico
    Posts
    9,864

    Re: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Anders, Welcome. I am familiar with you from Luminous Landscape. As a starting point, you might want to define what affordable means to you.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    46

    Re: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Quote Originally Posted by Kirk Gittings View Post
    Anders, Welcome. I am familiar with you from Luminous Landscape. As a starting point, you might want to define what affordable means to you.
    Kirk,

    Much thanks, that is difficult to define. If it is too cheap it will be waste of money, so decent balance. I see the new traditional lenses still fetch decent on Ebay, any lesser priced alternatives, or which ones of those to go with? In the end I wish good detailed images, lets remember using medium format sensor on a larger format than the sensor itself, so digitar lenses are out(also because I not need such resolution).

    I should say I too remember you from LL, and as someone indeed masterly capable at impressive photography!

    Thanks

    Regards
    Anders

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    1,424

    Re: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Quote Originally Posted by Anders_HK View Post
    My purpose is to use 4x5 for flat stitch panoramas, thus using the full 5 inch width of 4x5.
    If you don't mind, I'm going to question your premise... Why go to all the trouble of LF, only to give yourself even more trouble in Photoshop? Hand-stitching (which is what you'd have to do) 100+ megapixel images is not my idea of fun...

    Besides, if you already know you want more real estate than 4x5, why stop at a hobbled-together 5x8 (or 5x10, or whatever)? Why not 8x10, or larger? It can't be weight, because you can get an 8x10 which weighs less than an Ebony 4x5.

  5. #5
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico
    Posts
    9,864

    Re: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Thanks Anders, here is an article by a member here that you may find useful:

    http://www.thalmann.com/largeformat/future.htm
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Van Buren, Arkansas
    Posts
    1,941

    Re: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Most all of the Large Format lenses from the "BIG 4" manufacturers: Schneider, Rodenstock, Fuji and Nikon, made in the last 25 years are plenty sharp enough for your uses. Nikkor LF lenses, while discontinued a couple years ago, can still be readily found on the used market.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    1,952

    Re: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Quote Originally Posted by bensyverson View Post
    If you don't mind, I'm going to question your premise... Why go to all the trouble of LF, only to give yourself even more trouble in Photoshop? Hand-stitching (which is what you'd have to do) 100+ megapixel images is not my idea of fun...

    Besides, if you already know you want more real estate than 4x5, why stop at a hobbled-together 5x8 (or 5x10, or whatever)? Why not 8x10, or larger? It can't be weight, because you can get an 8x10 which weighs less than an Ebony 4x5.
    Stitching 4x5 isn't really that big of a deal and it works very well. It eliminates the need for a larger camera. One doesn't actually need to see the entire image on the ground glass as long as you know what you want to accomplish.

    Good quality lenses work fine; there isn't any need for special 'digital' lenses in my experience. BTW 100+ megapixel files aren't a big deal either.

    Don Bryant

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    1,952

    Re: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Anders,

    For such purpose, what are affordable yet very sharp analog lenses?
    Of following I should perhaps choose 2; 58mm, 65mm, 75mm, 90mm. Any advises much sincerely appreciated!
    I would choose a 90 mm and a 150 mm lenses. Any of the name lenses will work fine. I also stitch with my 75 mm SA though you can have problems with distortion. Experience will guide you.

    Be prepared to do some cropping after stitching. Allow for that when you make your exposures. In short it isn't a perfect science but if you are flexible with your compositions it will work fine. IOW, don't crop extremely tightly.

    My 2 cents,

    Don Bryant

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    1,424

    Re: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Quote Originally Posted by D. Bryant View Post
    BTW 100+ megapixel files aren't a big deal either.
    It's not the size of the image that's problematic—it's trying to stitch an area that large... I can't imagine it would be much fun to do manually, and all the automated tools will either choke on files that large, or give a slight mismatch.

    Just seems like a ton of work when you could just shoot with a larger camera...

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    46

    Re: Affordable + Sharp, analog lenses for digital

    Quote Originally Posted by bensyverson View Post
    It's not the size of the image that's problematic—it's trying to stitch an area that large... I can't imagine it would be much fun to do manually, and all the automated tools will either choke on files that large, or give a slight mismatch.

    Just seems like a ton of work when you could just shoot with a larger camera...
    Hi

    I made a trial stitch with my Mamiya 645 + 28mm on tripod, just rotating the base of ballhead with camera in portrait position. Subject was rather dark with some castles in a lake in India. The resulting image was around 120MP after cropping.

    Dark image with lack of details, the wide angle lens and many frames must have been difficult for CS3, yet... it performed flawless on auto stitch setting .

    Why then my interest in using a 4x5? Flat stiching + viewing of the image. Worth it?

    Regards
    Anders

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 21
    Last Post: 12-Jun-2007, 05:49
  2. Fuji lenses
    By Stefan Lungu in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 30-May-2007, 09:49
  3. SHARP short lenses?
    By Jack Flesher in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 25-Nov-2005, 08:58
  4. Portable 300 mm lenses
    By Julio Fernandez in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 15-May-2000, 08:09
  5. How to make sharp photographs with long lenses?
    By Paul Schilliger in forum Style & Technique
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 2-Jan-2000, 18:59

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
  •