A set of lenses for 5x7

[sully75]

Hello All,

I have a new to me 5x7 camera, and currently have 3 lenses for it. It's been a slow year for me for photography but I'm psyched to get back to it. So I'm working on my rig as I'm starting to get back into it.

Anyway, I have 3 Fuji lenses 180mm, 210mm and 250mm. It's occuring to me that these are all pretty close in focal length. I've used another 180mm lens on 5x7 exclusively for a couple of years, and like it for slightly wider portraits (mostly what I do is portraits), but closer in it leaves a lot of distortion.

I've never used a 90mm on 5x7. It appears to be about a 22mm equivalent for 35mm. I'm wondering if that's too wide to use for environmental portraits. I could also try to find a (harder to find) 120mm lens

I'd like to keep it to 3 lenses, and be able to do everything with them. I'm thinking 90mm or 120mm, 210mm and maybe a 300mm. But also concerned that maybe the 210mm might be too tight, the 90mm too wide for a lot of things.

So a 4 lens setup could be 90mm, 180mm, 250mm and ?? something longer than 300? Not sure if I really need that.

I know this is all OCD faffing. But if you have any thoughts, please let me know.

Thanks
Paul

[john biskupski]

There are a lot of useful suggestions on the Lens section thread "5X7 Wide Angle Lenses" dated Feb 3. Worth reading. 90 was too wide for many, but you've got a good range of moderate wide lenses to choose from in the 110-150 range (e.g. 120 SA or 120 SW, 150 G-Claron). Many great 180's including the tiny Fuji A. Don't overlook the venerable 203/7.7 Ektar. And great choices in the 240-300 range, from Fuji A 240 to Fuji 250 W, 270 G-Claron, and all the 300's to choose from depending on your appetite for size and price. Again, don't overlook the older Symmar 210/370 style of lens, could be nice for portraiture.

[Michael Graves]

I'm not a portrait guy. I prefer nature detail and old architecture. However, 5x7 is my favorite format, and a 120 Fujinon SW is my most frequently used lens. It delivers a very sharp image and give ample coverage for relatively significant movements. Its down side is that it takes up 50% of the space I have allocated for lenses in my field kit. I fit three other lenses into the other 50%.

[Ken Lee]

IMHO a 300mm lens on 5x7 is ideal, just as a 200mm or 210mm lens is ideal on 4x5.

By "ideal", I refer to how this length renders space itself: the sense of compression. The sense of space is an aesthetic element, just like tonality, aspect ratio, texture, etc.

Please don't point out that only subject distance determines compression: this is well known. But focal length can determine subject distance, hence compression.

[Edward (Halifax,NS)]

Paul, if I had your three lenses I add a 120mm f/8 lens to the mix. I would shoot with those four lenses for a while and see if there were any shots I was missing. If I were setting up a kit from scratch I would get a 150mm, 210mm and 300mm. I don't shoot 5X7 but I have been curious about how my 150mm G-Claron would do with the format.

[Gary Tarbert]

Hi Paul, I shoot a bit in 5x8(close!!) lenses 120 ,180 ,240 ,300 and very seldom 450 If i cut down to 3 it would be 120,180 & 300 Cheers Gary

[Steve Hamley]

Good suggestions especially for shorter focal lengths. If you can justify it, a 100mm Schneider Super Symmar XL is probably the best choice, lots of coverage, bright, sharp, and flare resistant pointed into the light. A 125mm single coated Fuji W would cover plus a little, and the CM-W will cover plus a few mm. The latter is sharp enough off center that if you don't mind limited movements at infinity, will work. Up close, it would be fine.

I'd be looking at the 110mm, the 180mm, a 300mm and either a 360mm (the 350mm f:11 Schneider is sweet) or and a 450mm for a nice 4-lens set.

Cheers, Steve

[sully75]

Thanks for all the suggestions. If I buy a wide, my budget is pretty low, <$400. I can't really tell what the actual value of the wide Fujis and Nikons, there are always some on ebay but the buy-it-now price always seems really elevated and they never sell.

[William Whitaker]

If you remove the 210mm, the focal lengths won't be so close. Also your bag will be that much lighter, but your wallet won't be.

[sully75]

The annoying thing is that the 210mm is the cheapest of all of them. I don't get much for getting rid of it.

[Dan Dozer]

When I was shooting with 5 x 7, I used a Schneider Super Angulon 90mm on it and it covered fine. However, because the bellows was compressed to the max, I was not able to get any lens movement at all.

[Greg Y]

I've trimmed down to only 5x7 for LF. The range of lenses I use covers most things from wide landscapes to more isolated mountain landscapes with a long lens:
4 3/8" Dagor (roughly 111mm)
150 G Claron
8 1/2" Dagor (210)
12" Dagor (305)
450 Fujinon C

Love the 210 as my normal lens...if I only take one

& Even the 450 is not that long 5x7 if I can't walk closer...

[Kevin Crisp]

I'd ditch the 210 and get a g claron 150. I have a 110 Symmar but rarely use it on 5X7.

[mdm]

I like 210 and 300 on my 5x7. I have tried 180 and 240. Because 5x7 is longer than 4x5/8x10, sometimes wide turns out to be too wide, or wider than one would expect. On 4x5 I am a big fan of 135. Personally, I find too may options a bad thing. Less is more.

