Do I really need a 150mm lens? Opinions please

[Steve Feldman]

Hi y'all,

I know "Opinions are like bellybuttons . . . Everyone has one". So I humbly request your opinions.

The question is 'Do I really need a 150mm (so called normal length lens)'. I currently have, and use, a 90mm, 135mm, 203mm and a 254mm. My lens for the 4x5 enlarger is 135mm. So far it's all worked well for me for the past 10 +- years, but thought I might be missing something without the 150mm.

So? Waddya think?

Thanks.

~Steve

[Richard Wasserman]

No.

[Ben Syverson]

I think between the 135 and 203, you're covered! It's hard to imagine a scenario where the 135 would be too short but the 203 would be too long.

[James E Galvin]

Well I have 65, 90, 120, 135, 150, 203, 210, 250, 300, 360, 485, 760. I only use the 120 and 760 on 8X10. I have had the 150 for a few years, haven't used it yet. Do you find that sometimes the 135 is too wide, and the 203 too narrow? If so, get a 150 or 180. You can have too many lenses!

[Richard K.]

Hi y'all,

I know "Opinions are like bellybuttons . . . Everyone has one".

~Steve

I'm sorry Steve but you got the quote (anatomically) wrong so we can't help you!

OK, depending on how good the 203 is (is it an Ektar?), I might consider swapping it out for a 180 lens to give you nice spacing...that will be perfect....

[Gem Singer]

I agree with Richard K.

A 90,135, 180, 254, and the possible addition of a compact 300, would give you more even spacing and a greater range of focal lengths.

I find the combination of a 135 and a 180 to be much more useful than a 150 for 4x5.

[Ron Marshall]

I had a 150 and sold it after trying a 135. Though they are close I much prefer a 135.

You may prefer a 150 to a 135.

Used 150s are cheap now. Buy one and give it a try!

[Shen45]

Everyone is wrong and of course my vision is correct for you [And yes if you haven't caught on this is a "tounge in cheek" statement]

First off, sell everything except the 90mm and even that might be the wrong type and get a new 90 then a 127mm, a 161mm a 215mm and a 300mm. To round everything out buy a 19" red Dot Artar.

Now in a second bag in the boot of the car have a --------------- "

The other alternative is to leave all of the lenses you have at home one day and take a 4x5 viewing card with an unmarked piece of string attached plus a mm tape measure and view a series of scenes. Write in a pad the measurements that best fit your vision of a scene.

Eg. Frame the scene within the card, hold the string to the corner of your eye then measure from the card to where your fingers are on the string. You may very well be surprise what your vision really is.

Just a thought.

[Vaughn]

Get rid of all the others and get a 150mm. Actually, just about all I ever had for 4x5 was a 150mm

I like Steve N's suggestion.

Vaughn

[Peter De Smidt]

I've never had a 150 in 20 years of shooting 4x5. I go from 125mm right up to 210. But this is a highly personal matter. 150mm lenses are cheap, relatively speaking. If you do your research and pay a good price, you can try out the focal length and sell it at no loss if you don't like it.