Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar 5,6/360mm

[dellos]

Great info, best thanx i will look for some cheap lenses on campur I think, the old versions of schnider or so... best thanx...

[rdenney]

Instead of a Symmar Convertible where the combined lens is already at the limit of your camera's focusing abilities, find one where the rear cell focuses at that limit. A Symmar 180/5.6 will convert to a 315/12. Even at f/12, you'll get selective focus for head shots. And at 180, you'll be able to photograph your subject's whole body, not just the face. These are quite affordable (I just bought one for $160 a few months ago).

There is also a 210/360 Symmar that will also be a good buy.

But I would prefer a faster lens than any of these, and they do come up from time to time. For example, I have an 8-1/2" f/4.5 Ilex Paragon, which is a well-made Tessar lens. It's mounted in a very large Ilex No. 4 shutter, but the package is not that large and I used one on my Calumet/Cambo with no issue at all. Short of a lens designed for soft focus, this one will give you an old-world look when wide open but still allow you to make very sharp and contrasty images when you want to. And these are also quite inexpensive when you can find them.

Rick "who just bought a Caltar Type Y in 240mm for the same basic purpose, except nobody will pose nude for me" Denney

[Daniel Unkefer]

I recently bought a Sinar 360mm F5.6 Symmar, forward-mounted on a deluxe Sinar Norma spring-loaded aperture board. I want to use it for 8x10 headshots. Classic fashion lens.

Yes it was cheap.

[Donald Miller]

If you can find a 305 repo Claron it would be a good long lens for you. It is much smaller physically than the 360 Symmar. I have one mounted in a Compur that I have used extensively on 4X5. According to Schneider it is equally as sharp as the G Claron with slightly less coverage. For portrait work I use it with some Bronica soft focus filters that I have.

[erie patsellis]

I recently bought a Sinar 360mm F5.6 Symmar, forward-mounted on a deluxe Sinar Norma spring-loaded aperture board. I want to use it for 8x10 headshots. Classic fashion lens.

Yes it was cheap.

I love mine in a DB board, as long as I don't have to carry it very far.

[mandoman7]

Its not about the lens with body studies, its about the use of light and how it reveals the form. Any lens can be used; wider for the fuller body shots, longer for isolating small areas. In either case, the challenge will be your ability to work with light and your model, which will take some practice.

[Peter K]

Its not about the lens with body studies, its about the use of light and how it reveals the form. Any lens can be used; wider for the fuller body shots, longer for isolating small areas. In either case, the challenge will be your ability to work with light and your model, which will take some practice.

It's also the lens resp. the perspective one gets with the distance between subject and lens.

With too short lenses one gets distorted limbs, noses etc. And with too long lenses faces will look almost flat.

Peter

[BradS]

It's also the lens resp. the perspective one gets with the distance between subject and lens.

With too short lenses one gets distorted limbs, noses etc. And with too long lenses faces will look almost flat.

Peter

That's not due to the lens focal length. It is due to the distance from lens to subject. You get the same perspective regardless of focal length if you leave the camera in the same position. This has been shown again and again and is easy to prove to yourself. Focal length only changes the image size.

[Peter K]

That's not due to the lens focal length. It is due to the distance from lens to subject. You get the same perspective regardless of focal length if you leave the camera in the same position. This has been shown again and again and is easy to prove to yourself. Focal length only changes the image size.

As I've written: ... the perspective one gets with the distance between subject and lens.

Peter

[aduncanson]

I have an 8-1/2" f/4.5 Ilex Paragon, which is a well-made Tessar lens. It's mounted in a very large Ilex No. 4 shutter, but the package is not that large and I used one on my Calumet/Cambo with no issue at all.

Rick, reportedly that 8-1/2 f/4.5 is a convertible plasmat, not a tessar. Some folks report that they cover 8x10. Is it labeled a "Type-S"? Count reflections or try it converted. The real test is if the front cell will form an image on a wall. The front cell of a tessar will not. Let us know please.

- Alan