Best 90mm Large Format Lens for 6x17

[Snowy Smith]

Best 90mm Large Format Lens. I intend building my own 6x17cm Camera. I will be using 120 film. The Camera will be used for Mountain Landscape Photography. I feel the best size lens is a 90mm. I want to buy the best quality 90mm Large Format Lens. The lens does not need to be the fastest lens, as I never shoot at apertures lar ger than f16. I also shoot 4x5 and 8x10 inch. I presently do not have a 90mm lens in my Large Format Collection and intend to buy a new lens for my 6x17 project. I would appreciate some advice from the experts and anyone who has a 90mm. Best Regards, Snowy Smith. Republic of South Africa.

[Bill Glickman]

Snowy, 90mm is a great fl, plenty to choose from. The Nikor is excellent in this fl, and has two sizes, 4.5 and I beleive 9.

I am curious how you plan to build the roll film holder portion of the camera? To me the ultimate 6x17 camera would be one that accepts LF lens boards so you can share them with your view camera. Rise and tilt would also be very beneficial. I think Keith Canhams 6x17 back for a 5x7 is the closest we will ever see to meet this requirement.

[paul owen]

Snowy, IMHO you'll need one with plenty of coverage inorder to ensure no light fall off. Linhof utilises the Schneider 90XL 5.6 on its 617 so this may be a good lens to look at. Regards Paul

[Stuart Whatling]

I'd second the recommendation for the Schneider XL. I have the non-XL version of the SA 90/5.6 for 5x4 and although it's my favourite lens, I don't think the coverage would be enough for anything bigger than that - so it's probably worth bulking up the muscles/credit card and getting the XL. Although you might not need the 5.6 aperture for shooting, you'll certainly need it for viewing. Viewing the ground glass with anything slower than a 5.6 at these wider focal lengths is like walking around on a dark night with sunglasses on.

[Terry_2293]

Another vote for the 90XL, not just for optical quality but because it could most plausibly be utilized on your 8x10 (not full coverage, of course, but a surprising amount).

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[Tom Mangan]

Snowy: I shoot lots of 6x17 pans with my Art Panorama mostly Mountainscapes here in Colorado. A 90mm is an excellent all around lens for 6x17, especially for mountains. You need about 190mm of coverage to cover a 6x17 so pretty much all the 90mm have enough coverage. I currently use a Schneider Super Angulon 90 f8. It has plenty of coverage but optically is not all that great especially at the corners. I would avoid the 90XL as its going to be huge. Why not go with the Schneider 80mm f4.5XL. Has more than enough coverage for 6x17, has aspheric elements alowing you to avoid flare(very common with 6x17) not to mention its a very, very tiny lens, the f4.5 apt. is also helpful for focusing on a GG. I own the 80mm XL and use it mostly on my 4x5 as I cant quite squeeze it on my art pan. Keep in mind that you will need a Center Filter with a 6x17 and 90mm so the falloff present with the 80mm, even when used on a 4x5 is circumvented with the filter. Not to mention the cost of the 80mm XL with Center Filter is still much cheaper than a 90XL with filter. So my vote goes for the 80mm XL f4.5. If you really want a 90mm I would suggest the 90mm Nikkor f8. Great coverage and very sharp. Tom Mangan

[Walter Glover]

Snowy,

Having had the 90mm XL (and 72 XL, don't disregard) I would suggest it as being an ideal choice. And the earlier posts are correct - a centre-filter is a must. Another 90mm I have been seriously considering lately is the Grandagon 90mm 1:4.5. By all accounts an absolute cracker. I am about to ask Tony about his 80mm SS XL so you might keep an eye on that discourse.

Regards,

WG

Tony,

I divested myself of the 90mm XL recently because it didn't fit my Linhof and I sold the last remaining Sinar. Tonight I am phoning London to order my replacement and would like to pick your brains about the 80mm SS XL. Would you kindly respond to the following queries?:

Image circle is my first concern - 213mm isn't copious by any means and may prove restrictive if rise/fall is combined with tilt/swing.

I was told by two competent high profile users that the lens is so unsharp wide open that the GG image can only reliably be used to frame and compose - stopping down to 5.6-8 is necessary for accurate focus. According to one source the official explanation was that this was an outcome of giving extra viewing speed.

I have been using the 110mm SS XL for 18 months and am well pleased with the results as is an 8x10 colleague who has the 150 and 210 SS XLs. The reputation of the 80mm seems to contradict the findings with the other lenses.

My alternative is to purchase the Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 1:4.5 which, from all reports is stunning. Price is not an issue, nor is size or weight - just the quality on film and ease of operation.

Considerable impact will be made by your response (or others) so please be honest.

Regards,

WG

[Ellis Vener]

I use the 90mm f/4.5 Rodenstock Grandagon on my 6x17 V-pan. An excellent lens! if you aren't going to be using a groundglass for focusing (or even if you are) the 90mm f/8 SW-Nikkor is also an excellent lens -- small, sharp, big (235mm @ f/22 according to Hikon -- I haven't measuered it) image circle, The Scheneider 90mm f/5.6 Xl Super Angulon is also an excellent choice.

But with any 90mm currently on the market you are definetely goingto need a center weighted filter to balance your exposures from center to edge. This is according to my tests.

[giancatarina]

is the 90mm f/4.5 Rodenstock Grandagon N fit the super technika V ?

[Bob Salomon]

"is the 90mm f/4.5 Rodenstock Grandagon N fit the super technika V ? "

Yes on a flat lensboard