8x10 second lens decisions

[John NYC]

For a while I had a 300mm Caltar II-N, which I wrote about and sold on this forum. It was sharp, but not quite as sharp as my G-Claron. I admit that I am being very picky here, but I like the details of far away buildings in my shots to be very sharp.

I am curious now that I am considering another lens. Would a new 300mm Sironar-S or Symmar-L be any different than the Caltar II-N I had, sharpness-wise? From the reading I have been doing here, I am doubting that it would. Opinions?

John

[BradS]

perhaps, you could explain what it is that you don't like about the G-Claron. That is, why are you looking for something new when you seem to already have something that you like?

[John NYC]

I'm definitely keeping the G-Claron. I'm thinking of adding something in a longer focal length but hopefully with the same sharpness... and f/5.6 if possible. But after doing some reading here, I am realizing that I'm not going to get that... that the reason my G-Claron is incrementally sharper is that it is smaller and that all larger f/5.6's perform roughly the same? That's my question really. If I plopped down $3K for a new Sironar-S or Symmar L, would it give me what I'm looking for? The other thing I am considering is the new Schneider 360/f11. But having a 5.6 would allow me to more easily do night shots; having only an f/9 and and f/11 doesn't seem to be very optimal for that.

[eddie]

why buy new?

why not get another g claron in a different focal length?

i do not think that at f5.6 you will get the results you are looking for. so why not stay with the f9 or f11? buy tmax 400 and be patient.

[evan clarke]

300 NikkorM...

[Brian Ellis]

I'm not an optical or lens expert but I've read that a lens with a smaller maximum aperture (e.g. f9) may actually be better in normal situations than lenses with a wider maximum aperture (e.g. f5.6) because of the compromises the designer has to make with the wider aperture lens. I don't know whether that applies to LF lenses, where f4 or f5.6 rather than something extreme like 1.2 is usually the maximum, but it's worth thinking about. Maybe one of the optical/lens experts here could comment.

[John NYC]

So, just to clarify, the only reason I am looking at f/5.6 is for focusing ease at night. I shoot night shots at f/22. But that extra stop and a third makes a difference in darkness for viewing on the gg when composing.

If I can't get an f/5.6 that is as sharp as an f/9 g-claron or equiv., I'll just opt for a longer g-claron or that schneider 360mm "tele" xenar f/11 that was introduced and sells new for $999.

Brian, will definitely be interesting to hear if some of those lens construction aficionados weigh in here.

[Mark Sawyer]

Don't buy a second 8x10 lens. It's bad enough you've already got one...

It's like trying heroin once, then thinking, "oh, I'll just do it one more time..." And we all know how it ends. You'll find yourself in some back alley trying to score three or four Darlots at a time off some guy named "Jim" or "Eddie"...

[Bob McCarthy]

Whats the FL of your current lens?

If its wide 10 inch (240mm) a compliment would be a 14 inch (360) or longer.

If its a 300, you would want a greater spread would be my approach.

F5.6 lenses are beasts weight-wise as the FL gets to 300 and up. Fine in a studio but backbreaking in the field.

My own approach is 10inch(240) - 14inch(360) and 19.5 inch (475).

After that it's barrel lenses in brass!!

bob

[John NYC]

Whats the FL of your current lens?

If its wide 10 inch (240mm) a compliment would be a 14 inch (360) or longer.

If its a 300, you would want a greater spread would be my approach.

F5.6 lenses are beasts weight-wise as the FL gets to 300 and up. Fine in a studio but backbreaking in the field.

My own approach is 10inch(240) - 14inch(360) and 19.5 inch (475).

After that it's barrel lenses in brass!!

bob

Yes, it is the 240mm G-Claron. Agree 360mm is the most sensible choice if not going f/5.6, and I would probably get that f/11 Schneider I mentioned if I went that way.

[Bob McCarthy]

Lots of great 14 inch (360) lenses, A Commercial Ektar 360 (6.8) is a wonderful lens, at about half the price of the f11 Schneider.

G-Claron 355mm is also a find.

bob

[John NYC]

Lots of great 14 inch (360) lenses, A Commercial Ektar 360 (6.8) is a wonderful lens, at about half the price of the f11 Schneider.

G-Claron 355mm is also a find.

bob

Are these lenses every bit as sharp as a 240 g-claron if you were doing drum scans or huge enlargements? That is my question. Which, if any, of the big, fast lenses are that sharp?

[Bob McCarthy]

Yep

http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/testing.html

bob

[Tim Povlick]

Hi John,

For 8x10 I use:
Sironar-S 360mm - very sharp +
Symmar-L 480mm - very sharp

for 4x5
G-Claron 240 - sharp

My opinion is the Sironar has a slight edge over the Symmar, but not that much. They both beat the G-Claron. These newly designed lenses are very sharp.

Regards,

Tim

[Dan Dozer]

The four lenses I seem to be using the most on my 8 x 10 these days are 355mm G Claron and the 19" red dot Artar for landscapes, and the 360mm Voightlander Heliar (sharp focus) and 360mm Berthiot Eidoscope (soft focus) for portrait/figure work. Lately, I've seen people start trying soft focus lenses on landscape work, so I'm going to try the Eidoscope to see what it can do.

Regarding the Heliar and Eidoscope - there's nothing like looking at the 8 x 10 ground glass through an F4.5 lens.

[John NYC]

Hi John,

For 8x10 I use:
Sironar-S 360mm - very sharp +
Symmar-L 480mm - very sharp

for 4x5
G-Claron 240 - sharp

My opinion is the Sironar has a slight edge over the Symmar, but not that much. They both beat the G-Claron. These newly designed lenses are very sharp.

Regards,

Tim

Sorry, just getting back to this thread.

Tim, thanks for that. And thanks to all for your input!

[Jim Galli]

I've never been happy with anything that said 'tele' on it. Probably just me. If you can afford a Sironar S, my advice is buy a Cooke XVa for your second lens. What d'ya think Eddie?

[John Kasaian]

14" Commercial Ektars are easy to focus at f6.3 and are optimised to shoot well at larger apertures.
If you can live with f/9, look for a 19" APO Artar or 450mm Nikon M---sweet, very sweet glass!

[Steve M Hostetter]

Schneider 480mm 8.4 apo,,,,, 500mm image circle and delivers an extremely sharp image.. almost 3D in appearance.
Big lens though

steve