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albi
21-Sep-2010, 10:38
Can you recommend a reasonable priced lense around 100mm for landscape photography for use on my wooden 5x4 Wista.
Thank you. :cool:

IanG
21-Sep-2010, 11:35
Go a touch wider and look for a 90mm f8 Super Angulon, very plentiful and always a lot for sale.

Ian

J D Clark
21-Sep-2010, 11:37
A 90mm Nikon or Schneider f8 lens would be the most reasonably priced. Movements may be somewhat limited by the bellows compression on your Wista -- they were on my Zone VI, although I occasionally used a bag bellows when necessary.

A 110mm f5.6 Schneider Super Symmar is what I use now for that focal range. It's smaller, lighter, and faster, although most might not call it reasonably priced.

John Clark
www.johndclark.com

Ron Marshall
21-Sep-2010, 13:04
Good coverage, good price:

http://www.keh.com/camera/Large-Format-Fixed-Focal-Length-Lenses/1/sku-LF069990359780?r=FE

albi
21-Sep-2010, 14:40
Ian, John, Ron.
Thank you all for advice, would something like this give good results ,
Schneider f/8 90mm SUPER ANGULON MC lens Copal No.0 f8.
Being my first LF camera, will the Wista lens board be easy to adapt to
this type of lens.
Thank you.

jeroldharter
21-Sep-2010, 17:21
I would not recommend a 90mm lens as your first. They are somewhat of a pain to use. Focusing can be difficult, especially at the edges in dim light. I don't think a Wista has interchangeable bellows so the regular bellows will be quite compressed. Most reasonably priced 90 mm lenses have limited coverage so you won't get much practice with movements and the bellows compression will make what movements you do have awkward. I find that large format lenses seem "wider" than their 35mm equivalent focal lengths because of movements. So I suggest getting a 150mm lens to start with (much more coverage than most 120-135mm lenses). They are the most inexpensive and will give you a good start.

Ron Marshall
21-Sep-2010, 17:45
Ian, John, Ron.
Thank you all for advice, would something like this give good results ,
Schneider f/8 90mm SUPER ANGULON MC lens Copal No.0 f8.
Being my first LF camera, will the Wista lens board be easy to adapt to
this type of lens.
Thank you.

You would be better off with a Nikon 90mm f8, which has a 235mm image circle versus 216mm for the SA. The Nikon is slightly lighter weight as well.

I have the Nikon 90mm f8. It is a bit more difficult to focus than the f4.5 version, but it is only about one half the weight. That for me is a worthwhile. It is something that you get used to very quickly in any case.

I find 90 to be very useful on 4x5 and a good fit with a 135mm and a 210mm for a lens kit. But focal length preference is something very personal.

Have a look here, if you haven't already:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF4x5in.html

John Kasaian
21-Sep-2010, 19:24
For color or B&W? Do you have any hang ups about using old glass? Will you be back packing? Do you want lots of wiggle room for movements?

ki6mf
22-Sep-2010, 10:09
I agree with jeroldharter regarding the 150MM as a first lens. I use this more than my 90MM. 135 or 150 are considered normal lenses for 4X5. Lately I have been thinking about pickling up a 110-125MM for just a bit more depth of field than my 150 offers.

BrianShaw
22-Sep-2010, 10:12
I agree with jeroldharter regarding the 150MM as a first lens.

If not that, a 135... which many are available at resonable prices.

albi
22-Sep-2010, 15:47
Thank you all for taking time to answer. Regarding 135/150mm what sort of money would I pay for a good condition one. I have a budget of $3 to $400.
Regards
albi.

jeroldharter
22-Sep-2010, 21:26
Check out prices at KEH. They are realistic. The range is from $150-450 depending on condition and vintage. Nikkor and Caltar are usually the best value.

IanG
25-Sep-2010, 23:08
You should be able to pick up a very good 135mm Caltar/Symmar for somewhere around the $200 mark in the US.

On another note unlike John Clark's Zone VI camera you should have no problem using a 90mm on your Wista, I use both a 90mm & a 65mm with no issues with bellows compression.

Ian

engl
26-Sep-2010, 07:34
There is also lenses like the Fujinon W-125/5.6. It is one of the widest plasmats for 4x5 that still has a fair bit of coverage, 204mm image circle. Going wider means either a much bigger lens (Biogon derivatives, like Super Angulon and Nikkor SW), loosing a lot of coverage (older small wide-angles) or spending your life savings (modern Super Symmar etc.). It is also fairly easy to focus being F5.6. The ones you want have outer lettering and cost 200-250$ or so. Several of the 135mm lenses from other manufacturers have lower specified coverage.

Well, the above is how I reasoned anyway, a Fujinon NW-125/5.6 being the only LF lens Im using :) Others here have more experience than me though...

albi
30-Sep-2010, 10:56
Do you think this lens would be good on my Wista. Thank you all for giving advice I need all I can get being so new to LF cameras. I want to make a purchase that will last me a long time to come.

albi
30-Sep-2010, 11:00
Would be a good idea to show what I have been lookig at.
This is the one :- 135 F5.6 SYMMAR-S MC COPAL BULB, TIME (4X5)(35 MOUNT)
Will this fit the compur O board.?

Ron Marshall
30-Sep-2010, 11:21
35 Mount refers to the lensboard hole diameter, in millimeters. Yes 35 is the correct size for a copal 1 shutter.

It depends what price is being asked for the lens.

See the link for hole sizes:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lensboard_hole_sizes.html

engl
30-Sep-2010, 12:02
35 Mount refers to the lensboard hole diameter, in millimeters. Yes 35 is the correct size for a copal 1 shutter.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lensboard_hole_sizes.html

Pretty sure you meant to say "correct size for a copal 0 shutter" :)

imagedowser
30-Sep-2010, 13:18
If you are stuck on a 100mm, try and find a 100mm Wide Field Ektar. Reasonable $, good coverage, sharp.

Ron Marshall
30-Sep-2010, 13:40
Pretty sure you meant to say "correct size for a copal 0 shutter" :)

That's correct. Thanks for catching that!

albi
30-Sep-2010, 15:03
Its not that I want a 100mm lens I just want a good lens for my first LF camera and I have been advised by members with far more experience and knowledge than me to start with a lens in the 135/150 range. This lens I hope will last me a good long time so I want to make sure its a good one.

John Kasaian
30-Sep-2010, 15:31
There's nothing wrong with a 210mm for a first lens. Honest.

albi
1-Oct-2010, 01:44
OH NO - John Kasaian has added the 210 to the list, thank you for that John, what I want is a nice lens that will give me good results Thank you all for your input the search will continue.