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View Full Version : What lenses are in you 5x7 kit?



BradS
14-Mar-2007, 17:51
Which lenses do you routinely use in the field with the 5x7 format?

Do you shoot primarily Landscape? Portrait? Architecture? Something else?

Scott Davis
14-Mar-2007, 17:55
I'm all over the place with subject matter. My lens collection runs from a 75 f6.8 Grandagon (which will JUST cover), a 90 f6.8 Grandagon (also, JUST covers), a 4 3/8" f8 W.A. Dagor, a 150 Sinaron f5.6 (which also JUST covers... that's one I need to look into replacing), a 210 Sinaron f5.6, a 250 Fujinon f6.7, and a 12" Commercial Ektar f 6.3 . For my studio 5x7, I have a Kodak Ektar 12" f4.5, and a Seneca Portrait 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 f5.

Michael Graves
14-Mar-2007, 17:57
Depends on what I'm doing. I've got a "Field Kit" consisting of a 5x7 Eastman 2D with a 8.5" Ilex Paragon and a 159mm Wollensak Wide Angle. When I'm driving, my Toyo kit has a 210mm Fujinon, a 150mm Fujinon, and a 10.75" Apo-Artar.

Ted Harris
14-Mar-2007, 18:25
When I'm packing it all in the back of the truck it is 110SSXL, 150 Apo Sironar W, 180 Apo Sironar N, 210 Docter Tessar, 240 Fuji A, 300 Fuji A, 360 Doctr Apo Germinar, 450 Nikkor M. When I want to travel reasonably light but still have a range it is 110-150-300-450. Frequently I will go out with jut the 150 and 300.

I hoot all of the above an also some macro. BTW when I am shooting portraits it is the 300 Imagon and nothing else.

Walter Calahan
14-Mar-2007, 19:19
I have an old Graflex 5x7 SLR so I have whacky barrel lenses. I'm still making lens boards for some of them. I plan on doing portraiture. Stay tuned.

Ken Lee
14-Mar-2007, 19:36
Same lenses as 4x5, since all the lenses cover 5x7 or more. 150, 240, 300, 450.

Patrick Kolb
14-Mar-2007, 19:39
The more lenses the heavier the pack, so choose wisely. I try and limit myself to the number of lenses I carry by the distance I am going to travel. I have available 120, 180, 240 ,305, 450, and 600, all of which can be used on my 5x7. I normally carry four lenses with me for normal shooting, but I have limited myself to the 180 and 305 on longer trips. I think the only limiting factor now is age. The younger you are, the more lenses you carry. That equates to most of the time I carry two. All but the 180 will work on my 8x10 as well.

Ron Marshall
14-Mar-2007, 20:36
110, 150, 210, 300, 450

BradS
14-Mar-2007, 20:38
110, 150, 210, 300, 450

I'm assuming that's the 110 Super Symmar?

Which 150mm?

Ron Marshall
14-Mar-2007, 20:51
I'm assuming that's the 110 Super Symmar?

Which 150mm?

Sorry, I should have been more specific. 110 ssxl, 150 APO Sironar S. The Sironar W is a better 5x7 lens, but I couldn't find one for a reasonable price when I bought the 150 S.

John Kasaian
14-Mar-2007, 20:59
14" Apo Artar, a Kodak Anastigmat (I forget which#) and 215 Ilex/Calumet for landscapes. A 13" Cooke for portraits.

Turner Reich
14-Mar-2007, 21:14
Many including Turner Reich Triple Convertible lenses, several in several sizes. Kodak, Goerz, Schneider, and some others. It helps to have a bunch that will cover 4x5 to 8x10.

Dave Aharonian
14-Mar-2007, 21:41
My kit has the 90mm f8 Nikkor, Schneider 110, Sironar-N 180, Fuji 240A, Nikkor 300M and the Fuji 450A. These plus a Canham MQC and the 'ol pack weighs in at about 30lbs!

Ole Tjugen
14-Mar-2007, 23:49
90/8 Super Angulon, 121/8 Super Angulon, 120/6.8 Angulon, 150/9 Germinar-W, 165/6.8 Angulon, 180, 210, 240 and 300/5.6 Symmar, 210/6.1 or 210/4.5 Xenar, 210 and 355/9 G-Claron.

No. I don't often bring all of these with me.

wfwhitaker
15-Mar-2007, 08:22
6 1/2" WA Dagor, 12" RD Artar, 8 3/4" Verito. Sometimes the 240 Germinar slips into the kit.

Jim Galli
15-Mar-2007, 08:39
Hi Brad. One to look for is the 180 F9A Fuji. Spectacular on 5X7 with lots of movements. If you get a camera that can take a Packard inside, we'll get you fixed up with at least one of the nice Petzval lantern lenses. I second Wills advice on an 8 3/4" Verito. A lot of fun to look through. The one I'm using was cheap because it has a big gash on the back light. Works flawlessly in spite of the flaw.

Christopher Perez
15-Mar-2007, 08:47
It depends on the situation.

If I can use only one lens - 210 Schneider Xenar f/6.1, it fits in the folded camera

If I'm in the studio and have limited space - 180 Nikkor W f/5.6

If I have the luxury of space, weight, and time - 110 Schneider Super Symmar XL f/5.6, 150 Docter Optic Germinar W f/9, 210 Schneider Symmar S/MC Compur f/5.6, 300 Fujinon A f/9.

If I MUST have interesting edges (ie: artistic effects, non-technical resolution to the edge) - 15cm Voightlander Heliar f/4.5 Compur or 150 Schneider Xenar f/5.6 Prontor Press

If I'm feeling a little soft - 21cm Voightlander Heliar f/4.5

Nick_3536
15-Mar-2007, 08:58
105mm Fuji Sw
210mm Fuji W


If I need more or I'm not worried about the weight

120 Nikon SW

300mm Fuji. The big old Tessar one

240mm G-claron

BradS
15-Mar-2007, 09:12
Sorry, I should have been more specific. 110 ssxl, 150 APO Sironar S. The Sironar W is a better 5x7 lens, but I couldn't find one for a reasonable price when I bought the 150 S.

