What is your favorite LF portrait lens

[Paul Minkus]

I have a new 6x9 view camera and am trying to set up a 3 lens kit. I am interested in what focal length in either the 4x5 or 6x9 format you conside r your favorite for portrait work. My current lenses are 55mm & 100mm. Also, is there a lens to complete my "kit" that you think would be best for both portrait and landscape. Feel free to recommend a particular lens. Thanks to all the fine people on this enjoyable LF forum for your opinions.

[Jeff Buckels]

The Rodenstock Imagon 250mm is in my opinion the best bet. I have a 300mm I use w/ 5x7. Good alternative is the Wollensak Verito, the ten-inch being the size you'd want, I believe. It's easier to find an Imagon 250 in good condition. Either lens is rather expensive in good condition. If you get the Imagon, make sure and get the complete kit -- i.e., lens, disks, filters, box. Don't get a partial kit and figure to go looking for the missing elements -- that's very hard. -jb

[Per Volquartz]

No favorite. The choice of lens depends on the subject matter and the way you look at the subject matter.

[Bob Salomon]

The 200mm Imagon is optimized for 6x9cm cameras.

[Jim Galli]

I would consider a 21cm Heliar. Nice affordable older lens that should be great for head and shoulders on 6X9. F4.5 aperture.

[Enrique Vila]

I use a Schneider Tele-Xenar 240, but in general conditions a 210mm or a 240mm should be ok...

[David A. Goldfarb]

I'm also partial to Heliars for portraits.

[Chris Ellinger]

I use a 210mm in a Copal Press shutter for 6x7 portraits. The Copal Press shutt er has advantages for portraits: it is self-cocking, opens to maximum aperture for viewing, and can be opened with a cable release. So, an exposure can be mad e a few seconds after focusing, without touching the shutter or aperture control s.

[Bob Salomon]

And it has a big limitation for some. Fastest shutter speed is limited to 1/125.

"The Copal Press shutter has advantages for portraits: it is self- cocking, opens to maximum aperture for viewing, and can be opened with a cable release"

[Chris Ellinger]

My experience has been that I only dream of using a shutter speed faster than 1/ 125 for natural light portraits, and it is not an issue for studio strobes.

YMMV.