[Valdecus]

I didn't manage to limit myself to three lenses only, even though I should. The most used lenses in my 5x7" bag are a Schneider Super Symmar 110 XL, a Rodenstock Sironar-S 210, a Fujinon-C 300, and a Fujinon-C 450 lens.

Cheers,
Andreas

[jnantz]

hi paul

i am not sure what sort of look you are going for ( sharp, soft &c ),
but you might consider getting something like a 210/370 symmar convertible.
and since you already have a 210, use it in the 370 mode.
i love using a 14" lens for portraits .. head and shoulder type stuff, and even group
work ...it is long enough that you are a perfect distance between you and your subject,
and the 370 is not 14" but close enough ...
wide open it is sort of softish - plasmat design and schneider suggests it is good
for portraits and landscapes - and stopped down it is pretty sharp.

( sometimes they sell for not too much $$ )

have fun with your new camera !
john

[dasBlute]

caveat: I have not done any portraiture in 5x7 :(

given that, my top lenses for 5x7:

- 121mm SA (http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=10798256@N07&q=121mm+AND+5x7&m=tags) [favorite]
- Nikkor 300mm (http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=10798256@N07&q=300mm+AND+5x7&m=tags) [close 2nd]

The 121mm feels fairly wide, though I sometimes even work with a Caltar 75mm (http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=10798256@N07&q=5x7+AND+75mm&m=tags) for tight spaces and panoramas.
Truth tellers will inform you that this lens will not cover 5x7, I still use it - once in awhile.

The 300mm is a great lens, I'd highly recommend it, it 'sees the world nicely' [hard to explain].
It focuses at about 5-6 feet, is bright under the cloth and makes great images
[i.e. it's better than I am, which is all I ask of my equipment].

[sully75]

I think I'm looking for a 3 lens set of 120/210/300, with a 90mm for a 4th. Which means I should get rid of the 180 and 240, but god these Fuji lenses are so physically beautiful. Hard to part with.

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Don't sell! I always regret selling to buy another as in the future I always want the one I sold. Spend some time and save to get the other lens as it is not that rare and are fairly affordable.

[Renato Tonelli]

Don't sell! I always regret selling to buy another as in the future I always want the one I sold. Spend some time and save to get the other lens as it is not that rare and are fairly affordable.

I second this motion. I have always regretted selling. Sell only if it's the only way to get a new set.

[Ole Tjugen]

I rather like 90mm on 5x7", but then again I also like 600mm...

If I am to select a small number of lenses and take weight and price into account, this is what I would pick (for travel or long walks):

120mm Angulon
165mm Angulon
210mm Symmar (convertible)
305mm G-Claron.

If there's still room in the pack I would add a 90mm f/8 Super Angulon.

Since you already have 180/210/250, I would suggest you keep those. As you remarked the 210mm wont bring much if you were to sell it, and you have been using 180mm a lot it seems. So if you have to sell one, sell the 250mm and get a 305mm or 300mm - sufficiently longer than 210mm to make a difference.
You won't need a 165mm if you have a 180mm, at least it shouldn't be a priority. But something in the 120mm range would be good to have.

(My full set? eh... 75, 90, 120, 121, 150, 165, 180, 210x6, 240, 270, 300, 300, 300, 12", 305, 355, 360, 420, 480, 500, 550, 600, 840mm. Yes, I have six 210mm lenses - and use them all!)

[Randy]

115mm Calter II-N is a good wide for 5X7. My kit is: 115, 180, 240. My belows only goes out to about 10" though.

[Vaughn]

An inexpensive option might be the 159mm (too close to the 180mm perhaps?) Wollensak f12.5 (or its f9 version).

I have used it on 8x10, but even tho it is marked "8x10" on the lens it has soft and dark corners -- so I am adapting it for my 5x7. Weighs just under a pound in the Alphax shutter.

Here is an environmental portrait of my three boys on 8x10 -- you can mentally crop this down to 5x7 to get an idea of the results...

Platinum print (scanned)

[John Kasaian]

There are a lot of useful suggestions on the Lens section thread "5X7 Wide Angle Lenses" dated Feb 3. Worth reading. 90 was too wide for many, but you've got a good range of moderate wide lenses to choose from in the 110-150 range (e.g. 120 SA or 120 SW, 150 G-Claron). Many great 180's including the tiny Fuji A. Don't overlook the venerable 203/7.7 Ektar. And great choices in the 240-300 range, from Fuji A 240 to Fuji 250 W, 270 G-Claron, and all the 300's to choose from depending on your appetite for size and price. Again, don't overlook the older Symmar 210/370 style of lens, could be nice for portraiture.

The 203 f/7.7 Ektar will cover 5x7, but has zilch in the way of movements, IMHO. A 215mm Ilex Acuton is a comfortable alternative near that focal length. Two of my current 5x7 lenses are renegades from the 8x10 kit: a Wollensak 159mm WF Velostigmat and a Goerz 14" APO Artar. In between are an Ilex 215 Acuton and the 13" Cook soft focus. The 203 Ektar stays on the 5x7 Speed graphic where wiggle room isn't needed. These are probably far more lenses than any reasonable bloke should need for a 5x7.