What 2 lenses would you pick for a 5X7?

[timberline12k]

I am debating whether to puchase a 4X5 or 5X7 camera. Earlier this week I was pretty set on a 4X5 so I pulled the trigger on two EX+ used lenses; a 210mm f/5.6 APO Sironar-S and a 90mm f/4.5 Caltar-II N.

If I decide on a 5X7 are these still good lenses to start with?

I plan to use the camera for landscape, nature and architecture.

[Keith Pitman]

Check the charts in the "Home Page" section:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/

Note: I believe the Caltar II is a rebadged Grandagon.


You should also consider the other aspects of going into 5x7 versus 4x5: Film and film holders will be more expensive; you will have fewer film options--especially color film; if you intend to do your own printing and expect to enlarge, you will need a larger enlarger.

[Ken Lee]

All else being equal, 5x7 lenses need to be around 1/3 longer than their 4x5 counterparts. So if a 210 lens is a portrait lens on 4x5, you need somewhere around 300mm for 5x7. Similarly, a 120mm lens on 5x7 will do about the same as a 90mm will do on 4x5.

It's a good idea to purchase lenses which whose circle of coverage is enough for both formats. That way, you'll be able to use them on both cameras. If you space the focal lengths wisely, you will have greater flexibility and more choices: that same 300mm lens can become your long lens on 4x5, etc.

[Sal Santamaura]

Here's what I've settle on for an SV57:


180mm Fujinon W (80-degree coverage)
270mm G-Claron
Both are single-coated, both take 58mm filters. They fit the way I "see" by being slightly wider than normal and spaced by a factor of 1.5X. Roughly equivalent to a 135mm and 210mm on 4x5.

[Warren Clark]

timberline,

My favored WA lenses for 5x7:

Schneider 90/5.6 SA XL
Fuji 105 SW
Schneider 110 SSXL
Rodenstock 150 Apo Sironar (W) ~ 250mm Image circle


Your 90/4.5 is an adequate choice but the above lenses all have
larger image circle you may need for architecture.

Good shooting,

Warren Clark

[Really Big Cameras]

I tend to favor lenses from moderately wide to slightly long (i.e. 110mm - 210mm on 4x5). So, for 5x7, my favorite two lens combination is a 150mm and a 300mm.

In the 150mm focal length, my personal favorite is the 80 degree 150mm APO Sironar(-W). There are other good choices in this focal length, but this one provides decent coverage, outstanding performance, and is reasonably compact and light. The only drawback is it was discontinued over a decade ago and can be hard to find on the used market.

In the 300mm focal length, I use a 300mm Nikkor M. However, any of the compact 300mm lenses that fit in Copal No. 1 shutters is worth considering. In addition to the Nikkor M, these include the 300mm Fujinon C, late multicoated, shutter-mounted APO Ronars and the 300mm APO Germinar.

Kerry Thalmann
Really Big Cameras (http://reallybigcameras.com)

[Ron Marshall]

Both of thost lenses will be suitable for 5x7, but you will probably want an intermediate lens, such as a 120, since the 90 is very wide on 5x7.

I use 90-120-210-300-450 on my 5x7.

[Chauncey Walden]

5x7 is a more pleasing aspect ration for landscape photography than 4x5 and is a nice size for contact printing also. Those two lenses will serve you well. Your next additions might be something like a 135mm WF Ektar and one of the 300mms.

[Gem Singer]

When I shoot LF, I usually use the 5X7 camera. I carry three lenses:

Nikkor f8 120SW

Fujinon f6.3 250CM-W

Fujinon f5.6 180 CM-W

My favorite two lens combination for 5X7 are the 120 and the 250.

[Pete Watkins]

I'm going against the trend but I seem to faviour my 150 G-Claron backed uo with my 203 Ektar. I have a fairly wide choice of lenses but I'm really comfertable (spell check needed) with these two lenses.
Best wishes,
Pete

[Jim Galli]

Here's what I've settle on for an SV57:


180mm Fujinon W (80-degree coverage)
270mm G-Claron
Both are single-coated, both take 58mm filters. They fit the way I "see" by being slightly wider than normal and spaced by a factor of 1.5X. Roughly equivalent to a 135mm and 210mm on 4x5.

Great minds think alike. These 2 exact lenses came to my mind. As to the OP's question. The 90 will just cover a 5X7 but you'll over and over drive yourself crazy wishing it had some movements so you could put the building where you want to put the building, not where the lens says you must. A 150XL would do what that 90 was designed to do on 4X5. A 110 XL would be a lot more friendly too. 90 is really really wide on 5X7. Just my .02¢

[Oren Grad]

It so depends on your way of seeing.

I've used a bunch of different lenses in my dabbling with 5x7 over the years. But these days, when I carry one lens for 5x7, it's usually a 210 Sironar-N. If I carry two lenses, the second one is a 150 Apo-Sironar (W). I hardly ever carry more than two lenses with 5x7.

