Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19

Thread: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

  1. #1

    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    193

    G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    OK, so we all know G Clarons are great close up and fine at infinity as long as they are stopped well down to F22 or beyond...

    .... but what about at medium distances, such as 6-20 feet? Can one stop down less and still get very sharp results? I'm in the process of getting various bits of kit out to Kabul for a project which will be shot in this 'medium' distance range and if I can get great performance out of a G claron at F11-F16 then I will plan on bringing out my G clarons. If not, I will search out a bargain 210 f5.6/250 f 6.3 plasmat.

    I'm asking as it will be to months before I can get my hands on my G clarons, but if they are not going to work well at well under F22, then I would rather start looking for something more suitable now.

    I am ashamed to admit my G-Clarons have only been used at infinity

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    Posts
    9,599

    Re: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    My 240mm G Claron likes f/32. I've told it many times that if it would only consent to f/64, we'd be in the "in" club but it obstinately insists it is a f/32 lens and wants absolutely nothing to do with f/64.
    I've argued
    that none of my Ektars go to f/64 but the smart mouth G Claron tells me it wants none of my guff and to talk to the Dagor and Artar if I want f/64.
    "I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White

  3. #3

    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    193

    Re: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    So John, if you mention F11 or F16 at medium distances your 240 G Claron wants none of it?

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    8,470

    Re: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    It depends on how much coverage you want.

    The G-Clarons I've had were fine centrally wide open. Their coverage grows, i.e., image quality at the edges of the field improves, on stopping down. So it really depends on which focal length(s) you want to use and what format you're shooting.

    The G-Clarons I've had were fine at all distances. Near, middle, far. They're good and useful lenses.

    All this is true of faster plasmats too, at least from around 1:10 to infinity. And of dagors of all speeds.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    193

    Re: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    I'll be shooting 5x7 and have available 210, 240 and 305 G clarons.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Portland, OR USA
    Posts
    747

    Re: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    My 305 G-Claron seems to be sharpest from f/16 on. That's fine with me because I almost never use a view camera lens at less than f/22. Just the way I am.

    Peter Gomena

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    8,470

    Re: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    Quote Originally Posted by turtle View Post
    I'll be shooting 5x7 and have available 210, 240 and 305 G clarons.
    f/16 on 5x7 shouldn't be a stretch for any of them, f/11 might be for the 210.

    Why don't you try them out and see whether they'll do? You have them and you know the level of quality you want to attain.

  8. #8
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,338

    Re: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    Depends on your focal length and coverage relative to format. For example, I generally need to stop down my 250G using 8X10 film with movements simply to get the corners sharp. The same film on 4X5 works just as good as any plastmat I have ever used at typical apertures, regardless of subject distance. I rarely shoot wider than f/22, but f/16 would be just fine, maybe f/11. The bigger problem than the optics is the fact that film in the holder itself is not perfectlyflat, so a bit more depth of field helps in this respect too.
    I just wouldn't worry about it unless you're trying to shoot the thing wide open.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    193

    Re: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    OK, interesting. Looks like the G-Clarons will be fine, or good enough.

  10. #10
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,338

    Re: G-Clarons & Good Apertures for Medium distances

    I wouldn't call G-Clarons just "good enough". They're better than the general-purpose plasmats I've used. In fact, when I asked Schneider why they discontinued making dagors, they told me it was because the G-Claron line was superior on every count, even
    though it was never widely marketed as a general-purpose lens (this conversation obviously excluded the fact that the Kern dagor has a different look than the G, which is
    very desirable in its own right). Of course, I'm referring to late G-Clarons in shutter, not
    to WA or repro versions, or older formulas. People who use these lenses understand their
    real worth.

Similar Threads

  1. Making a viewing frame (distances?)
    By mealers in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 10-Sep-2008, 23:40
  2. Apo Sironar S 100mm on 4x5 used at closer distances
    By Arne Norris in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 29-Aug-2008, 13:49
  3. I need help focussing at macro distances
    By CXC in forum Style & Technique
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 8-Jul-2006, 18:07
  4. Information on C-Clarons? (not G-Clarons!)
    By Jeff Dyck in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 26-Apr-2005, 10:02
  5. Hyperfocal Distances Beyond 8x10
    By Michael Kadillak in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 12-Nov-2003, 12:13

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •