Survey: What are your prefered focal lengths?

[Martin Patek-Strutsky]

What are your preferred focal lengths assuming your are allowed to carry...

...one lens? two lenses? three lenses? four lenses? five lenses?

[Martin Patek-Strutsky]

here are my own answers:





one lens 150mm

two lenses 110, 210

three lenses 110, 180, 300

four lenses 75, 110, 180, 300

five lenses 75, 110, 180, 300, 600 (don't own a 600mm yet)





(numbers for 4x5)

[ronald moravec]

1- 210 g claron or 135 2- 110xl, 210 3- 110, 210. 90 SA 8.0 4 110, 210, 90 , 300 g claron 5- add my 135 to 4

Trying to decide on a wider either 72 or 80 xl`s. 90 came with camera, would have prefered a 120xl but it doesn`t exist.

[Edward (Halifax,NS)]

One lens 150mm - I have a G-Claron

Two lenses 150mm and 210mm (or maybe 240mm) - I haven't bought a second lens yet

Three lenses - I wouldn't mind trying out a 90mm to add to the mix.

[Kevin Crisp]

Martin: How big is the film?

[Scott Rosenberg]

interesting threrad...

one lens: 110

two lenses: 110, 240

three lenses: 110, 150, 240

four lenses (what i actually carry): 110, 150, 240, 300 (will change for a 360 tele one day)

[Ole Tjugen]

for 4x5"; one: 150mm (APO-Lanthar) two: 150,210 three: 90,150,210 four 90,150,240/420 convertible

for 5x7": one: 165mm (Angulon, can be converted!) two: 165mm, 240/420mm (convertible) three: 120,165,240 four: 90,121,165,240

for 18x24cm: one 165mm, two 165mm, 240mm as above, don't have any more...

[Jim Rice]

For 4x5":

one: 210 two: 210, 90 three: 210, 90, 420 (what i have aquired so far) four: 210, 90, 420, 65 five: 210, 90, 420, 65, 135

[Herb Cunningham]

I started to do this and then realized that if you are doing distant landscapes or shots in the canopy of a forest, long and short make it difficult. All bets are off if you are doing closeups or portraits.

one:120 SA two: 120 SA, 240 fuji three 120 SA, 240 fuji, 300mm f9 nikon four 90mm nikon, 120 sa, 240 fuji 300 f9 nikon five: 90mm nikon, 120 sa, 240 fuji, 300 f9 nikon, 455 nikon(very heavy)

[Eric Woodbury]

for 5x7

one, 150, two 150, 210, three 110xl, 150, 210, four, 110xl, 150, 210, 450, all, 72xl, 110xl, 150, 210, 300, 450, 600, 800 (800 not worth much)

[Mark Windom]

one lens: 110 XL

two lenses: 110 & 210

three lenses: 80, 110, 210

four lenses: 80, 110, 150, 210

five: 80, 110, 150, 210, 360

[Ron Bose]

For 4x5:

One Lens: 110mm

Two Lenses: 110mm, 210mm

Three Lenses: 110mm, 210mm, 305mm

Four Lenses: 75mm, 110mm, 210mm, 305mm

Five Lenses: 75mm, 110mm, 210mm, 305mm, 450mm

All Copal #0 or #1

[neil poulsen]

1: 180

2: 180, 121

3: 180, 121, 250

4: 180, 121, 250, 355

5: 180, 121, 250, 355, 150

6: 180, 121, 250, 355, 150, 90

7: 180, 121, 250, 355, 150, 90, 75

I also have a 300, but don't carry it. It's too heavy.

I like a lot of lenses. Once I get my camera positioned where I want it, I like to fill the frame with the composition. It's easier to see this way, rather than using a wide-angle lens and then cropping.

[gene LaFord]

1 Lens -- 150 f5.6

2 Lenses -- 150 ; 240 f9 Goerz Red Dot Apo Artar

3 Lenses -- 150 ; 240 ; 90 f6.8

4 Lenses -- Hey, I'm getting too old to carry more than three!

[austin granger]

I think it's seeing the incredibly diverse responses that makes this interesting.

