How many lenses? more specific

[C. D. Keth]

That other poll is interesting but I'm curious for more specifics now that we have the most popular range down. I'm especially curious about how many here are "one lens wonders" :)

[Doremus Scudder]

I take five lenses normally on day hikes, four when backpacking. I try to keep my kit really light, however.

For day hikes, I most often carry a 90mm f/8 Super Angulon, a 135mm f/5.6 Nikkor W, a 203mm f/7.7 Ektar, a 240mm f/9 Fujinon A, and a 300mm f/9 Nikkor M

For backpacking, a 100mm f/6.3 Wide-Field Ektar replaces the heavier Super Angulon and I leave the 300mm behind.

Best,

Doremus

[IanG]

Same answer as the other question, usually 3 maximun but since I got a 203mm Ektar a fourth here in the UK is hardly any extra weight :D

Ian

[Heroique]

To add to my reply in the related thread, if I could add a fourth lens to my 110-150-240 kit, it would be a 180mm. If I had no field experience w/ my current kit, I would think that, say, a 75mm or a telephoto would be a more sensible addition. But no. A thousand times no. My personal experience says the 180mm would round things out even better, and might become my preferred focal length!

[John Kasaian]

8x10---two at the most. A 240mm G Claron and a 19" Artar. 5x7---a single 203 Ektar on the Speeder.

[rdenney]

One thing that is becoming obvious is that some optimize for lightness/compactness, and others optimize for versatility.

I don't optimize for lightness. I use a Sinar blue case, which is no lightweight. I don't hike with my camera any more, but I've still managed to haul it around here and there. In that case, I routinely carry:

Sinar F2
WA Bellows 2
Standard bellows
Short rod
Jointed rod
Polarizer holder (with B+W polarizer)
105mm Yellow filter
6" rail extender (2 of these)
Quickload holder
Box of Quickload film
Sinar Vario rollfilm holder (though I'll leave this behind if I'm not using rollfilm with the Sinar, mostly just to keep it out of the way)
Fuji PA-45
Fuji FP-100C film pack
Blackjacket
6x tilting loupe
Standard 4x5 film holders (seven fit easily) for black and white
Sekonic L488 spot meter
Notebook and pen
Cable release (two)
Format mask (for Vario)
Five lenses (one on camera)

The marginal weight of that fourth and fifth lens, even the big Super Angulons, is pretty small in relationship to that loaded case. And then there's the tripod, which is a Bogen 3036 leg set with a Sinar tilt-head and the rail clamp.

I mounted external wheels on the case and a handle on one edge of the top. I needed a handle for it so I could drag it while walking, but never really found the right thing. In preparation for my trip last week, I found I can put a Gitzo monopod through the handle, hook the camera base on the other end, extend one section, and use it as a pull stick for the case. That works far better than I ever expected it to, even dragging it across the wavy bricks and cobbles of Nantucket. And it leaves me with a monopod for the digital camera. There might be a way to clamp a tripod to the case top and do the same thing.

The case serves as a mobile workstation when making photos, so that I don't ever have to put anything on the ground. When I get tired of dragging it, it's perfect height to provide a seat for resting. If I need to get taller, I can stand on it.

This is not the camera for backpacking, but then backpacking is something I do so rarely as to not be worth optimizing for it. If I need a 4x5 camera for play and want to pack small, I have a Speed Graphic, and someday soon hope to have one of Ben Syverson's plastic point-n-shoots. Each would get one lens. The Sinar is a camera designed for versatility, and I like being able to pull an architectural interior capability out of the same box as an outdoor landscape.

Rick "amazed always by what that Sinar case will hold" Denney

[BradS]

4x5: normally just two. usually, a 135mm and a 210mm. Sometimes, a 90mm and a 210mm and sometimes just the 135mm.
5x7: one - 210mm
8x10: one. either a 240mm or a 300mm but never both.

[Vaughn]

I put down three -- but it depends on the camera.

Three with the most-used 8x10 (choosing between 300mm and 250 in shutter, 210, 19" and 24" in barrels),

One or two (270mm and 19" in barrels) with the 11x14,

One (150 in shutter) with the 4x5,

One (soon to be 2) -- 210 and 159 in shutters with the 5x7.

And of course, one with the Rolleiflex.

[jnantz]

8x10 wide angle rr
11x14/7x11 1a triple
4x5 ( slr ) laverne
speed + rail camera share a kit of maybe 6 lenses, but i mainly use a 150 symetrigon
5x7 shares the 5x4 lenses but mainly use a 210.
5x4 box camera-- built in lens
5x4 falling plate camera built in lens

i have a handful of other lenses for the 5x4 and 5x7 and use them from time to time for special projects
but i don't bring them out when i just go out to take photographs ...

[algarzai]

I usually leave my backpack in the camp or car. I use a built from lowepro and attache camera cases, filter cases, water and a casd for film holders. My 4x5 camera on the tripod rests on my shoulder. I take 72, 90 and 150. But thats changing soon to include 210 and 300 or 400

[RawheaD]

Kodak Aero-Ektar 7in f2.5 and Super-Angulon 75/5.6 with my Pacemaker SG :-)

[Drew Bedo]

90mm/f-8 Nikkor
150mm/e-5.6 Fujinon
210mm/f-5.6 Caltar II N

Sometimes I will drop out the 90mm and bring a 15"/f-5.6 Wollensak

[Harley Goldman]

125mm Fuji
150mm Fuji
240mm A Fuji
300mm Nikkor
450mm Fuji
8-3/4" Verito

If I am hiking any distance, I usually take 3 or 4 from the middle of the group. I tend to use long lenses far more than short.