EDIT: I should add, because I think it does matter, that I'm shooting for contact printing. My choices might be different if I were shooting for enlargement. In particular, I suspect I might go for 180 rather than 210 as the longer FL.

[Don Hutton]

I'd pick either:

110XL and a 240 Fujinon A

or

150 Sironar W and a 300 Fujinon C

Really depends on how you see with 5x7 - being more rectangular, I find wider to be easier than on squarer formats like 4x5 and would probably opt for the former set most often for general shooting. If I were mostly shooting "big" landscapes, I'd go for the second set.

[Allen in Montreal]

I am with Gem and Don,

120ish and 250ish

I use the 120 and a Fuji 250.
I had been a 210 user until picking up the 250 here on the forum and find I much prefer the 250 over the 210 on the 5x7

[Ole Tjugen]

My most used lenses for 5x7" are 210mm (Schneider Symmar), 90mm (super Angulon f:8), 165mm, 120mm (both Angulon) and 355mm (G-Claron). In that order.

[George Hart]

For me it's the 150 Apo-Sironar and 300 Fuji C. But my 240 Fuji A is small enough to fit in my pocket so it comes too…

[Songyun]

What is the official weight of 150 apo sironar w (in copal 1)? It is listed as ? on the lens chart on the front page.

[George Hart]

What is the official weight of 150 apo sironar w (in copal 1)?
380 g. Hasn't been made for some years. Can fetch a premium price.

[Steve Goldstein]

What is the official weight of 150 apo sironar w (in copal 1)? It is listed as ? on the lens chart on the front page.

Mine weighs 408 grams including caps and the retaining ring. It's in a Compur 1.

[jnantz]

i enjoy using a 210/370 symmar and 150 computar symetrigon .. and a 14" veritar

[BradS]

A 210mm plasmat from any of the big fourand the 300mm Nikkor-M.

[Michael Alpert]

I am debating whether to puchase a 4X5 or 5X7 camera. Earlier this week I was pretty set on a 4X5 so I pulled the trigger on two EX+ used lenses; a 210mm f/5.6 APO Sironar-S and a 90mm f/4.5 Caltar-II N.

If I decide on a 5X7 are these still good lenses to start with?

I plan to use the camera for landscape, nature and architecture.

For much 5x7 landscape photography, the lenses that you bought will be fine. You'll need lenses with larger image circles for 5x7 architectural photography. I would work with what you have bought to see what demands you are actually placing on your equipment. When and if the time comes for you to upgrade, I recommend a 110 Super-Symmar XL and a 240 Sironar-S. The 240 is large, with a #3 shutter, which has a maximum shutter speed of 1/125. That maximum speed is fine for most situations. The addition of a 450 Fujinon C will make a very good three-lens package for architectural work. You will, of course, need a camera that has the movements to match these lenses. I use an Ebony SV57, which has served me well for years.

[boris]

that's my kit. nikkor 9/300, apo sironar-s 180, and a beautiful tele-xenar 5.5/500.
i do have a super angulon 8/120 but use it very seldom. i photograph exclusively full-length portraits.

[neil poulsen]

For me, 150mm and 250mm. For the former, a Sironar W sounds like a good option. For the latter, a Fuji f6.7 would be good for it's 398mm image circle. (Correspondingly, my favorite two lenses for 4x5 are a 121mm and a 180mm.)

I don't care to have lenses more than about 67% apart from each other. That is to say, the 250mm is 67% larger than 150mm, which is an OK spacing for me.

[rfesk]

I limit myself with 35mm cameras to 28MM and 50mm lenses.
5X7 has a similar aspect ratio.

Therefore my main two lens outfit for 5X7 is a 135/6.3 Kodak Wide-field and a Fujinon-A 240/9.

[Daniel Unkefer]

I'm just getting started with 5x7. Need to finish the light-trapping in my 5x7 Norma back. Two lenses? 121mm Schneider Sinar Super Angulon, and 300mm Schneider Sinar Symmar.

[timberline12k]

I am debating whether to puchase a 4X5 or 5X7 camera. Earlier this week I was pretty set on a 4X5 so I pulled the trigger on two EX+ used lenses; a 210mm f/5.6 APO Sironar-S and a 90mm f/4.5 Caltar-II N.

If I decide on a 5X7 are these still good lenses to start with?

I plan to use the camera for landscape, nature and architecture.

I ended up purchasing a 4X5 Chamonix 045n-1 Camera. The 5X7s were all higher than the $875 I paid. Since I am just getting started in LF I thought I should go with the path of least resistance.

[John Kasaian]

I've got a 215mm Ilex and 360mm APO Artar aboard my Agfa Ansco. I also have boards that will fit rhe 240 G Claron and the 159mm Wollensak WA. This is probably more lenses than I need, but all of them except the Ilex were originally purchased for duty on the 8x10.
Oh yeah, there is also a 162mm Velostigmat and 13" Cooke floating around here somewhere!
Ack! Too..many...lenses! :eek:

[cjbroadbent]

A 180 and a 210 as a spare tire. Must have same filter size.