Anyway, here's mine for 4x5:

One lens: 180

Two lenses: 90, 180

Three lenses: 90, 180, 300

Four lenses: Ok, I don't have four lenses, but if I did I suppose I would add a wide but not too wide, like a 125 maybe.

Five lenses: that's too many lenses.

[Paul Butzi]

1 lens - either my 135mm Apo-Sironar-S or 210 Apo-Sironar-N depending on what I expect to encounter

2 lenses - the 135 and the 210

3 lenses - 135, 210, 300mm Nikkor-M

4 lenses - 135, 210, 300, 450 Fuji-C

5 lenses - 135, 210, 300, 450, and the 90mm Nikkor f/8

[André Thomas]

Martin,

I have a 5x7" monorail camera that is not very portable - so I only take my largeformat camera with me if I have already found the subject I will take on film - and than I have an idea what focal lengths I need. But this are my most used lenses:

4x5”: 90mm, 210mm, 72mm, 300mm or 480mm*

5x7”: 120mm, 210mm, 72mm, 300mm or 480mm*

* my 480mm lens has no shutter, so I use it in low light only

[Alan Davenport]

One: either 90mm or 150mm, I haven't decided if I'd prefer the 90 alone yet. Right now, I'm leaning toward the 150.
Two: 90 and 150
Three: 90, 150 and 254.



I only have three lenses, so I don't know what the 4th and 5th would be.

[Bill_1856]

I cheat. While I carry only one lens (Dr. Staeble Polyplast Satz Kombi), it is a tiny casket set with four interchangable front components which bayonet into a small Compound shutter. Focal lengths are 105mm, 135mm, 165mm, 195mm, and rear element alone gives 220mm. It's almost like having a zoom lens for 4x5. The only drawback seems to be minor focus shift on stopping down. I purchased it from DAGOR77 on eBay, and have never seen another one listed anywhere.

[Jeff Rivera]

Fun post.

1. 180

2. 90, 180

3. 90, 180, 355 (Can you guess which lens? That way I could do 12x20!)

4. 90, 180, 355, 1 week vaction to shoot

5. 90, 180, 355, 2 week vaction to shoot

6. 90, 180, 355, 3 week vaction to shoot

And so on......

Cheers,

[Richard Fenner]

8x10:

1. 240mm

2. 450mm

3. 600mm closely followed by

4. 150mm



This is in terms of useage frequency, and how I would prioritise if I needed to. Of course, the occasion may affect the order - it could be that in an urban setting, the 150mm would be above the 450mm.

[QT Luong]

5x7:

1. 110

2. 110, 300

3. 110, 210, 450

4. 110, 210, 300, 450

5. 90, 110, 210, 300, 450

6. 90, 110, 150, 210, 300, 450

7. 90, 110, 150, 210, 300, 450, 720

[Kerry L. Thalmann]

For 4x5:

1. 150mm
2. 110mm, 210mm
3. 90mm, 150mm, 240mm - When I want to go REALLY light
4. 90mm, 135mm, 200mm, 300mm - My standard set for backpacking
5. 90mm, 135mm, 210mm, 300mm, 450mm
6. 80mm, 110mm, 150mm, 210mm, 300mm, 450mm - This is my standard lens set

Kerry

[Bob Fowler]

For 4X5:

1) 180

2) 90, 180

3) 90, 180, 254

4) 65, 90, 180, 254

5) 65, 90, 180, 254, 305

For 5X7:

1) 215

2) 215, 360

3) 150, 215, 360

4) 90, 150, 215, 360

5) 90, 150, 215, 254, 360

[Tom Westbrook]

For 4x5.

