Schneider 360mm f5.5 TELE-ARTON

[Anthony Sanna]

I have found a used Schneider 360mm f5.5 TELE-ARTON for sale and was wondering about the quality of this lens. If I buy it it will be used for distance to infinity work in the field on a 4x5 special Deardorf. The Deardorf has 550mm bellows draw, but I have heard that long extentions create a problem outdoors with wind and vibration.

360mm is at the minimum length I would want, with 400mm to 450mm being better. My other two lenses are a 150mm and a 240mm Symmar convertibles. Any experience out there?

I had recently purchased, then returned, a 400mm Fuji Tele from Lens & Repro. I didn't like the color or sha

[Pete Andrews]

The Tele-Arton is a true telephoto design, which means that its bellows draw is much shorter than its optical focal length. Some very slight geometrical distortion is almost inevitable with telephoto designs. The 360mm lens (which is no longer available new) will need only about 230mm bellows extension from the film plane. IMHO the smaller amount of vibration that this attracts will more than compensate for any slight inferiority in optical quality.

[Anthony Sanna]

Thanks for the reply, but a question, then.... I am also looking at a 450mm Nikkor M. Bellows draw is no problem, but then this lens will be used in the field (literally... farm fields). Is this just a no win situation with 20" of bellows sa

[Anthony Sanna]

Here's another question to add: What's the difference between a Schneider TELE-ZENAR f5.5/360mm and a Schneider 360mm f5.5 TELE-ARTON?

Thanks.

[William Marderness]

I use a Fujinon 450mm on 4x5 and 8x10, and I have never noticed unsharpness due to vibration.

[Paul Schilliger]

The major problem with the Tele Xenar, Apo Tele Xenar and Tele Artons is the wei ght of these lenses. They are HUGE. Unless you would want to work at large openings with limited dept h of field (portraits, flowers), I think you would be better off with a multicoated Fujinon C. I find m ine to be neutral in color rendition.

[Paul Schilliger]

I understand the Tele Xenar are universal telephoto lenses and the Tele Artons a re more specifically designed for portrait.

[Bruce Gavin]

The 360mm Tele-Arton weighs in at 960 grams, has a 95mm filter size, and a #3 shutter. Woof! This is 50% heavier than the Nikkor-M 450/9 I sold because it was too big.

I'm hunting for a portrait distance lens in the 350 to 360mm range for my Crown Graphic. Telephoto is probably necessary, due to limited bellows draw on my Crown (240mm).

Is it documented anywhere about the Arton series being optimized for portrait distances?