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View Full Version : 8x10 field on a budget/ The perfect 210mm lens



MarshallS
27-Apr-2007, 12:29
Summer is nearly upon us and I'm trekking out for a couple of months to shoot for a series. It's time to part ways with my cambo sc and pick up an 8x10 field. Anyone have suggestions on cheaper fields. I was looking at the Wehman but it seems hes out till late 07, the Shen Hou seems decent.


Also, I'm looking into a 210mm for 8x10, more specifically a schneider as I need maximum sharpness for portraits. Any recomendations/experience with. Coverage will seemingly be the biggest issue and I don't want to wind up with a 210 made for 4x5.

As always thanks for your oppinions.

Mark Sampson
27-Apr-2007, 12:50
A 210mm for portraits on 8x10? That's pretty wide.

Ken Lee
27-Apr-2007, 13:08
Wide indeed. Do you intend to do group portraits - or do you like the noses large ?

In 4x5 terms, it's a 103mm lens. In 35mm terms, its a 33mm lens...or a little shorter.

Perhaps you meant a 210-equivalent, which would be 420mm.

Oren Grad
27-Apr-2007, 13:34
more specifically a schneider as I need maximum sharpness for portraits

Like other manufacturers, Schneider has produced a range of lens types with different characteristics, some of which may be appropriate for your purposes and some not. Unless you already understand the subtleties of different lens types and know exactly what you're looking for and why, I wouldn't start by limiting your search by brand.

Ken Lee
27-Apr-2007, 15:02
Oren

You were right ! You were right about the bokeh (http://www.kenleegallery.com/html/gallery/daffodils.htm) of Sironar-S lenses.

Speaking of 210mm lenses, I'm waiting on a 210 Heliar to get mounted on a board. When I get it, I will compare the bokeh against my Sironar-S 150. (Not exactly apples-to-apples, but I'll do it).

Who knows, maybe I'll have to trade in those Fujinons !

Brian Ellis
27-Apr-2007, 15:02
Dear Shit - The Schneider G Claron 210 stopped down to f16 and smaller works very well for 8x10though it seems like an odd focal length for portraits.

MarshallS
27-Apr-2007, 15:28
In regards to the 210 I've considered how wide and am also considering a 240. My main reason for dropping down being that with my 300 I'm really pushing the limit on photographing people in uncontrolled light with the limited amount of depth of field I'm getting. (I don't do any work involving landscapes or controlled lighting -studio etc..) so the maximum amount of depth of field I can get is crucial to my work. In the research I've done It would seem as though 210 is workable as long as drops and movements are kept to a bare minimum to allow for proper coverage.
So perhaps I should re-evaluate my neads, as of now I shoot with a rodenstock sironar N300 and its a nice lens but the dof, combined with how tempermental the sharp focus with sweet spots on it has provoked me to seek out a new.
Soooooooo, what do you all think- 240/a schneider 300 even? I'm leaning towards the schneiders because I'v shot with a couple 150's and enjoy the sharpness they produce not limiting my search based on what I've heard, but that said I'm close to lense and repro in NYC and can rent lenses for the day so I'm open to other suggestions.

Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming

Gene McCluney
27-Apr-2007, 18:07
I sure wouldn't consider shooting Portraits with a wide-angle lens, the distortion in the features of the face are considerable unless you are considering full-length portraits of people standing up, with space all around. 210 is for sure a wide-angle on 8x10, 300mm is considered normal and the portrait lenses of choice start at 375mm and up. Historically, Portrait photographers in the 19th century shot with their lenses wide open, or almost so, and used longer focal lengths and got acceptable, even exceptional portraits, by careful posing and careful focusing. If the eyes are sharp the portrait is good, generally.

tim atherton
27-Apr-2007, 18:27
I've used the fuji 250mm for a lot of good portraits - half body and closer

I might find 210 a little wide though

Ole Tjugen
27-Apr-2007, 22:41
"8x10 on a budget"???

Try to find a 240mm Symmar convertible. Most 8x10" cameras have enough bellows (50cm +) to use them as the converted 420mm f:12, which isn't too bad for portraits. The 240mm also covers 8x10" with a little bit of movements, and isn't quite as wide as the 210mm. The 240 Symmar is one of my favorite lenses - all the way from 4x5" to 8x10".

If you really want a 210mm which covers 8x10" with movements, the choise is limited. On a budget it's even more limited. The only one I can think of is the 210mm f:6.8 Angulon, which has plenty coverage, as it was made to cover 9.5x12"!

Colin Graham
28-Apr-2007, 07:45
A bit rarer, but you might be able to find a hexanon GRII 210 f9 in shutter. It has about a 360mm or so circle. A better and easier choice might be an older fujinon 210 WS, these covers about 350mm. Great lenses from that series. Obviously neither or schneiders but something to consider.

Sheldon N
28-Apr-2007, 08:03
Also keep your eyes open for a Fujinon 250mm f/6.7 (not 6.3). It's the older single coated lens with the writing inside the front barrel next to the front element. It's a smaller lens in a Copal 1 shutter, takes 67mm filters and has a 398mm image circle.

The 240mm G-Claron is a good suggestion as well.

Most 210mm lenses will be a little tight for coverage on 8x10 and would also be pretty wide for portraits.

A smaller 300mm lens is not a bad idea either - Fuji 300mm C, Fuji 300mm A, Nikkor-M 300mm are all good options.

Deniz Merdanogullari
28-Apr-2007, 20:55
If you want cheap 210,
look for a commercial Komura 210/6.3 which will cover with minimal movements.

or a Eskefot-ultragon 210/8 will give you a huge image circle but its a barrel lens. I have a Luc shutter infront of mine.

I like wide environmental portraits.