Head And Shoulders 4x5

[John Conway]

I would be interested in hearing what the favorite lenses are, as far as focal length, type of lens etc, for doing head and shoulders portraits in 4x5.I have always used medium format for this type of portraiture. I am thinking something in the 240 or 250 range but there does not seem to be much out there for 4x5 in that range. Most lenses in that range seem to be slight wide angle for 8x10. I recall reading somewhere that a lens with the big image circle for 8x10 will not work well for 4x5. Then there are the tele lens group for 4x5. I have thought about the soft focus lenses as well.

[karl french]

I like a 210 myself.

[Gem Singer]

The Nikon/Nikkor f9 300M or the Fujinon f8.5 300C are great compact sized lenses for head and shoulders on 4x5.

210 is a nice focal length for 3/4 length portraits.

[BrianShaw]

Head + Shoulders: 12 inch Kodak Commercial Ektar, and FujinonSF 250 for the ladies.

[BrianShaw]

... But as you say, more often than not I'll use MF.

[Alan Gales]

... But as you say, more often than not I'll use MF.

Like an RZ67 with a 180 f/4 SF lens with a wide aperture for the ladies and stopped down for the men?

[Ari]

210 racked out.
And there are many choices in the 240-250 range, if you like that much compression.

[Alan Gales]

If you are interested in soft focus, a 250 Rodenstock Imagon. As Brian mentioned a 250 Fujinon SF for the same effect at a lower cost.

Someone was selling a 250 Fujinon SF on this forum recently for a great price. I'm not sure but I think that it sold.

[BrianShaw]

Like an RZ67 with a 180 f/4 SF lens with a wide aperture for the ladies and stopped down for the men?

Heck no... a Hasselblad... and a Softar for the ladies.

(But I REALLY do get "Mamiya envy" when I think about their SF lenses!)

[Jim Noel]

300mm for me.