Good choice for a 5x7 wide angle?

[Jarvman]

Hi all, looking for some advice on a good wide angle for 5x7".

Currently looking at a fujinon 120mm SW f/8. Will this have plenty of coverage?

Cheers

[Pere Casals]

Hi all, looking for some advice on a good wide angle for 5x7".

Currently looking at a fujinon 210mm SW f/8. Will this have plenty of coverage?

Cheers

Wide angle of coverage for ample movements.... or wide angle of view ?

The 210mm is a normal focal for 5x7, delivering similar framing than a 50mm in FX DSLRs.

If wanting a wider than normal framing you should go to a shorter focal.

Here you have a list of lenses able for 5x7: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF5x7in.html

The diagonal of 5x7 is 208.7mm, see circles of image listed to know what movements you would have for listed lenses.

Think that the 210mm may be considered like a 50mm in FX, so divide by 4 the 5x7 lens focal to know the aprox equivalent FX focal, for example a 100mm in 5x7 will frame aprox like a 24mm in FX... (not the same aspect ratio...)


In short, for me, I'd like a Nikon SW 120 or 150mm, or a Super Angulon 121 or 120. (The cheaper SA 121 is single coated, the SA 120 is multicoated, but not much difference). Rodenstock anf Fuji also have awesome equivalent glasses.

Regards,
Pere

[B.S.Kumar]

There is no FujinonSW 210mm f/8 lens. I think the OP meant to type 120mm. Both the older single-coated and the newer multi-coated 120mm lenses have a 290mm image circle, sufficient for 5x7. The 125mm f/8 lens has a slightly smaller image circle of 280mm, which is also sufficient for 5x7.

Kumar

[Bernice Loui]

Many excellent choices available, depending on need.

Modern:

72mm Super Angulon XL.

75mm Grandagon (yes the f6.8 will just over stopped down f22-smaller, f4.5 has larger image circle)
75mm Super Angulon f5.6, 75mm Nikor SW, 75mm f5.6 Fujinon SWD..

90mm most any modern will do.

105mm f8 Fujinon.

110mm f5.6 Symmar XL.

115mm f6.8 Grandagon.

120mm & 121mm Super Angulon.

120mm f8 Nikor SW.

120mm f8 Fujinon. old

125mm f8 Fujinon. new replacement.

150mm f5.6 Symmar XL.

150mm Nikor SW.

150mm Symmar HM.

155mm f6.8 Grandagon.

165mm f8 Super Angulon.

once up to and past 150mm this list grows larger for modern VC lenses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vintage:


4 3/8" WA dagor, covers at f32, been there done this.

120mm Angulon.

135mm Wide Field Ektar.

159mm Wollensak WA.

165mm WA Dagor and Angulon.


Others.... Notable the choice of WA and many other lenses easily available for 5x7, up to 8x10, this list shrinks a LOT. 4x5, similar but not as diverse or a wide an angle of view due to format image ratio.



Bernice

[consummate_fritterer]

Jarvman, what are your existing lenses? How wide do you want to go? What kind of quality do you expect? Are size and weight of any concern? What do you mean by "plenty of coverage" (how much movement do you need)? What is your budget? Do you want to save money so you can buy other lenses and/or other things soon? There's a huge difference in recommendations when considering ultra-low budget vs unlimited budget and there's everything in-between. Knowing your variables will ensure more precise recommendations.

I'll add a couple to Bernice's list of 150mm lenses; 150mm Apo Sironar-W and 150mm Computar (Graphic-Kowa).

[peter schrager]

Actually 240mm is the normal focal length for 5x7.I would consider 210mm a slightly wide angle for 5x7
I use a fuji 180mm for wide angle and it also covers my Whole Plate size

[David Karp]

Single coated 135mm Fujinon W covers.

[dasBlute]

my favorite [not that I've got a lot of lenses] is the 121mm SA, cheap, a little large, but really great rendering

[consummate_fritterer]

I disagree that 240mm is normal for 5x7. I think most of us agree that 210mm is spot-on... if we use the diagonal of the actual image area for calculative purposes.

[consummate_fritterer]

If cost, weight, size are not issues, the following are what I would choose for a complete arsenal of wide-angle optics for 5x7. In my opinion, these are the best of the best.

72mm SAXL
110mm SSXL (or 120mm Nikkor-SW)
150mm SSXL (or 150mm Nikkor-SW)

[John Kasaian]

My 5x7 wide is a f9.5 Wollensak 159mm WA Velostigmat "yellow dot."

