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Accordionist
27-Jun-2011, 07:10
Hello,
can anyone help me in deciding which line of lenses to buy? For now i own 90 and 121mm Super Angulon. 210s shutter just died :( So, I need another one. I have two lines in mind 90, 120, 150, 210, 300 or 90, 120, 180, 240, 300. At most i do portraiture and landscape. Thank you.

Jim Galli
27-Jun-2011, 07:18
65 - 75 - 80 - 90 - 100 - 105 - 110 - 125 - 135 - 140 - 150 - 155 - 159 - 162 - 165 -170 - 180 - 190 - 203 - 210 - 222 - 225 - 240 - 250 - 270 - 285 - 300 - 305 - 325 - 330 - 355 - 360 - 375 - 405 - ....................................... that'll get you started, then you can fill in some of the longer ones as you go along.

Joanna Carter
27-Jun-2011, 07:43
Why not just get the shutter repaired or replaced?

Ivan J. Eberle
27-Jun-2011, 07:49
Get another 210mm. Love that length. 210mm Plasmats are ubiquitous enough to be dirt cheap since they were the most common first-purchase student lenses back when fine-art camera and darkroom programs were being offered. They have huge image circles for 4x5.

A mint 210mm APO lens in an accurately timed Copal shutter can frequently be sniped off eBay for less than the cost of a new shutter alone. Like <$200 USD still.

For example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Caltar-II-N-210mm-Lens-f-5-6-Copal-1-Shutter-/390321559923?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item5ae0fa5973

rdenney
27-Jun-2011, 08:07
Many people have spent many productive years with the three lenses you have now. I would suggest using them so much that the gaps that are important to you become obvious. Then you can answer this question for yourself correctly instead of letting us live vicariously through you. I used those three focal lengths for about 25 years before scratching the itch to try other things. Most of what I subsequently added were targeted for smaller formats with a roll-film adapter--I could still be happy with 90, 121, and 210.

You do not need to replace that 121 SA with a 120. The 121 is an exceptionally good lens, and the f/8 maximum opening never got in my way even when comparing to f/5.6 and f/4.5 lenses. Enjoy it!

Rick "who sometimes buys lenses just for fun with no clear idea of its use, but only when the deal is just right" Denney

Gem Singer
27-Jun-2011, 08:37
I use the 120-180-240-300 four lens combination for 5x7 and the 90-150-210 three lens combination for 4x5.

However, since you already have a 121, the 90-121-210 three lens combination covers 4x5 very nicely.

You can purchase an excellent quality previously owned 210 for slightly more than the cost of a major shutter repair.

Check out www.keh.com

Nathan Potter
27-Jun-2011, 08:57
I don't think it matters all that much. Whatever lenses you have, your vision will eventually adapt to those focal lengths. You'll see the scene in those focal lengths before you view it on the GG.

Eventually you'll see where the holes are in the focal lengths you have then you can procure the missing lenses.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

Accordionist
27-Jun-2011, 10:28
Thank you.
The broken shutter is the elecric one. So, it will be maybe difficut to repair it. If I had to buy a new lens, I was thinking about creating a new line. 150 and 210 or 180 and 240? That is the question :)

Gem Singer
27-Jun-2011, 11:10
Since you have the itch to create a new set of focal lengths, sell the 121 and the 210.

Keep the 90 and purchase a 135,180, Fujinon 240A, and a Nikon/Nikkor 300M, or a Fujinon 300C.

Your wallet will be lighter. However, you will end up with a world class set of five relatively small, light weight, lenses for the 4x5 format.

Ole Tjugen
27-Jun-2011, 12:38
I know I'm a bit "over the top", but I use 47, 55, 65, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165, 180, 210, 240, 300, 360 and 420mm lenses..

Apart from the superwides, they were all quite cheap and all are in mechanical shutters. I have multiple 150mm lenses ranging over a full century of lensmaking, and they all have their weak points and their strong points.

