210mm suitable for 8x10 and 4x5

[welly]

Hey all,

I'm looking for a 210mm lens to replace my Calumet Caltar-S f/5.6. Ideally I would like an f5.6 lens but I wonder if one would be out of my budget (not an especially high budget!). I'm looking at the G Claron although it's f/9, which I may end up going with and just doubling up on focal lengths if there isn't anything else I can afford. But ideally I'd just get a replacement and stick my Caltar-S up for sale.

Can anyone suggest any options?

Thanks!

welly

[Sal Santamaura]

Any of the 210mm modern plasmats will barely cover 8x10. What you're after is the single-coated, 80-degree f/5.6 Fujinon W. Image circle 356mm. Good luck finding one; mine's not for sale. :)

[SMBooth]

The 210mm G-Claron will cover the 8x10 plus some.

[Lachlan 717]

Responded on Oz LF

[axs810]

Goerz Dagor Series III 8 1/4" (210mm) f/6.8

[welly]

Responded on Oz LF

Got it, thank you!

[Steve Goldstein]

The f/5.6 Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-W (yellow stripe), known in its earlier incarnation as the Apo Sironar, covers 8x10. This is a big one in Copal 3, taking 105mm filters, and you may not want to use it on a wood 4x5 though you'd have no trouble (other than weight) with a monorail. The image circle is 352mm, same as the original Fujinon-W. Not cheap.

The Computar 210mm f/9 fits a Copal 1 and covers even more, but it's not f/5.6. Usually not cheap.

But since you say you're on a budget, your best bet is probably the Fujinon-W that Sal mentioned. They're common on eBay, just make sure you get the right version with the so-called "inside lettering" visible when looking into the lens.

[ic-racer]

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?62302-210mm-Lens-for-8x10-Spotters-Guide

[welly]

How's this one for 8x10?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Excellent-Fujifilm-Fujinon-W-210mm-f-5-6-for-Large-Format-from-Japan-E62-/261881535701?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cf95b1cd5

[Jim Becia]

How's this one for 8x10?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Excellent-Fujifilm-Fujinon-W-210mm-f-5-6-for-Large-Format-from-Japan-E62-/261881535701?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cf95b1cd5

That is/was a good price on the lens. I have one of these and it does a nice job. I recently added a Kowa-Graphic 210 to my arsenal as it is lighter with slightly more coverage, but also an f9. But for the money, the Fuji is a nice lens.

[Corran]

A Graphic Kowa 210mm f/9 is a great choice. It has plenty of coverage for 8x10 + lots of movements. The filter threads are weird though - they are on the outside of the barrel, but you can thread a step-down ring onto it, upside-down. I made a little adapter by then gluing a step-up adapter to the bottom of the step-down adapter, effectively making the lens have 67mm filter threads.

They can be found fairly cheaply too. About $450, give or take $50-100 depending. In modern Copal #1 I might add.

The Computar 210/9 is similar and may have slightly more coverage if you happen to want that, but it's a lot more expensive. I haven't run out of movements on my 8x10 though with my Kowa, which is my most-used lens when I do shoot 8x10.

[Ari]

The f/5.6 Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-W (yellow stripe), known in its earlier incarnation as the Apo Sironar, covers 8x10. This is a big one in Copal 3, taking 105mm filters, and you may not want to use it on a wood 4x5 though you'd have no trouble (other than weight) with a monorail. The image circle is 352mm, same as the original Fujinon-W. Not cheap.

The Computar 210mm f/9 fits a Copal 1 and covers even more, but it's not f/5.6. Usually not cheap.

Yes...


A Graphic Kowa 210mm f/9 is a great choice. It has plenty of coverage for 8x10 + lots of movements. The filter threads are weird though - they are on the outside of the barrel, but you can thread a step-down ring onto it, upside-down. I made a little adapter by then gluing a step-up adapter to the bottom of the step-down adapter, effectively making the lens have 67mm filter threads.

They can be found fairly cheaply too. About $450, give or take $50-100 depending. In modern Copal #1 I might add.

The Computar 210/9 is similar and may have slightly more coverage if you happen to want that, but it's a lot more expensive. I haven't run out of movements on my 8x10 though with my Kowa, which is my most-used lens when I do shoot 8x10.

...and yes.
I went through a lot of 210mm lenses for 8x10; for 4x5, just about any 210 will do, but you have to be a little more selective with 8x10.
My penultimate 210 was the Rodenstock W 210, a superb performer, but big and heavy, and I often ran out of room for movements.
The Kowa or Computar are excellent performers with large image circles; the f9 isn't that noticeable on the ground glass, I've had no trouble composing or focusing.
Although the Fuji 210 W covers 8x10, I find it doesn't perform well on 8x10; it may be my imagination, but I find it loses contrast, smoothness and sharpness as soon as I put it on the 8x10.