[Jarvman]

Sorry yep I meant 120mm! I already have a 210mm. Wanting one that will allow for plenty of camera movements without breaking the bank!

[Jarvman]

If such thing exists

[Bernice Loui]

Absolutely!, IMO best value 121mm f8 Super Angulon. Often available for well under $200, typically about $150, bargain just over $100.

Bernice



Sorry yep I meant 120mm! I already have a 210mm. Wanting one that will allow for plenty of camera movements without breaking the bank!

[Chauncey Walden]

Would be hard to go wrong with a 135mm WF Ektar.173932

[Bernice Loui]

72mm f5.6 SAXL. This is really, really wide on 5x7. Front to back perspective exaggeration is serious with this lens or can be used as a serious interior space expander.

110mm f5.6 SAXL. More often used 5x7 wide angle.

150mm SAXL. Medium wide 5x7, gets used a LOT.

Got them new when they were introduced in the later part of the 1990's. Have owned and used then all since.

90mm f4.5 Grandagon happened later. When something between there 72mm and 110mm must happen (not often, IMO better contrast gradation than Nikor).


Bernice


173931



If cost, weight, size are not issues, the following are what I would choose for a complete arsenal of wide-angle optics for 5x7. In my opinion, these are the best of the best.

72mm SAXL
90mm SAXL (or 90mm Nikkor-SW f/4.5)
110mm SSXL (or 120mm Nikkor-SW)
150mm SSXL (or 150mm Nikkor-SW)

[Luis-F-S]

Absolutely!, IMO best value 121mm f8 Super Angulon. Often available for well under $200, typically about $150, bargain just over $100.

Bernice
++1 or the WA Dagors!

[Bernice Loui]

Another wide angle batch..

115mm f6.8 Gradnagon. This is a go-to wide angle for 5x7.

125mm f8 Fujinon, it's a Fujinon. Smallish image circle for it's focal length & "modern design" about 280mm per Fuji and large for it's focal length -vs- aperture.

165mm Angulon, one of my faves due to size and image quality. These are better in real world image making than most want to admit. Similar to the WA Dagor.. which has similar personality.


Bernice



173936

[jnantz]

chrome barrel 90mm super angulon works well

[consummate_fritterer]

I still think we're missing too many variables.

[Jarvman]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Excellent-Fujifilm-FUJINON-SW-105mm-F8-Large-Format-Lens-from-Japan-253441/232641227188?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Was this a good buy or should I hold out?

[mdarnton]

It looks like it sold, but compared with US Ebay offerings right now, it sounded fine. They often sell for less here, and also often sell for more, so. . . .

[Jim Galli]

I love the modeling of a Cooke 5 1/4" Series VIIb. 4 1/4" VIIb also covers but I find a wide field lens is far more often used than true wide angle. Of course I live in sagebrush country. Nobody needs 2/3 of a sheet of sagebrush.

[Fred L]

Hope this is the right section for this question.

So for me, the 24mm is the sweet wide angle lens for 35mm work. With that in mind, would the 90 be too wide for 5x7. For other examples, I like the 50 with the Hasselblad but it's not wide enough and I find the 40 is, again, the sweet spot. Or should I be looking at the 100-110 range ?

Fwiw, I really hate 28 wideangles for 35mm cameras.


tia !


freddy

[mdarnton]

Yeah, I'm about where you are on it. My favorite 5x7 WA is the 108mm Wollensak. I've got two of them, in fact. It doesn't have excess coverage, but it's small and not too expensive, and my Korona doesn't move much with the bellows collapsed that far, so what do I need coverage for? I have a 115mm Grandagon also, but it's too big and doesn't get used.

108mm is like 21mm on 35--half the diagonal. Something around 125mm would be closer to 24mm equivalent. There's a nice Fujinon in that range.

[DrTang]

120 super angulon is nice

[Pere Casals]

Hope this is the right section for this question.

So for me, the 24mm is the sweet wide angle lens for 35mm work. With that in mind, would the 90 be too wide for 5x7. For other examples, I like the 50 with the Hasselblad but it's not wide enough and I find the 40 is, again, the sweet spot. Or should I be looking at the 100-110 range ?