I usually lug all these lenses around with me, but if someone held a gun to my head...
<ol>
<li>110mm
<li>110mm,150mm or 210mm (depending)
<li>72mm, 110mm, 150mm or 210mm (depending)
<li>72mm, 110mm, 150mm and 210mm
<li>72mm, 110mm, 150mm, 210mm, 300mm
</ol>

[George Losse]

For 8X10:

1) 300

2) 300, 450

3) 300, 450, 24in

4) 300, 450, 24in, 14in

5) 6 1/4in, 300, 450, 24in, 14in

For 8x20

1) 450

2) 450, 24in

3) 450, 24in, 14in

[Andre Noble]

For 4x5:

1) 72XL or 90 f8

2) 55 Grandagon w/6x12 RFH

3) 135 S

4) 240 f9

5) 360/500 Tele

[paul owen]

1 lens = 110XL 2 lens = 65 , 110 3 lens = 65, 110, 210

[Bruce Watson]

For 4x5:

1) 150mm Sironar-S

2) 110mm SS-XL, 240 Fujinon-A

3) 110mm, 150mm, 240mm

4) 110mm, 150mm, 240mm, 360mm Fujinon-A

5) 110mm, 150mm, 240mm, 360mm, 80mm SS-XL

The reasoning behind this is angle of view increments of about 15 degrees. My normal carry set is number 4.

[John Kasaian]

8x10:

14"

14", 10"

14", 10", 12"

Why? They're the fastest 8x10 lenses I own (f6.3 & f6.8) and the easiest for my old eyes to focus in low light!

[Gem Singer]

Using the 4X5 camera, exclusively, and assuming that I would be allowed to carry only one lens, it would be a 150. Two lenses: 150 and 210. Three lenses: 90, 150, and 210. However, since the size and weight of my outfit is not an issue, I usually pack seven lenses in my 4X5 kit: 75, 90, 125, 150, 210, 300, and 450. All are Fujinon lenses, mounted in Copal 0 or Copal 1 shutters. All shutters are mounted on Ebony (Linhof tech style) lensboards.

[Dan Fromm]

2x3, so I don't quite qualify. But on the other hand, why not?

1 lens, 4".

2 lenses, 4", 47/5.6

3 lenses, 4", 47/5.6, 210/9

4 lenses, 4", 47/5.6, 210/9, 12"/4

5 lenses, 4", 47/5.6, 210/9, 12"/4, 80'6.3

All this if I can use two bodies, Century Graphic for all but the 12"/4, Speed Graphic for the 12"/4. The 47 won't make infinity on the Speed, the 12" is in barrel, needs the Speed's focal plane shutter.

If limited to the Speed, replace 47/5.6 with 65/8.

My ideal would be normal, 1/2x, 2x, and 4x, but with my little cameras 4x is too long to work.

If limited to the Century, replace 12"/4 with 160/5.6

And since I'm a damn fool who should know better I lug around as much as I can carry, i.e., more than 5 lenses. And I'm not sure why I left out the 38/4.5 because I use it a lot too. I have a couple of tiny process lenses, having them greatly reduces pressure to leave 'em home, they're just not too damn much.

Cheers,

Dan

[Ralph Barker]

As I usually shoot both 8x10 and 4x5 on outings:

1. 240mm G-Claron 2. 240mm G-Claron, 110mm SSXL, 3. 240mm G-Claron, 110mm SSXL, 450mm Nikkor M, 4. 240mm G-Claron, 110mm SSXL, 450mm Nikkor M, 150mm SSXL, 5. 240mm G-Claron, 110mm SSXL, 450mm Nikkor M, 150mm SSXL, 300mm Symmar

[Jay DeFehr]

8X10

1) 12"

2) 12", 17"

3) 12", 17", 14 1/2"

4) 12", 17", 14 1/2", 25"

5) 12", 17", 14 1/2", 25", 28"

[Francesco]

8x10: 1) 355 G-Claron, 2) 355 G-Claron and 240 Apo-Symmar. Only own and ever used these two lenses.

Francesco (www.cicoli.com)

[jonathan smith]

8x10-

1 lens - 270mm G Claron

2 lenses - add 360mm APO Nikkor

3 lenses - add 300mm Nikkor M

4 Lenses - add 240mm Nikkor W

5 Lenses - add 450mm Nikkor M

I originally thought I'd be using the 450mm a lot, but it seems it's always a little too long for me (not to mention the necessity of extending the camera bed) and I guess I could live without it. If I had to pare down I'd keep the middle focal lengths.

