If you could have only three lens focal lengths?

[lbenac]

With money
Fuji 125mm or Sironar-N 135mm
Nikkor-M 200mm
Nikkor-M 300mm

Without money
Angulon 90mm
Xenar 150mm
Xenar 210mm

[vinny]

65, 90, 135, 210, 250, 305, 450 are the lenses I carry for 4x5. Sometimes I leave one home only to find that's the one I need. I can't count.

[David R Munson]

Right now I've got 135/210 and it works well for me. I waffle between wanting a 90 or a 300 enough to make me think that I'll probably end up with a 4 lens kit.

[lbenac]

Right now I've got 135/210 and it works well for me. I waffle between wanting a 90 or a 300 enough to make me think that I'll probably end up with a 4 lens kit.

That is what I have 90/135/200/300 on my main kit
90/150/210 on my out of the country kit

[Vaughn]

65/75
210
600

Wish I had the bellows to use a 600. Loved the 24" Artar but the cc400 is no C1. Chamonix and Fuji 600t would be great .

That's the rub -- if you had the bellows for a 24" RDA, then there might be too much bellows to use the 65! There are bag bellows and recess lens boards, of course.

I certainly run into this situation with the 8x10 (Zone VI). It can handle a 24" (but not a 28" focused at anything but infinity -- cranked out to the very last tooth on each rail). Using the 159mm does not allow much movement. I have a 2D that can take the 28" in stride, but I have not tried the 159mm on it. The three lenses I am carrying with the Zone VI in its pack...250mm - 300mm - 19". I might take the 210mm Graphic Raptar (barrel) if I will be photographing in tight places in the forests and can easily use the lens cap for long exposures. It weighs also nothing. The 159mm is being put on a board for the 5x7, along with a 210mm.

[IanG]

65/90/150

The crucial pair being 90/150, could easily swap the 65 for a long lens like 240 or 300.

That's what I've used for over 25 years, the 65mm has the least use but when it does it's been well worth carrying it.

Ian

[jp]

Depends on what you shoot. Some people here mostly post wide angle landscapes. Other people, completely different subjects.

My interests in LF shooting aren't quite normal, so this is how I order what I use in 4x5.

most used:
190 wollaston meniscus
210 trioplan (triplet)
127 factory speed graphic lens (tessar)

less used
210 fujinar (tessar)
90 nikkor-sw

unused:
210 nikkor (plasmat)
210 xenar (tessar)
sold due to lack of use:
75 nikkor-sw

[Chris Wong]

75/90/150 for 4x5

[Zaitz]

That's the rub -- if you had the bellows for a 24" RDA, then there might be too much bellows to use the 65! There are bag bellows and recess lens boards, of course.

I certainly run into this situation with the 8x10 (Zone VI). It can handle a 24" (but not a 28" focused at anything but infinity -- cranked out to the very last tooth on each rail). Using the 159mm does not allow much movement. I have a 2D that can take the 28" in stride, but I have not tried the 159mm on it. The three lenses I am carrying with the Zone VI in its pack...250mm - 300mm - 19". I might take the 210mm Graphic Raptar (barrel) if I will be photographing in tight places in the forests and can easily use the lens cap for long exposures. It weighs also nothing. The 159mm is being put on a board for the 5x7, along with a 210mm.

Ah good point. One of the things I would probably forget about. I have the 65mm in a recessed lensboard right now and it's a pain to use on the cc400.

[Dan Henderson]

210 for at least 50% of my pictures (it is the lens I "see best" at.
305 for 30%, when I can't get close enough for the 210.
135 for 20% when wider seems better.
90 for 5% when really wide seems really better.
...wait, that's 105%. Vinny can't count; I can't add.