Fwiw, I really hate 28 wideangles for 35mm cameras.


tia !


freddy

35mm 2:3 is slightly more panoramic than 5x7. If you like the 24mm, comparing diagonals, you would like a 118mm for 5x7, but if you like the 24mm because its panoramic capacity you should go slightly wider to frame a mountain range in the same way.

This is for distant subjects. For near subjects you would need a wider lens for the same framing.

[Fred L]

thanks everyone ! looks like the 90 is losing out to the 110- 120 ish lenses. if only they were 4.5 fast ;)

[Oren Grad]

Threads merged - we had a very similar discussion just the other day.

[Jim Andrada]

I really like the 90mm SA on my 5 x 7. I made a slightly recessed board for the Kodak 2D and it works well. I use a center filter as well. I normally use long lenses but when zi want wide I want really wide. I thought if trying a 75mm Grandagon but the lens board would be a lot trickier.

[Fred L]

thanks. not sure how I missed this ;)

[Jarvman]

It looks like it sold, but compared with US Ebay offerings right now, it sounded fine. They often sell for less here, and also often sell for more, so. . . .

It was me who bought it before having second thoughts!

[mdarnton]

Ah! Don't worry; be happy. I'm sure you'll love it.

[William Whitaker]

My 5x7 basic kit includes a 7" f/6.8 Dagor. It's the "long side of the format" which is my favorite perspective (35mm on 135, 60mm on 2 1/4, 250mm on 8x10, etc.). Expanded kit includes a 121 Super Angulon, a 90mm f/4.5 Nikkor-SW and a 75mm f/4.5 Sinaron-W. All cover well, but the last two are awkward to use.

[John Layton]

Of the three wides I currently use for 5x7 (90 Grandagon, 120 S.A., 150 G-Claron)...it would be the middle of these three - the 120 - that I'd choose if it were just one. And while the 120 S.A. is getting a bit dated...I just find it so versatile in its combination of characteristics and nice coverage. And truly such a sweet-spot for me that I think a 110 XL might even be just a bit "off" - even though its angle of view and perhaps better spacing with the 150 might prompt me to eliminate the 90 for this format, also saving net space and weight...not to mention the need for 82mm filters and step-up rings! (hmmm....maybe I should re-think this. Oh yeah...no way I can afford a 110 anytime soon - so problem solved!)

[Randy]

As has been mentioned, the 115mm f6.8 Gradnagon. I use one for 5X7 and it seems to perform well. Mine is the Caltar version - in nice condition they seem to go for about $400 +-.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xyxmicg22ph28jp/clouds.jpg?dl=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oz2w9bg2o3xy5xo/img501a.jpg?dl=1

[mdarnton]

My 5x7 basic kit includes. . .

Naming a basic kit is an interesting idea. I thought about mine and realized that it steps through all of the common 35mm equivalents from 21mm up to 60mm but doesn't go past that, which is exactly how I work in 35mm. I also have lenses that would work on 5x7 that I've never mounted up for that camera because, as with 35mm, I never use them. And as with 35mm, when I put on a lens it's because of my mindset at that moment, not the subject matter.

[William Whitaker]

Naming a basic kit is an interesting idea. I thought about mine and realized that it steps through all of the common 35mm equivalents from 21mm up to 60mm but doesn't go past that, which is exactly how I work in 35mm. I also have lenses that would work on 5x7 that I've never mounted up for that camera because, as with 35mm, I never use them. And as with 35mm, when I put on a lens it's because of my mindset at that moment, not the subject matter.

Actually, my core, basic 5x7 kit consists of 3 Dagors: the 7", an 8 1/4" and a 9 1/2". That shows how I see and puts the 7" in perspective (no pun intended). That kit is small and lightweight and is gives me enough variety to be interesting. I prefer to match my vision to the lens rather than vice versa. In most cases, anyway...

[Bernice Loui]

Basic lenses for 5x7 or 13x18cm most of the time>

*115mm Grandagon or 110mm SAXL.

*165mm Angulon or 150mm SAXL (BIG is significant negative to lug around)

*8 1/2" Kodak Commercial Ektar or 8 1/4" Dagor - in barrel

*12" Kodak Commercial Ektar or 12" Dagor or 300mm Xenar (also BIG) - in barrel

*19" or 16 1/2" Goerz Artar in barrel


These are most often used. The others lenses appears when needed for known speciality image making needs. Sinar shutter on 5x7 Sinar Norma, bag or standard bellows has few if any camera limitations allowing most any lens to be used in most every image making condition.

Bernice