I usually only take one or two with me at a time, with a specific shot in mind. I have several shots I've postponed or plan to retake later due to not having the right lens with me.

[Jean-Louis Llech]

My lenses are :
<ul>
<li>Schneider Super-Angulon 5.6/58 XL 110° MC
<li>Schneider Super-Angulon 5.6/72 XL 115° MC
<li>Schneider Super-Angulon 5.6/90 XL 110° MC
<li>Schneider Super-Symmar 5.6/150 XL - 105° Aspheric MC
<li>Schneider Apo-Symmar 5.6/240 MC
<li>Schneider Apo-Tele-Xenar 5.6/400 Compact MRC
</ul>
<ol>
<li>150mm
<li>72mm + 150mm (or 90mm + 240mm)
<li>72mm + 150mm + 400mm
<li>72mm + 90mm + 150mm + 400mm
<li>72mm + 90mm + 150mm + 240mm + 400mm
<li>58mm + 72mm + 90mm + 150mm + 240mm + 400mm
</ol>
I would like to buy a 120mm or 135mm to replace the 150mm as "unique" lens, and I could leave it on the Master Technika when the camera is closed.
I am obliged to remove the lenses from the Linhof when I close the bed.
It is the ransom which I must pay for using luminous lenses (all of them open at 5.6) with a good optical quality.

[Janko Belaj]

<tt>A:
1: 135mm
2: 135mm + 210mm
3: 135mm + 210mm + 90mm
4: 135mm + 210mm + 90mm + 355mm

B:
1: 150mm
2: 150mm + 240mm
3: 150mm + 240mm + 75mm
4: 150mm + 240mm + 75mm + 360mm
5: 150mm + 240mm + 75mm + 360mm + 110mm</tt>

all for 4x5"

I have selection <tt>A:3:</tt>, hope to have <tt>A:4:</tt> soon, or maybe to jump to some bigger format and came back on this thread to see what people have/wish for... 12x20"?

Janko

[Jim Galli]

<body>

</body>

[evan clarke]

6x9
1. 105 Nikkor w
2. 105 Nikkor w, 150 SS XL
3. 80 SS XL, 105 Nikkor w, 150 SS XL
4. 80 SS XL, 110 SS XL, 150 SS XL, 210 Rodenstock macro

4x5
1. 150 SS XL
2. 110 SS XL, 210 Rodenstock 5.6
3. 110 SS XL, 150 SS XL, 210 Rodenstock 5.6
4. 110 SS XL, 150 SS XL, 210 Rodenstock 5.6, Nikkor 300 m
5. 80 SS XL, 110 SS XL, 150 SS XL, 210 Rodenstock 5.6, Nikkor 300 m
6. Can drive to it, all the #5 above + Nikkor 360,500,720 Tele set.

8x10
1. 450 Fuji C
2. 150 SS XL, 450 Fuji C
3. 150 SS XL, Nikkor 300 m, 450 Fuji C

Too many lenses and too little skill..Evan Clarke

[Bill_1856]

Gawd, Schneider must have sold a pisspot full of those 110s. Amazing how few 135s are listed, though.

[David A. Goldfarb]

4x5"--

1. 135/3.5 if I'm shooting rangefinder-style, 150 if I'm shooting view-camera style but want the option of going rangefinder-style, 168 ser. iii Dagor if I'm shooting view-camera style and need a big image circle.

