I'm looking for a small (size, not focal length) lens that will cover 8x10 and a llow for reasonable movements. My preference is for something in the 210-240mm range. I found a reference to a "mystery lens at: http://www.photomall.com/gele ns.htm. Check this list for a 210mm f/8 lens that is not identified, but is all eged to cover 11x14! Any idea as to what this lens is? Are there any good alte rnatives?
Gary Helfrich
Gary: Fujinon might make something in that range that covers 8x10, otherwise I s uggest the 300mm f/9 M-Nikkor. You also might find some older Dagors or Commerci al Ektars as well.
I've already done quite a few hours of research on this issue. I have exhausted the information that is available on both Quang-Tuan Luong's Large Format Home Page, and graflex.org.
Thanks for the suggestion on the Nikkor, but 300mm is too long. Most of the stuff I shoot is close, and requires a good deal of shift. On my 4x5, my most commonly used lenses are 75 and 125mm.
What I would really like is some information on what that mystery 210mm process lens is that is mentioned on the Glen Evans site.
I wonder what Nicholas Nixon is using for his portraits? It looks like a 240mm f rom the pictoral effects, but my bet is that is not a small lens. How close are you working, what repro ratio (subject to image on film size?)
I have the Fuji 240mm f/9 that covers 336mm. Not alot of shift but if you're working close up (what the lens is corrected for...) you will have more room for shift. It is an excellent sharp lens, but recently discontinued by Fuji. Some may still be available new. It is small, Copal 0 and light.
I'm shooting reproduction ratios from 20:1 (min) to infinity. Most of the time outdoors. Color print film (PRN100 mostly.
Sorry for the bad URL. It should have been: http://www.photomall.com/gelens.htm
Gary,
I think you would be crazy to spend 1800$ on this lens. Take a deep breath and think for a moment. Evans is charging a 25% restocking fee if you return it. He knows what the make of the lens is, but he won't divulge it he says because he "doesn't want any competition." This is not a "mystery" lens to him, he just won't tell you what it is. Pardon me but that sounds like a whole lot of bullshit to me. If you are to spend 1800 bucks on a lens and give up 450$ should you not like it, then you deserve to be told what it is. Go to photo.net and check the "neighbor to neighbor" listings there for Glenn Evans. I bought a lens from him once and was somewhat dissatisfied, as was another person who listed his story on neighbor to neighbor. You might have a different experience. Perhaps he is the most honest dealer on the web. I don't know. But I think a whole lot of red lights ought to go on by his description of the lens and refusal to take it back without a $450.00 "restocking" fee.
My two cents.
Good luck. (Since you are willing to buy a lens in barrel, I'd suggest the dagor. Or maybe one of those f9 Paragons that are coated, take great images and cost 100$? It wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that is what the so-called "mystery" lens is.)
Here is Evans' description of the lens Gary is thinking about, cut and pasted exactly as it appears on Evans' site:
"~210mm ~F8 lens, coated, Copal #1, covers 11X14, small, Mint, $1800. The only other similar focal length lenses that will cover 11X14 with such quality are the 210 S-A and the 200 Grandagon, and they are 6-7# heavier, 20 times larger, and much more expensive. Because this lens' capabilities are known only by a few very knowledgeable photographers, and although rare, the lens does come onto the market occasionally (I've bought 2 in the last 10 years), and I don't want any more competition than necessary--I will not list the lens' name. If you buy it from me you'll know, but you won't have any need for another. 25% restocking charge if returned. If you want to see for yourself what the lens can do, send $50 for 11X14 contact print made with this lens."
Maybe the description will ring some bells out there and others will be able to guess what the lens is.
I can guess what the lens is, it is a Bullshit special being sold by a con artist.
Name the lens & give the specifics and don't rip people off with a scam like this. If you buy a lens from someone like this, with an exorbitant "restocking fee" you deserve to get screwed and it looks like the seller is more than willing to accomodate you.
Buy your lenses from reputable dealers or second hand sellers who don't screw their customers & give value for the money spent. If the guy isn't upfront about this let him play with the lens himself, don't buy it.
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