Are all 8x10 lenses going to be this BIG?

[climbabout]

For 8x10 there's not much in the 360mm focal length that is small - as Ken said the 360a fujinon is probably the smallest, although they are quite expensive - every one that I have seen has gone for 1200-1600$ lately. I have a 14" red dot artar f9 in an acme 4 shutter which is the largest lens in my 8x10 set, but it is considerably smaller than the 5.6 plasmats. Some other very compact lenses you may consider - 159mm wollensak, 240a fujinon, 300 f9 nikkor, and 450c fujinon - this is what rounds out my kit and all 5 lenses on 4" lensboards fit in a padded zippered case thats about 12x5x5.
You might also visit Kerry Thalmann's page here:
http://www.thalmann.com/largeformat/lightwei.htm
Tim

[Len Middleton]

Another relatively small and compact lens that covers 8x10 is the 355 f9 Repro-Claron. Much smaller even than the 305 G-Claron that I have.

Both are in shutters, the 355 being factory mounted in a Compur 2, while the 305 has been removed from its barrel and screwed into a Polaroid Prontor size 1. Might find it much cheaper than the cost of buying a Copal 3 shutter for the big Symmar.

BTW, Symmar's are nice lenses with lots of coverage and sharp images, just many times bigger and heavier than some of the alternates...

Hope that helps,

Len

[Jim Ewins]

My Nikkor 300M f9 works a charm.

[John Kasaian]

G Clarons are compact and lightwieght---and very sharp! Dagors and Artars aren't overly large or heavy IMHO, and the Wollensak 159mm WA and EWAs are incredible small for being so wide.