A ridiculous question but I couldn't resist

[Ari]

Since we're now discussing 90mm lenses and movements, in addition to the Grandagon 90 f4,5 you could consider the equally great Nikon 90mm f4,5
They have the same size image circle, and both are sharpies, and great for architecture.

[BABartrug]

This seems a lens I should acquire for 4x5 work, not only for architecture. Thanks.

Well I think of the 90/4.5 as a 4x5 lens since it would be ridiculously wide on 5x7 ;-) But it also offers an evenness of coverage that saves needing a center filter as often, and it is quite bright to focus with. If you do a lot of architecture you'll find the limits of any lens's coverage but this one does have more coverage than any of the lighter field camera lenses.

[BABartrug]

Rick and Ari: I may consider an SA65/8 for 6x9, as the older lenses are less expensive, and this isn't a lens length I would use much on 4x5. I don't believe. I could change my mind after a few months.

Thanks, BAB

The 65/8 is a fine lens, but provides no room for movements with 4x5. It was really intended for 6x9, like the non-XL 47.

The 90/8 is also a fine lens, though the earliest examples came in a 00 shutter which is rather light for a lens this size. The f/8 SAs provided 100 degrees of coverage, while the f/5.6 models covered 105 degrees.

Don't forget to budget for the center filter for lenses shorter than the 90. They might cost you as much as the lens, but they are needed for narrow color transparency film.

Rick "who has a 121mm f/8 SA which is a classic" Denney

[BABartrug]

Check.

Since we're now discussing 90mm lenses and movements, in addition to the Grandagon 90 f4,5 you could consider the equally great Nikon 90mm f4,5
They have the same size image circle, and both are sharpies, and great for architecture.

[BABartrug]

Well, this forum is certainly a font of knowledge, especially compared to parsing out specific information using internet searches. What I wouldn't give for a search engine that worked like a card catalogue.

I have no idea what's going on with eBay, but I've about given up on it. In the last few years, as soon as I encounter an automatic overbid, I just give up; although I occasionally wish I were wealthy and could run up a stupendous bill for the dude who attached the auto pilot to a certain item. But twice in the past week I've encountered another impediment. A few days ago I encountered a Grandagon-N 90mm f/4.5 that was selling for $410 and had less than an hour to go before bidding would end. Well, natch I was going to try to snag this item. I mean, this is a lens that sells for $800 in not such perfect shape. So I waited until the 15second mark and entered a bid of $450. It wouldn't take, and the $410 won. The same happened with a Nikon 65/4 a couple days later. So I'm suspecting that somehow dealers have found a way to block last minute bids. These lenses will soon appear as offers beginning at $700 to $800 dollars.

At any rate, I found a supplier that had an SA 90/8 multicoated, and a Grandagon 90/6.8 single-coated for about the same price. I opted for the Grandagon. Yes, it's a stop slower than the 4.5, but it's also half a stop faster than the SA f/8. And I was more concerned with the light fall-off than the multicoating. The Grandagon, even the older model, has a reputation for smoother fall-off. It also throws a 102 degree circle as opposed to the 100 degree of the SA.

Frank mentioned earlier that single coated lenses show a bit less contrast and are good for b/w. Well, I love b/w and this lens should certainly get me started until I have the time/experience to figure out what else I might want/need. (Want is always bigger than need.) Perhaps it's just nostalgia (I've been a photographer for over 50 years) but there is something about b/w images made with older lenses that is very pleasing. At least to me. Here's an image I made on 120 film with a Zeiss Ikonta with an uncoated lens. I could have guessed it was made with a pre-war lens even if I didn't know that for a fact.

So for the moment I'm good, and I can take the time to shop with real dealers, like KEH, and others. Thanks ever so much for you input.

BAB

[Frank Petronio]

Congrats, the 90/6.8 Grandagon is a great lens and being more compact and less expensive is also a good thing!

I doubt eBay dealers don't want you to bid but occasionally there are glitches, either from your internet service or eBay's. The system has evolved so that most serious buyers will use sniping software that is easy and reliable to bid in the closing seconds, it works very well. You simple decide what your best offer is hours or days ahead of time, then run with it and let the card fall as they may. Bidding earlier only drives the price up for the dealer so it's rarely a good idea unless you bid a low amount just to mark it or just in case you get lucky.

http://www.jbidwatcher.com/ has worked well for me.

Otherwise a dealer like KEH is more consistent and has a good return policy. You could even try a lens for a couple of days (carefully) to see if it is worth the difference to you.