View Full Version : Too Many Lenses - What Would You Keep?
catalinajack
3-Dec-2013, 08:33
I own the following lenses. Too many to use, I think. My Crown Graphic has scales for 90mm, 120mm, 135mm, and 150mm. It's cammed to 135mm.
1. Rodenstock Grandagon N 90mm
2. Schneider APO Symmar S 120mm
3. Schneider APO Symmar S 135mm
4. Rodenstock Sinaron S 135mm
5. Schneider Symmar S (Linhof) 150mm
6. Fujinon CMW 180mm
7. Schneider APO Symmar S 210mm
8. Fujinon CMW f6.3 250mm
K: 1, 3, 6, 8
who am I kidding - I never get rid of anything
he he he, if you need a new home for the 135 Sinaron-S, call me :-)
Pete Watkins
3-Dec-2013, 10:41
8 lenses, is that all?
Pete.
john borrelli
3-Dec-2013, 12:46
Maybe you should look at things a different way. It's not that you have too many lenses, it's that you don't have enough cameras.
Some of those lenses would be OK for a 5X7. I believe I have seen 5X7 speed graphics from time to time. 5X7s of all kinds are pretty cheap nowadays, probably due to the lack of color film available.
catalinajack
3-Dec-2013, 15:32
Actually, I have a couple of more. There's the 135mm Symmar S in a Synchro-Compur shutter with X-M flash setting mounted on a perfect 4 x 5 Anniversary Speed Graphic that I use to take fun pictures at gatherings with flash bulbs. It always is an attention getter. Last is the venerable 135 Optar in a Graphex shutter mounted in a 3.25 x 4.25 Anniversary Speed Graphic, also perfect.
I also have a perfect Pacemaker Crown Graphic. When I kick off someone is going to end up with some very nice Graphics. I do also have a Toyo 45 A2 but I will be selling it soon to fund a Shen Hao purchase.
catalinajack
3-Dec-2013, 15:34
Vick Ko, I just bought the Sinaron. It would be the last lens I parted with should I ever sell everything.
Alan Gales
3-Dec-2013, 15:55
Frank Petronio would just keep the Schneider 135mm.
I only use a 135mm and 210mm with my Crown.
Some would add a 90mm to what I have.
Dr. Tang says to keep four lenses.
Pete Watkins would keep all eight and probably want more. ;)
Everyone is different. Keep the ones you use and sell the ones you don't and buy more film. That's the best answer I can come up with. :)
Alan Gales
3-Dec-2013, 16:02
And believe me in that I know what you are going through. I'm in the process of downsizing my camera collection.
neil poulsen
3-Dec-2013, 16:16
For me, I would sell both 135's and the 210. That would leave a nice spread with a 90, 120, 150, 180 and a 250.
The 135's don't have that much of an image circle. 180 is a nice intermediate between the 150 and 250. I avoided a 150mm for a long time, since it was a "normal" (and thereby a less desirable) lens for 4x5. Once I had one, I found it quite useful.
For me, I much prefer a 180mm to a 210mm. Having both focal lengths is unnecessary.
sepiareverb
3-Dec-2013, 18:17
2, 7, 8.
Your milage may vary.
onnect17
3-Dec-2013, 19:10
Keep 1, 2, and 7. Buy a 150mm apo symmar.
Leszek Vogt
4-Dec-2013, 00:16
Sell everything and get 3 XL's;). Seriously tho, why not wide, medium (portrait) and bit of a tele....that's what I'd do. You still may need a macro (?).
Les
Bill_1856
4-Dec-2013, 07:06
You can't be too rich or too thin, or have too many lenses.
The only downside is in keeping all those shutters working.
you don't have too many lenses...I'd say you have too few cameras!
Sekundogenitur
7-Dec-2013, 11:20
The best photographers always confined their equipment to the absolutely necessary.
Since I guess you belong to them I suggest to keep
1. Rodenstock Grandagon N 90mm
4. Rodenstock Sinaron S 135mm
7. Schneider APO Symmar S 210mm
Cheers, Mat
Steven Tribe
7-Dec-2013, 13:29
The best photographers always confined their equipment to the absolutely necessary. ....
Cheers, Mat
I cannot agree with this statement. It may be true that confining yourself to a single lens is a good idea for one session or project is likely to produce a good result.
Personally, I would describe you present range of lenses as very limited - they are modern lenses with similar characteristics. I realize that if you are using the graflex with cams, then there isn't much incentive to use "odd" focal lengths. I would keep a couple of these lenses and try out some older types that would give more variation in your "weaponry".
Sekundogenitur
7-Dec-2013, 14:34
I cannot agree with this statement. It may be true that confining yourself to a single lens is a good idea for one session or project is likely to produce a good result.
Please let me explain. Experienced people know what they will do and they know how. Often this will lead to a strict confimement in the equipment.
But there may be others who also know what to do and they know that they need a wider range of lenses. A large equipment is nor necessarily a beginners problem :-)
I only use two lenses (90 and 135) and do not have the impression to miss anything. In fact, 135 mm will cover 80 % of the photos taken.
Mat
Professional
7-Dec-2013, 23:38
So for 2XYmm FL, which one is mostly used say for portraits and some close-ups on 4x5?
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