Which 150mm for 4x5 and 8x10

[alharding]

I'm looking to replace a schneider 150 f9 with something more versatile. Its been a terrific lens but its very dim when focusing in 4x5 and it won't cover my 8x10 at any distance.I'm looking for something that starts at f5.6 and can cover 8x10 in a macro situation. The Schneider XLs look great but are super expensive. Any suggestions that are more in the 400-700$ range?
Thanks in advance,

Al

[ic-racer]

A 'real' 8x10 150mm lens in a #3 shutter will be pretty massive on a 4x5 camera. Very expensive also.

There is one little known lens out there, however. The old-style Fujinon 180mm. It covers 305mm fully with a sharp image circle at those specs. It is compact, and in a Copal #1. Will work great on both 8x10 and 4x5. Also, inexpensive, because no one knows about it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v670/ic-racer/2012/180Fujinon.jpg

[Steve Goldstein]

There are plenty of inexpensive f/5.6 150s out there that cover 4x5, and any will cover 8x10 at 1:1. If you want to do 8x10 at lesser magnifications you'll need something with a bigger image circle. I know of three 150s with 80-degree coverage, all of which handle 5x7 at infinity: the Apo-Sironar-W, the Super-Symmar-HM, and the old-style Fujinon-W with the lettering on the front trim ring and visible as you look into the lens. The first two are multi-coated, the Fuji is single-coated. The Apo-Sironar-W was originally sold without the "Apo" designation - what you'd want is the one in the #1 shutter that takes 72mm filters. In order of weight, the Fujinon-W is lightest, a bit over 200 grams, the Apo-Sironar weighs about twice as much, and the SSHM almost twice as much again! The Fujinon will be under your lower budget limit, either of the others will test it at the upper end.

I don't know how any of the above lenses will perform as macros. You'll need to test this if it's really critical to you. It could be none of them are especially good in this application, I have no idea.

ic-racer has a good point about the 180mm Fujinon. His picture nicely shows the "inside lettering" common to the older single-coated Fujinons.

[Andrew]

I wanted a 150 for 5x7 and it seems like 150 is a very difficult focal length to find modern lenses with good coverage for the bigger formats. Something about being in the gap between different lens designs. I ended up getting both a 150/9 g-claron (which is probably what you have?) and an older 150/5.6 fuji-w but I'm yet to decide which I'll stay with. Neither covers 8x10 at infinity.

I was also pointed towards older designs but I don't want to consider a barrel mounted lens in this case.

The choice opens up once you go to shorter focal lengths (like the 120 nikkor-sw. expensive but at least it's there as a choice) or the longer lenses, as has already been pointed out.

How about the 165/6.8 Angulon? Fairly cheap and just on the cusp of 8x10 coverage. There's also a wide angle wollensak that's supposed to cover 8x10 stopped down and it even comes in a shutter.

[Maris Rusis]

Wollensak 159mm f12.5 (sometimes f9.5) swallows 8x10 and 4x5 and is small, light, cheap, and relatively abundant.

[Andrew]

Wollensak 159mm f12.5 (sometimes f9.5) swallows 8x10 and 4x5 and is small, light, cheap, and relatively abundant.

that's the one !

[Stephane]

If you complained about f/9 to be dim, why for f/12.5 or another f/9?

Here is an alternative:

Dallmeyer wide angle anastigmat 5.5" f/6.5 in barrel. Covers 8x10. Tiny lens.

[domaz]

A wide Angle design like the Fujinon 125mm SW f/8 is pretty close to 150mm and will cover 8x10 barely. The difference between 150mm and 125mm in 8x10 is pretty small when you think about it. The 35mm equivalent for 125mm is about 19mm, 150mm is about 22mm.

[Steve Hamley]

The OP had two criteria, cover 8x10 at macro distances, and be brighter than f:9. f:8 is, but not noticeably.

The Fuji SW is a 120mm.

While I have the same lens IC has and it appears to be great so far (recent purchase), it, like the 120 Fuji SW is 30mm off the desired focal length. Maybe important, maybe not?

But IC is thinking right. The Fuji 150mm W, the 150mm lens of the same series as his 180mm, will cover 245mm, so for the image circle to cover 310mm, it needs about 35mm of extension. Since another 150mm of draw - or 300mm of total extension gets you 1:1 and a 490mm image circle, I'd say this lens fits both the OPs criteria. How good how close I don't know.

Cheers, Steve

[domaz]

The OP had two criteria, cover 8x10 at macro distances, and be brighter than f:9. f:8 is, but not noticeably.

The Fuji SW is a 120mm.


I just re-checked mine it says Fuji 125mm S.W. f/8.

[Steve Hamley]

My apologies, they do make the NSW in 125mm!

Cheers, Steve

[Arne Croell]

I know of three 150s with 80-degree coverage, all of which handle 5x7 at infinity: the Apo-Sironar-W, the Super-Symmar-HM, and the old-style Fujinon-W with the lettering on the front trim ring and visible as you look into the lens. The first two are multi-coated, the Fuji is single-coated. The Apo-Sironar-W was originally sold without the "Apo" designation - what you'd want is the one in the #1 shutter that takes 72mm filters.

Small correction: The Apo-Sironar W was originally sold without the "W" designation, not without the "Apo" designation (that was the Sironar N vs. Apo-Sironar-N). So don't look out for a Sironar W, there is none, but an Apo-Sironar instead.

[alharding]

Hey Guys,
I just got the 180mm Fuji f5.6. It does serve my purposes in terms of getting the proper distance and from what I can see behind the ground glass, looks as if it'll survive f22 without falloff. Nice and it wasn't too expensive. I just think that I need a fresnel screen.

Al

[brianam]

Al - I've also used the Fuji 180/5.6 inside-lettering on 8x10 and can attest that it covers at infinity, without movements. I have a Wista 8x10 with a fresnel screen installed and it's more than bright enough.

Conversely, I don't find the 180 wide enough as a wide-angle on 5x7, and use a 150 Sironar-W for that purpose, which Arne wrote about above. Have not tried that 150 for 8x10.