The 150mm Sironar-S is an interesting compromise. According to the mfgr, it covers 75degrees or, a tiny bit more than 230mm. If we take the diagonal of the 5x7 film holder widow to be something between 210mm and ~218.5mm, it seems like it should be adequate coverage and at a relatively reasonable price....so, anyway, I'm kinda interested in how this lens works on 5x7 in actual practice. Sounds like it is adequate but occasionally leaves you wanting a little more coverage?



6 1/2" WA Dagor, 12" RD Artar, 8 3/4" Verito. Sometimes the 240 Germinar slips into the kit.
Hmmm, verito...sweet! (and, why am I not surprised?)


Hi Brad. One to look for is the 180 F9A Fuji. Spectacular on 5X7 with lots of movements. If you get a camera that can take a Packard inside, we'll get you fixed up with at least one of the nice Petzval lantern lenses. I second Wills advice on an 8 3/4" Verito. A lot of fun to look through. The one I'm using was cheap because it has a big gash on the back light. Works flawlessly in spite of the flaw.

The Fujinon-A are an interesting breed. Are they 4/4 construction? Excellent performance from Fuji - no surprise there I guess. Do they do anything that can be described as less than excellent?

A verito has been on my wish list for a couple of years. I think wfw has them all though. Maybe, I can bring a case of fine wine out to the east coast and....???:) :) :)


If I can use only one lens - 210 Schneider Xenar f/6.1, it fits in the folded camera


mmmm, yeah! I'm with you on this one. Never found a Xenar I didn't simply love. I don't think it'll fold up inside the Canham though (darn).



If I MUST have interesting edges (ie: artistic effects, non-technical resolution to the edge) - 15cm Voightlander Heliar f/4.5 Compur or 150 Schneider Xenar f/5.6 Prontor Press



but...surely you jest! The 150mm Xenar doesn't even light up 5x7? ....does it??? (Now, I have to try this).

Christopher Perez
15-Mar-2007, 09:32
The 150mm Sironar-S is an interesting compromise.


Another "interesting" option might be an 80 degree #1 shutter mounted 150mm Rodenstock APO Sironar W. I had one and it was very sharp. Smaller than Schneider's 150SS-HM. Rather wish I hadn't sold the Rod. The f/9 Germinar is a little dark on the ground glass.



but...surely you jest! The 150mm Xenar doesn't even light up 5x7? ....does it??? (Now, I have to try this).

No. But you should see what it does to the edges of the field when shot wide open. :)

I don't know why, but Schneider's modern Xenars are brilliantly sharp, even wide open. OK, maybe it's just the center of the field. But d**n! it's good. :) :) :)

Eric Woodbury
15-Mar-2007, 09:48
72mm SA XL
110 SS XL
150 Apo Sironar W (mine is early and doesn't have the W, but it is)
210/5.6 Caltar
300/9 Nikkor
450 Fuji C
600/800 Nikkor T

I have tried the 58mm SA XL on the 5x7, but I had to put the bellows in the vice to get it to focus and it clips the corners a bit. Not practical. The 300/9 almost never gets used --it just doesn't seem to fit my vision -- so I don't usually take it any more. Also, I find the 600/800 to be too heavy, too big, and a general pain in the ass. I haven't used it much lately. If I need tele, I can use the 450 and crop. Plenty of negative and I'm not weird about having to use the whole neg.

Mostly doing landscape and architecture and abstracts.

If I want lighter or travel by plane, I switch to 4x5, add in the 58mm, toss out the 450 and I'm working on a kit that is lighter in weight.

Bill Mitchell
15-Mar-2007, 17:46
72xl, 110xl, 180 Sironar-S, 270 G-Claron & 450 Fujinon-C

wfwhitaker
15-Mar-2007, 21:44
...A verito has been on my wish list for a couple of years. I think wfw has them all though. Maybe, I can bring a case of fine wine out to the east coast and....???:) :) :)


Who, ME?? :rolleyes:
Heck, I keep getting outbid on the things! Fact is, I actually sold one just a few weeks back.

The 8 3/4" is nice because it's in a shutter on a Technika board, so it travels well. But the focal length is shorter than I'd prefer for 5x7. The other 5x7, the Wisner TF, uses 5 1/4" boards, so the 11" Verito works well on that camera. And I really like that focal length. Problem is, I might as well carry an 8x10 because neither the TF nor the 11" V-lens is petite. For mobility, the 8 3/4" wins.

jnantz
16-Mar-2007, 04:34
hi brad --

i use:
90 SA, 127, 135, 150, 210, 370, 10" veritar.
i also use a 14" veritar, 14" vitax + 14" verito.

i shoot a mix between urban / architectural and portrait "stuffs" ...

john

Ben Calwell
16-Mar-2007, 05:13
I really like the 180 mm focal length on the 5x7 format. I use an older 180 mm Schnieder convertible. I also have a Fuji 250, which I use on my 8x10 and will be using on the 5x7, too.

Carsten Wolff
19-Mar-2007, 22:33
My current kit contains (up to all below, but usually only *these):
75 SW Nikkor (dead on, f22 or smaller), *90/6.8 Grandagon (not much movement either), 165 Angulon, *210 Komura, 240/700mm Sironar, 254 Conley, *300M Nikkor, *480 Apo-Artar.

BUT I 'd be happy just using a 110XL, a 210 Sironar-S and, if pressed, a 450 Fuji-C.


Less is more.