2. 90, 150 or 168

3. 90, 150, 210

4. 75, 90, 150, 210

5. (65 if I'm planning to be shooting indoors or in tight spaces or 360 if I'm planning to be outdoors with possible use for a long tele), 75, 90, 150, 210

6. 65, 75, 90, 150, 210, 360

7. 65, 75, 90, 135, 150, 210, 360

8x10"--It's kind of complicated, since I have a 10", 12", and 19" that all use the same shutter, and then I have two big portrait lenses that use sometimes, and a 120mm and that 168mm are small enough that I can bring them along without much downside. I keep all the smaller lenses on smaller lensboards and use a lensboard adapter to make them more portable, and so I can conveniently use them on my 4x5" cameras as well. So I tend to use the 14.5" Verito and 360mm Heliar exclusively in the studio, but outdoors and when traveling it would be:

1. 12"

2. 10", 12"

3. 120mm, 10", 12"

4. 120mm, 10", 12", 19"

5. 120mm, 8-1/4", 10", 12", 19"

6. 120mm, 168mm, 8-1/4", 10", 12", 19"

[Shilesh Jani]

4x5

1: 200

2: 135, 200

3: 135, 200, 300

4: 90, 135, 200, 300 (which is what I carry all the time)

[tim atherton]

4x5 - whatever is needed for the job, from 75mm to 370mm

8x10

1 lens - 210mm 6.8 Kowa Graphic

2 lenses - 210mm + 250mm 6.7 Fuji

3 lenses - 210mm + 250mm + 159mm/165mm - wollensak f12.5/SAngulon f8 (depending on how far it has to be carried...)

4 lenses - 210mm + 250mm + 159mm/165mm + 12" Kodak Commercial Ektar

(The 210 doubles as 370mm - but rarely used at that)

What's usual is the 159/210/250 in the bag. + the 12" in it's own side pouch opped on if I think I'll need it.

[David Karp]

For landscape with a 4x5:

1. 125mm

2. 125mm, 210mm

3. 125mm, 210mm, 300mm

4. 75mm, 125mm, 210mm, 300mm (If I had a small 90, I would probably use that instead of the 75mm -- I have a 90mm f/4.5 Grandagon-N)

5. 75mm, 125mm, 210mm, 300mm, 450mm

For architecture:

1. 75mm

2. 75mm, 90mm

3. 75mm, 90mm, 125mm

4. 75mm, 90mm, 125mm, 210mm (If I had a wider lens I would probably take that instead of the 210mm, and then add the 210mm if I could use 5 lenses)

If I can pack my monorail, I usually take all of my lenses from 75mm to 450mm. (Essentially, #5 under landscape, plus my 90mm.)

If I am using my Crown Graphic, I usually take my 125mm, 210mm, 300mm, and sometimes my 75mm.

[Tom Micklin]

I carry one lens for 4x5 - a triple convertible with focal lengths: 8 1/2 in 14 in 19 in

For 8x10 - two lenses (Both Red Dot Artars) - 450mm & 600mm

[David K.]

What my system has evolved to today.

Five Lenses for 4x5:

80 SSXL, 120 SS, 180 Apo S, 240 Apo-Ronar, 300 Apo-Ronar.

All high performance modern designs, with compactness as a priority.

[Mark Sampson]

for general use in 4x5: 1 lens- 135mm WF Ektar. 2 lenses- 135 + 300 Nikkor-M. 3 lenses- 135, 300, + 180 Nikkor-W. 4 lenses- 135, 300, 180, + 90/8 Nikkor-SW. 5 lenses- add 75/4.5 Nikkor-SW. for architecture- 1 lens- 90. then add the 75 and the 121/8 Schneider SA.

I'd add a Nikkor 500T if I could.

[Ag Jones]

Interesting list, especially for a newbie like me to see what people use. I went through it and tried to count 1 + 3 lens options. Figured that would give a good look at favorite lens and then what a nice kit could be made from(4x5) Here are the tallies:

Single Favorite- No surprise is the 150mm. Most commonly mentioned is the Rodenstock 150/5.6 S. This lens is also mentioned in the future classics, and many other articles.

The second place lens length is 110mm with the Schneider 110XL probably being mentioned more than any other single lens in the posts.

