Normalish focal length lenses for 8x10

[E. von Hoegh]

I had a 6 1/4" Wollensak Ser III, and that was damn wide - like a 75mm on 4x5. I hardly ever used it, and traded it off because it was uncoated. Sometimes I wish I'd kept it.

[adam satushek]

Thanks again to everyone for their responses, you have given me a lot to think about.

Just to update, I think I have decided to try to find a Nikkor-W 360mm F6.5. With an image circle of 494mm I think I will have plenty of room for movements. And they seem to go for pretty reasonable prices. I have been curious to try out the 360mm focal length as 300mm somehow seems slightly wide to me on 8x10.

[karl french]

Be prepared for the size of the thing. It's a beast.

I have an Osaka Commercial 360/6.8 which seems not much bigger than your average vintage 300mm lens.

[Leonard Evens]

The normal focal length for any format is usually taken to be the diagonal of the format. For 8 X 10 inch format, which is actually slightly smaller, 300 mm comes pretty close.

[adam satushek]

Be prepared for the size of the thing. It's a beast.

Yeah I'm aware that it is big and heavy, but I figure it can serve dual purpose as a boat anchor....which is a big plus for me.

But seriously, I am not really concerned with size or weight. I already have a 300mm f5.6 symmar-s (badged as caltar) and while I know the 360mm f6.3 Nikkor is bigger and heavier I am not concerned. I rarely shoot more than 100 yards from my car....not out of laziness, but that us usually where the kind of stuff I like to shoot is.

It may cause me to upgrade my 8x10 or at least the front standard because my F2 "8x10" is unfortunately half 4x5. It's one of those conversion jobs with just the 8x10 rear standard, heavy dity clamp, and tapered bellows, but with an F2 4x5 front standard. Works ok and have not had any stability issues yet, even with my 450mm, but the very limited amount of front rise is annoying. I need to fix this situation anyways, so if the weight of the 360mm motivates me to do it that is just fine.

[EOTS]

Hi,

I'm in the moment getting my 8x10 setup up and running,
camera is a Toyo 810M, which already came with three lenses:
* Schneider Super-Symmar HM 210 f/5,6
* Rodenstock Apo-Sironar S 240 f/5,6
* Schneider Apo-Symmar 300 f/5,6

I've ordered two other lenses (oriented at my 4x5 habits):
* Nikkor-SW 150 f/8
* Nikkor-M 450 f/9

I'm not sure why the previous camera owner had both 210 and 240, as I find those very close.
I think I will leave the 240 at home most of the time and go for the 210.

Best regards,
Martin

[Steve Barber]

You say you like the longer focal lengths for 8x10, but I am surprised no one has mentioned by favorite for that format, the 210mm f8 Super-Angulon, at least for landscapes and buildings. You commented on how wide the Nikon 120 is and I agree, it is just about too much for the 8x10, but I use the 210 more than any other and it certainly has enough coverage. Seems to me it would have been just about perfect for the situation you described where that was an important issue with your 300.

[Steve Barber]

With it you would, of course, need to upgrade to a capable front standard, the 210 S-A defines big and heavy.