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Stephen Collector
22-Feb-2015, 10:21
I am looking to add a longer lens to my lens battery for 4x5. I used to own a 360mm Tele Xenar lens. As a single coated lens it was just OK, but the price was right. I am wondering, if my longest lens now is a 210, which of the 2 lengths is the better choice for landscape? I understand that with a view camera, long lenses tend toward being a specialty item in many cases and would very much appreciate feedback in the hopes of making an informed decision.
thanks!

Taija71A
22-Feb-2015, 10:42
Quick Answer:

300mm vs. 210mm: 70% 'Linear' Dimension... 49% of Area.
360mm vs. 210mm: 58.33% 'Linear' Dimension... 34% of Area.

Best regards,

-Tim.
_________

Dan Fromm
22-Feb-2015, 11:02
Why aren't you happy with your 210 for landscape? What can't you do with it as well as you'd like?

Alan Gales
22-Feb-2015, 11:13
Did you like the focal length of your 360mm Tele Xenar?

Either focal length would be fine for landscape. I used to own a Nikkor 300M that was fantastic. It was sharp, contrasty, not too large in size and could even cover 8x10. Expect to spend $400 to $500 though.

John Kasaian
22-Feb-2015, 11:55
How ong are your bellows? How big is your lens board?

Liquid Artist
22-Feb-2015, 12:34
John asked the 2 most important questions.
I have 1 4x5 that has enough bellows length for a 300mm, and a large enough lens board. Out of 3 4x5 cameras. It's a mono rail, so stays at home.

If I wanted a 360 I'd need a Tele, so you may have the same issues as before.

On a side note you can send camera lenses out to be coated. Whoever coats eyeglasses can do the same.

Stephen Collector
22-Feb-2015, 14:38
Thanks for kind reply. I can extend the rail system on the Sinar with an extension and the bellows extended long enough for a 360.

Stephen Collector
22-Feb-2015, 14:38
Alan, Thanks. I'm leaning toward the 300mm if I can find one in my price range.

Luis-F-S
22-Feb-2015, 15:17
A 12" lens is probably the best all round 8x10 lens and very usable on a 4x5. My 14" Dagor looks as new as the day I bought it in 1988 because I never use it! The 12" is a different story. I'd look for a 12" Dagor. L

Corran
22-Feb-2015, 17:26
I rarely use that long of a lens but I definitely prefer a 300mm to 360mm. Plus the Nikkor 300mm f/9 is fairly common and you can find them easily, and they even cover 8x10, so a real "value" lens. I think small/light 360mm lenses are a bit less common. I had a 360mm Tele-Xenar and I thought it was a crappy lens, but it might've just been me, that was a long time ago when I first started. On the other hand, if I'm going up to the mountains, I use longer lenses a lot more, and so I usually bring my Nikkor-T set with focal lengths of 360/500/720.

Jeff Keller
23-Feb-2015, 21:11
360mm
Fuji A: copal 1, expensive and hard to find
Ronar: copal 3, somewhat expensive
Xenar copal 1, expensive and hard to find (350)
G-claron copal 3 (355)
Nikkor T, somewhat heavy and somewhat expensive
Artar: hard to find in shutter

300mm (all light weight):
Fuji C
Fuji A
Nikkor M
Ronar

If weight matters, a 300mm is easier to find and cheaper than a 360mm

fishbulb
24-Feb-2015, 09:15
To add some notes to Jeff's list:

Nikon made two 360mm lenses:
* Nikkor-W 360mm f/6.3, Copal 3, big and heavy (1420g) but huge coverage (494mm at f/22, covers well in excess of 8x10) and a non-telephoto design needing long bellows extension (346mm)
* Nikkor-T 360mm f/8.0, Copal 1, not as big and heavy (800g) with less coverage (210mm at f/22, barely covers 5x7) and a telephoto design needing less bellows extension (261mm)

The Nikkor-T 360mm can also have its rear element swapped (often available separately on eBay) to make it a 500mm f/11 or 720mm f/16

Nikon also made two 300mm lenses:
* Nikkor-W 300mm f/5.6, Copal 3, big and heavy (1250g) but huge coverage (420mm at f/22, covers well in excess of 8x10) and a non-telephoto design needing long bellows extension (285mm)
* Nikkor-M 300mm f/9.0, Copal 1, small and light (290g) and decent coverage (325mm at f/22, barely covers 8x10) and a non-telephoto design needing long bellows extension (290mm)

So:

* If weight matters more, get a Nikkor-M 300mm f/9 (or similar lens from Fuji, the Fujinon-C 300mm f/8.5 (Copal 1, 380mm coverage, similar to the Nikkor-M) or Fujinon-A 300mm f/9 or Fujinon-A 360mm f/10.)

* If coverage and brightness matters more, get a Nikkor-W 300mm or 360mm. Or the equivalent Fuji lenses, or whatever from any manufacturer. Fuji CM-W 300 f/5.6 and CM-W 360 f/6.5 for example.

* If shorter bellows extension matters more, and you also think you might want to use even longer rear elements, get a Nikkor-T 360mm or a Fujinon-T 300mm.

tgtaylor
24-Feb-2015, 09:55
You won't go wrong with the Nikkor-M 300 - it's a real classic lens. I bought mine new from Jim at Midwest for my 4x5 Toyo-field kit and it is one of my best lens if not the best. Super sharp, Copal-1 (weighs practically nothing, relatively speaking of course) and use it with all of my LF cameras including the 8x10.

Thomas

Huub
25-Feb-2015, 11:17
I asked myself the same question a couple of years ago and decided on a 360 tele xenar, also because my Toyo camera only had about 300 mm bellows draw, so close focussing a 300 mm would be pretty much impossible. The 360 mm I have is single coated as well, but a Linhoff select and in a synchro compur 3 shutter, dated probably somewhere half way down the 1980's. With only 4 pieces of glass in 2 groups the effect of multi coating this lens would be limited value and hardly improve on its performance. The one I have is sharp as can be - at least i don't see any differences with my other lenses. Since then the tele xenar probably got my most used lens for landscapes

Later on i dediced to sell the 210 mm and got myself a 240 mm lens, because i found that focal length a better balance between te 150 mm and the 360 mm - but that is a different matter. And currently i am contemplating buying a 600 mm fuji to suplement my collection.

Huub
25-Feb-2015, 11:17
I asked myself the same question a couple of years ago and decided on a 360 tele xenar, also because my Toyo camera only had about 300 mm bellows draw, so close focussing a 300 mm would be pretty much impossible. The 360 mm I have is single coated as well, but a Linhoff select and in a synchro compur 3 shutter, dated probably somewhere half way down the 1980's. With only 4 pieces of glass in 2 groups the effect of multi coating this lens would be limited value and hardly improve on its performance. The one I have is sharp as can be - at least i don't see any differences with my other lenses. Since then the tele xenar probably got my most used lens for landscapes

Later on i dediced to sell the 210 mm and got myself a 240 mm lens, because i found that focal length a better balance between te 150 mm and the 360 mm - but that is a different matter. And currently i am contemplating buying a 600 mm fuji to suplement my collection.