Three Lens kit- (by most votes) 210mm/90mm/150mm

There were actually several focal lengths that did quite well from wide to tele 90/110/150/210/240/300 being the big vote getters

The most commonly mentioned lenses by name are : Again the Schneider 110XL, Fuji 240 and the Nikon 300

I know this helps me alot as I try to plan my purchases. I was thinking about a 90/8 or 135/5.6 as a starter lens. Thanks to everyone for contributing.

[Leonard Metcalf]

4 x 5 inch

1. 180mm

2. 110mm & 180mm

3. 110mm, 180mm & 300mm (I use these the most and always carry them and add the rest when I can carry the extra weight...)

4. 80mm, 110mm, 180mm & 300mm

5. 80mm, 110mm, 180mm, 300mm, 400mm

6. 57mm, 80mm, 110mm, 180mm, 300mm, 400mm

Interesting post thanks

[CXC]

I start with something nice and wide, then something around double and quadruple that.

5x7: SSXL 110, G-Claron 240, Fuji C 450

Interesting to hear how many other G-Claron users there are out there...

[giancatarina]

For 4x5 architecture :

One Lens: 110mm

Two Lenses: 110mm, 180mm

Three Lenses: 75mm (i will prefer a 72xl), 110mm, 180mm

Four Lenses: 75mm, 110mm, 180mm, 240mm

Five Lenses: 55mm, 75mm, 110mm, 180mm, 240mm

Actually, i'm using 4 lens at the moment 55mm, 75mm, 110mm, 180mm !

[Glenn Kroeger]

1 lens: 120mm

2 lenses: 120mm 300mm

3 lenses: 120mm 180mm 300mm (currently own)

4 lenses: 75mm 120mm 180mm 300mm

I may be alone in the world, but I still prefer the angle of view of 120 SS-HM to the 110 SS, and it's ligher and cheaper

[Kirk Gittings]

for art b&w landscape and architecture in 4x5:

1 lens: 210mm

2 lenses: 210mm 120mm

3 lenses: 210mm 120mm 90mm

4 lenses: 210mm 120mm 90mm 305mm (this much I backpack with)

5 lenses: 210,120,90,305, 150mm

6 lenses: 210,120,90,305, 150mm, 65mm

7 lenses: 210,120,90,305, 150mm, 65mm, 47mm (currently own)

for commercial architecture in 4x5:

1 lens: 90mm

2 lenses: 210mm 90mm

3 lenses: 210mm 120mm 90mm

4 lenses: 210mm 120mm 90mm 65mm

5 lenses: 210,120,90,65, 47mm

6 lenses: 210,120,90,65, 47mm, 150mm

7 lenses: 210,120,90,305, 150mm, 65mm, 47mm (currently own and travel with all)

for 6x9 architecture:

1 lens: 65mm

2 lenses: 65mm 47mm

3 lenses: 65mm 47mm 90mm

4 lenses: 65mm 47mm 90mm 150mm

5 lenses: 65mm 47mm 90mm 150mm 120mm

6 lenses: 65mm 47mm 90mm 150mm 120mm 210mm

7 lenses: 65mm 47mm 90mm 150mm 120mm 210mm 305mm (currently own and travel with all)



You are not alone in the world, I still prefer the angle of view of 120 to the 110 also.

[Lloyd Lim]

1 Lens - 120mm
2 lenses - 120mm 240mm
3 lenses - 90mm 120mm 240mm
4 lenses - no idea, only have 3 right now :)

[Leigh Perry]

If another set of numbers is meaningful to anyone...

1: 80
2: 80, 150
3: 58, 80, 150
4: 58, 80, 150, 210
5: 58, 80, 110, 150, 210
6: 58, 80, 110, 150, 210, 300

[Michael_3785]

75, 150, 300 mm. I shoot mostly landscapes and I'm quite satisfied.

[Don Miller]

I'll play:

1: 110
2: 110, 300
3: 110, 180, 300
4: 110, 180, 300, 720
5: 80, 110, 180, 300, 720
6: 80, 110, 180, 300, 450, 720
If I buy another lens -
7: something really wide, 80, 110, 180, 300, 450, 720