[Old-N-Feeble]

The easiest way to adapt standard threaded filters to a Graphic-Kowa lens is via a 46mm step-down ring (as mentioned in the post below) then adding a female-female threaded adapter on top of that. I'd think 62mm would be sufficient...

46mm female to 62mm male adapter (step-down) ring... plus 62mm female to 62mm female adapter ring. Voila!! Now you can use standard 62mm filters. Just be aware the 46mm ring will screw on too far so you must watch that. I would add a very 'tiny' bit of blue Loctite to the threads to keep the 46mm locked in place. Easy easy.:)

If you stack filters then you may want to go a little larger... maybe 67mm as mention in the post below.


A Graphic Kowa 210mm f/9 is a great choice. It has plenty of coverage for 8x10 + lots of movements. The filter threads are weird though - they are on the outside of the barrel, but you can thread a step-down ring onto it, upside-down. I made a little adapter by then gluing a step-up adapter to the bottom of the step-down adapter, effectively making the lens have 67mm filter threads.

They can be found fairly cheaply too. About $450, give or take $50-100 depending. In modern Copal #1 I might add.

The Computar 210/9 is similar and may have slightly more coverage if you happen to want that, but it's a lot more expensive. I haven't run out of movements on my 8x10 though with my Kowa, which is my most-used lens when I do shoot 8x10.

[Corran]

OnF's extra information is really helpful. I thought it was 46mm but I couldn't remember and don't have the lens with me. I have never personally seen female to female adapters but maybe I just didn't search correctly.

I stepped it up to 67mm to coincide with the rest of my system.

[Old-N-Feeble]

Here ya' go...

46-67mm step down ring... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Metal-67mm-to-46mm-67mm-46mm-Step-down-Lens-Filter-Ring-Adapter-67-46mm-/251601478855?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a949de4c7

67mm f-f coupling ring... http://www.camera-filters.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7213

Those are all you need to convert the G-K to use 67mm filters... plus maybe some blue Locktite.

You can get these in 55mm, 58mm and 62mm also... whatever suits your needs.

[welly]

I went through a lot of 210mm lenses for 8x10; for 4x5, just about any 210 will do, but you have to be a little more selective with 8x10.
My penultimate 210 was the Rodenstock W 210, a superb performer, but big and heavy, and I often ran out of room for movements.
The Kowa or Computar are excellent performers with large image circles; the f9 isn't that noticeable on the ground glass, I've had no trouble composing or focusing.
Although the Fuji 210 W covers 8x10, I find it doesn't perform well on 8x10; it may be my imagination, but I find it loses contrast, smoothness and sharpness as soon as I put it on the 8x10.

That's interesting, I wonder why that is. I went for the Fuji 210W as posted on the previous page - it seems to cover all the bases I need covering. I don't need a huge amount of movements but it's got enough for my immediate needs. I suspect this lens might end up being a temporary measure until finances allow something a bit nicer. I've got a Fujinon 300mm lens which I absolutely love so even if this is only half as good, I'll be happy!

Thanks all for your advice, much appreciated!

[Ari]

That's interesting, I wonder why that is. I went for the Fuji 210W as posted on the previous page - it seems to cover all the bases I need covering. I don't need a huge amount of movements but it's got enough for my immediate needs. I suspect this lens might end up being a temporary measure until finances allow something a bit nicer. I've got a Fujinon 300mm lens which I absolutely love so even if this is only half as good, I'll be happy!

Thanks all for your advice, much appreciated!

Ya, as I said, it was only an impression; it was sharp enough and covered the format well. The Fujinon 201 W was stellar on 4x5, but it seemed to lose its magic on the larger sheet of film.
The 300 W is made for 8x10, I'm not surprised it's a favourite of yours.
Good luck!

[Alan Gales]

That's interesting, I wonder why that is. I went for the Fuji 210W as posted on the previous page - it seems to cover all the bases I need covering. I don't need a huge amount of movements but it's got enough for my immediate needs. I suspect this lens might end up being a temporary measure until finances allow something a bit nicer. I've got a Fujinon 300mm lens which I absolutely love so even if this is only half as good, I'll be happy!

Thanks all for your advice, much appreciated!

The Fuji 210W is a good choice. If you find you need more room you can move up to the Fuji 250W f/6.7 lens. It's a great lens and you can find them around $300.00 or a little more. I own the 250 and I know some own both the 210 and 250.