I suggest you start with a new shutter for the 210mm, unless (and this is often the case) you can find a complete lens with shutter for a lower price than a shutter alone. A 210mm f/4.5 Xenar was one of my very first lenses, a great length for portraits. Although the Compound #3 shutter is big, it will fit on a Technika board.

Ari
27-Jun-2011, 12:51
Some good advice here, and your decision is one of personal taste.
But for God's sake, keep that 121!

Jim Becia
27-Jun-2011, 13:37
I would think about a 90, 135, 200/210, 300 lineup. The would give you a spacing that is 1.5x up the line. I have used this spacing when backpacking or on long extended hikes and it seems to work well for me. Jim

rdenney
27-Jun-2011, 14:32
Some good advice here, and your decision is one of personal taste.
But for God's sake, keep that 121!

Indeed. It isn't about arithmetic, it's about getting special lenses. The 121 is really a highlight of the excellent Super Angulon line. You'll regret selling it, and it's close enough to 135 and has much greater coverage than most 135s.

240 va. 210 is a matter of taste. But there are a couple of considerations. One is that typical f/5.6 plasmats in 240mm need a No. 3 shutter, which is a lot bulkier than the No. 1 shutter used by f/5.6 lenses at 210mm. Another is that 210 is a normal lens on 5x7 and therefore has been widely produced. That means excellent examples are cheap and plentiful.

I have both pairs--180/240 and 150/210--and Imuse themtwo longer lenses much more often than the 150 or the 180. That takes me back to my previous post's advice.

Rick "who uses 210 as a normal and 240 as something longer" Denney

Ivan J. Eberle
27-Jun-2011, 21:32
The OP doesn't mention what specific camera(s) he uses. Lens choice (or camera choice) can be predicated on what fits-- and what doesn't.

Accordionist
28-Jun-2011, 00:13
I use Horseman 4x5 kardan with folding bank.
And don't be afraid SA 121 is my jewel, I will never sell it.

Bob McCarthy
28-Jun-2011, 07:00
I've always found 50% jumps are about right to show a sensible difference.

My own setup is 90-135-200 for 4x5 and 240-355-480 for 8x10

Closer than that is just overlap unless special purpose ie. macro, SF, or whatever.

Just the opinion sir, no facts....

The 4x5 lenses are all biased towards "smallest, lightest" so 135 is a Fuji W (not CM-W), and the 200 is a M Nikkor.

bob

SamReeves
28-Jun-2011, 08:16
It all depends on how much bellows draw and wiggle room you have.

I"ve been happy with 90mm, 150mm, and 210mm.

Bruce Watson
28-Jun-2011, 12:37
There seem to be two basic schools of thought about lenses for 5x4. There's the 90-135-210 school, and the 110-150-240 school. I haven't done the calculations in ages, but I seem to recall that the first sequence is 20 degree differences in angle of view, and the second sequence is 15 degrees.

Besides the angle-of-view spacing, it seems to come down to whether or not you really like a 90. For you, since you already own and use that 90, I'd say it makes sense to replace your 210 and carry on.

Sirius Glass
28-Jun-2011, 14:57
There seem to be two basic schools of thought about lenses for 5x4. There's the 90-135-210 school, and the 110-150-240 school. I haven't done the calculations in ages, but I seem to recall that the first sequence is 20 degree differences in angle of view, and the second sequence is 15 degrees.

Besides the angle-of-view spacing, it seems to come down to whether or not you really like a 90. For you, since you already own and use that 90, I'd say it makes sense to replace your 210 and carry on.


Oh, oh, I started LF last summer and I am already failing school! :eek:
One lens shipped off for mounting and another shipped to me on Monday and I blew it! :eek:!!

I had 90-135-190.5 so I was almost on track.
Now I am rounding up the 90-135-190.5-304-380 lens herd! :(
Is there any hope for me? :confused:
Should I circle the wagons?


Busted! Hey, This is Sirius!
Steve

Leigh
28-Jun-2011, 15:22
My 4x5 set: 65-75-90-120-135-150-180-210-240-300-360

A good start. Need to find a Nikkor SW 105.

These were selected to give roughly 4° (i.e. ±2°) coverage steps; not exact, but close enough.

