Advice - lightweight 14" or 360mm lens for 4x5?

[Jeff Bannow]

I have a 14" RD Artar that I am considering mounting into a shutter. Looks like the cost of the shutter, cleaning, and mounting will probably be $600+ though. This doesn't include the cost of lens caps (might need custom) and an adapter to allow filters to be used. By the time everything is done I could have $1000 into this, and there's no way I could recoup that cost if I decided to sell it.

Before I go through with that, I would like to look at my options. Anyone have a suggestion for a small & lightweight lens, with reasonable room for movements on 4x5?

Not really interested in a 300mm right now - too close to my 240mm. I don't think I could focus a 450mm either.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Other lenses of similar design and length include the Schneider Repro-Claron and Rodenstock Apo-Ronar. The Apo-Ronar can be found factory mounted in modern shutters, and the Repro-Claron screws directly into a no. 3 shutter. Of course, you can also look for a 14" Apo-Artar in shutter, but these tend to be in Ilex 4 shutter, which are quite heavy. A lighter but harder to find option would be a 360mm f10 Fujinon-A.

[ic-racer]

Fujinon 360-A(S). It is in a Copal #1 and weighs 465g vs 1533g for the 360-W(S) which is in a #3.

[drew.saunders]

KEH.com today (14 September) has a 355/9 RD Artar already mounted in an Ilex shutter in BGN condition for $399. Even if you needed the shutter overhauled, it might be worth getting. Plus, they have a 355/9 G Claron for $751 and a 360/9 APO Artar for $449.

[ic-racer]

Another option would be the Symmar Convertible 210/370. That also came in a Copal #1.
$349.99 on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/180840953542...542%26_rdc%3D1

[Jeff Bannow]

Wow! That's a lot of options. That Apo-artar looks like a great choice - what do you all think? I wonder if it has filter threads ....

I would love the Fuji, but I've never seen one for sale.

[Drew Wiley]

I've got a couple of the Fuji A's. They are fantastic. There is also a relatively new Schneider dialyte design 360 in no.1 shutter, but it's probably around $1100 or so. The
Fuji has the best coverage and close-range correction, but is excellent at infinity too,
and plenty sharp for 4x5 film use too. At somewhat more weight, the 355 G-Claron is
generally a good buy - even more coverage that the Fuji, but in a big 3 shutter. Then
there's the 14-inch dagors - still relatively compact, lighter than a general-pupose plastmat, but also 3 shutter, and seem to be wildly overpriced at the moment.

[Jeff Bannow]

There's an Apo-Ronar on ebay right now, but $700 in the compur 2. One should show up at some point though for cheaper ...

[Bill_1856]

For that kind of money you could get into the Nikon telephoto group. Smaller, lighter, and better resale.

[Drew Wiley]

Just depends on the camera itself and whether on not you'll need to use the same lens on
8x10 film too. Big heavy lenses with 3 shutters don't typically work well on many 4x5 camera because there's just not enough mass on the front standard - things can get wobbly. But telephotos can cause similar issues due to excess wt. The Fuji 400T is in a no.1 shutter, but of no use on an 8x10 if that if being contemplated. I really like the Fuji A
because it works so well on both formats, and at almost any focal distance.