180MM with 5X7 coverage

[Terry Hull]

I know the various lens charts, but none seem to cover the old lens, suggestions are welcome. I am looking for a 180MM to be used with an EbonySW45 and a Chamonix 5X7-hopefully with some movement allowing me to use front rise on the 5X7. Any recommendations?

Thank you.

[Oren Grad]

I don't know whether you're specifically looking for an older lens, but any of the modern plasmats in the 180mm focal length - Schneider, Rodenstock, Nikon, Fuji - will have ample coverage for 5x7. In today's soft market these can often be found at attractive prices.

[Steve Hamley]

Most of them will, I think. By the numbers, you'll need about 60 degrees of sharp coverage assuming a needed image circle of 210mm. That would exclude Artar-types and most of the faster Tessars, although some may disagree (and be right).

But included would be all the 180mm plasmats, all the Schneider Symmar family, all the Rodenstock Sironar family, NikKor-W, and all the Fujinon-W family (although not all the Fuji-Ws are plasmats), as well as the 180mm Fujinon-A.

Personally I'd recommend the 180mm f:5.6 Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-S. I use it on 4x5 and 5x7 and I'm very happy with it. I think it will likely be usable even on 8x10 straight on with no movement. If you want a lighter lens, try the 180mm f:9 Fuji A.

As far as older lenses go, how old and what do you have in mind? Any 180mm/7" Dagor should cover 5x7, as would the 190mm Wide Field Ektar. The 200mm Nikkor-M will cover 5x7 with little or no movement.

Cheers, Steve

[Oren Grad]

Personally I'd recommend the 180mm f:5.6 Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-S. I use it on 4x5 and 5x7 and I'm very happy with it. I think it will likely be usable even on 8x10 straight on with no movement.

It's not. Been there, tried that. But it's a fantabulous lens for 5x7, as you've seen for yourself. The "N" is great, too, if one is on a budget.

[Ken Lee]

All of the 180mm lenses mentioned here (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/), are for 5x7. There are none recommended for 8x10. It's not a complete list of lenses, but includes most of the modern offerings.

There are a few shorter lenses that cover 8x10, but apparently, 180mm is an "in-between" length: once you get past 200mm, there are plenty of offerings.

The difference between 180 and 210 is only 17%, but at that slightly longer length, there are many to choose from: they will be easier to find and more affordable.

[Ari]

Ken, my old (inside lettering) Fujinon-W 180 covers 810 with no darkening of the corners.
It has an official image circle of 305mm, but that might be a little conservative.

[Terry Hull]

Ken- Unfortunately beyond the 180MM I suspect the lens won't work so well with the Ebony SW45 due to limited bellows draw. I'm looking for one that works with both cameras mentioned in the original post.

Thanks to you all.