- Leigh

drew.saunders
28-Jun-2011, 16:00
I guess I'm a "lightweight" with only 80-120-165-200-250-250-300. Yep, two 250's, one f/4.7 Tessar and one f/6.3 Plasmat (Tessar is heavier, Plasmat takes up more space in the bag). I suppose I could get a compact 240 and 180, and maybe see if I like the 135 focal length, and then maybe....

adam satushek
28-Jun-2011, 16:06
Yeah, I used to rock the 90-135-210, and it worked great for years. Then I got tired of the lack of coverage of the 135, so replaced it with a 120 and 150. I then decided that my 90 5.6 was too heavy for how much I use it, so got an f8 instead, but more than made up for weight loss by adding a 300M and 450M. So now I carry 90-120-150-210-300-450, and I find I use all them all, though it still seem a bit excessive to me.

jnantz
28-Jun-2011, 17:13
either get the 210 fixed
or get a 210/370 symmar

Ari
28-Jun-2011, 17:51
Or how about my "desert-island" lens suggestion?
65, 121, 250

rdenney
28-Jun-2011, 20:20
Well, I have a 47, 65, another 65, 90, another 90, 121, 127, another 127, 150, 180, 210, 8-1/2", 240, 300, and 315 if I remove the front cell of the 180.

But I never carry them all at once, nor are they all intended for the same camera.

I used the 47 and 65 primarily with 6x12. The 65 also does ultra-wide duty on 4x5. So, when I carry the Sinar, I have with me 65, 90, 121, 210, and 300. Or, if I want to reduce the weight, I'll have the 90, 121, 180, and 240. With the Speed Graphic, I'll carry a 90, 127, and 8-1/2". If I make the back standard of my Cambo into an ultra-wide point-n-shoot, I'll mount the second 65 on it, in a helical mount.

I don't like to crop much. Why shoot large format and then turn it into a smaller format?

That said, I have been happy for long periods with only the 90, 121, and 8-1/2" lenses. I started buying more lenses because they got so cheap.

Rick "who prefers a large menu from which to make a few selections as needed" Denney

sanking
28-Jun-2011, 20:52
You guys failed to mention the 72mm Super Angulon XL!! Covers up to 5X7" with a bit of movement, so huge coverage on 4X5.


Sandy King

Sirius Glass
29-Jun-2011, 06:45
Oh, oh, I started LF last summer and I am already failing school! :eek:
One lens shipped off for mounting and another shipped to me on Monday and I blew it! :eek:!!

I had 90-135-190.5 so I was almost on track.
Now I am rounding up the 90-135-190.5-304-380 lens herd! :(
Is there any hope for me? :confused:
Should I circle the wagons?


Busted! Hey, This is Sirius!

Steve


Well, I have a 47, 65, another 65, 90, another 90, 121, 127, another 127, 150, 180, 210, 8-1/2", 240, 300, and 315 if I remove the front cell of the 180.

But I never carry them all at once, nor are they all intended for the same camera.

...

Rick "who prefers a large menu from which to make a few selections as needed" Denney

Me too!


90-135 go on the 4"x5" Pacemaker Speed Graphic
190.5-304-380 go on the 4"x5" Graflex Model D

Steve

Bruce Watson
29-Jun-2011, 12:39
Oh, oh, I started LF last summer and I am already failing school! :eek:

You mock me sir? I'm shocked! Shocked I say. ;)

Sirius Glass
29-Jun-2011, 15:09
You mock me sir? I'm shocked! Shocked I say. ;)

Shocked! Shocked! ?? I thought that you were well grounded in photography! :eek:

Accordionist
4-Jul-2011, 03:09
I have just bought another 210mm Sironar (in better copal shutter) and sold the broken one. Electronic shutters are good for their accurancy and long times (32sec) but you must always carry, if the batteries are ok. So, next plan is to buy 150 and 300m Sironar. (My friend told me, that symmars produce more "friendly" images, not so technical as Sironars, but I like "kits". If it will be possible, all my lenses will be super angulons - pictures which they produce I like at most).