[Jan Pedersen]

Depends on distance but if less than 3 miles i keep the 6 lenses i have in my 8x10 bag.
130 Perigon, 159 Wolly WA Raptar, 203 Cooke Viib, 240 Dagor, 300 Dagor, 360 Dagor and 450 Fuji. Only the Dagor lenses are on the heavier side, the rest are small and lightweight.

[Michael_4514]

I haven't been in the field since the last poll, but the last poll made me think I should reduce the number from 3 to 1.

[MIke Sherck]

In 4x5 I now carry four:

90mm Fuji
125mm Fuji
210mm Fuji
300mm Nikon

For 8x10 the magic number is two:

210mm Fuji
420mm RD Artar in Ilex #4

Of those six lenses, the one most likely to be left behind is the 300mm Nikon. I use it so rarely that every time I see it in the backpack I wonder why.

Mike

[Thomas Greutmann]

My standard field kit (4x5, Master Technika) has 5 lenses, I shoot mostly landscape and cityscape:
47mm Super Angulon
65mm Super Angulon
90mm Grandagon
150mm Symmar-S (transported inside the camera)
360mm Apo Ronar

If I have to pack extra compact then I am down to four lenses, usually the 47mm has to stay home.
Sometimes I take a special lens with me (a 250mm Imagon or a 6" Petzval), then the 47mm (and sometimes the 65mm) will stay home.

[goamules]

When I go hiking or driving to shoot landscapes, I usually take 2. One wide angle, one for closer crops. That's all I need, I'm trying to get out of the habit of trying to tailor a shot to a particular lens, and instead tailor the shot by the crop/composition.

[Andrew O'Neill]

I usually go out with 8 lenses regardless if I'm using 8x10 or 4x5, ranging from very wide to long (600 Fujinon). When I go out with the 14x17 I take 4 only because they cover that format (300 Nikkor, 355G, 450 Nikkor, 600 Fujinon).
Yesterday I was hiking with John Fee (long time lurker of this forum... just wish he would contribute more of his knowledge!) up to the abandoned CPR Ladner Creek trestle. It's a bitch of a hike straight up for the first bit. That was the first time I left lenses behind. I went up with 3 lenses and did I ever feel guilty! Perhaps if I had a better backpack... the f/64 backpack sucks!

[Preston]

All for 4x5--

90 Nikkor
135 Fuji
180 Fuji
210 Schneider Symmar-S
300 Nikkor

If I want to lighten the load, I'll pull the 90 and 180.

--P

[Dany]

Lightweight 10Kg with bag and:
Toyo Field 4x5"
Box with 77m filter R,O,G,Y,YG,CPL
90 Grandagon
125 Fujinon
210 Sironar
Sekonic 508
Manffroto 55B

Middleweight 22kg with bag:
Toyo View GX 4x5"
Box with 77m filter R,O,G,Y,YG,CPL
58 SA
90 Grandagon
121 SA
210 Symmar S
300 Nikkor
Sekonic 758
Manffroto 475B

Heavyweight 32kg with bag:
Toyo Field MII 8x10"
Box with 105m filter R,O,G,Y,CPL
165 SA
240 Sironar
360 Symmar
480 Artar
600 Fujinon
Sekonic 758
Manffroto 475B

[SteveR]

It's usually three for me with the 4x5 as well:
75 Nikkor
135 Schneider Xenar (tiny little thing, sometimes comes as a one-lens setup)
210 Nikkor

The 300 Nikkor-M usually stays behind, mainly because my Wista only has 300mm draw and I rarely come across scenes that call for a 300 at infinity. Longer trips where I know there will be lots of wide-open scenery (as opposed to 'up close and personal', as is the case in most places I head on foot) then it has its own spot in the pelican.

Filter wise, I've got a little pouch with a Lee system, Yellow, Orange, Red, C/Pl, ND Grads (soft, 4 & 8) and ND8.

[Ole Tjugen]

I put down 6.

For 4x5" they're likely to be 47, 65, 75, 90, 120, 150, 210mm
For 5x7" most likely 75, 90, 121, 150, 210, 300mm
For 8x10" 121, 150, 210, 300, 360, 420mm

Or a Speed graphic with a universal iris mount, and a 7-cell casket set...

[Peter Gomena]

Light kit: 90, 150, 210
Road trip: 90, 120, 150, 210, 305, 360.

Peter Gomena

[mdm]

4x5 135mm only
5x7 210mm and 300mm
11x14 14 inch only
Only one format at a time, never 2.

[ckeith]

4x5 80 SSXL, 110 SSXL, 150 F5.6 Fuji, 200 Nikon M, 300 Nikon M
8x10 150 SSXL, 210 F5.6 Fuji (the old one), 300 Fuji C, 450 Fuji C, 600 Fuji C

Only one format at a time I have two back packs ~20lbc for 4x5 and ~31lbs for 8x10

[briand]

1 Kit only. Field & travel. Tachihara 4x5. 65mm. 75mm, 90mm, 120mm, 150mm,180mm,210mm & 270mm.
4x5 Ultra Wide 47XL & 58XL.

[Ed Bray]

I have 10 lenses for my 5x7:

72mm, 90mm, 121mm, 150mm, 180mm, 210mm, 240mm, 300mm, 360mm and 450mm

I normally take between 3 and 5 lenses with me depending on what I am shooting.

[Peter Lewin]

Usually take a Photobackpacker pack with Canham 4x5, and three lenses: Schneider 80XL & Symmar-S 210, Rodenstock 150.

If I'm trying to be really light and compact, I have an old Congo f6.8/180mm that can stay on the Canham when its folded, and I can travel with just that one lens, some holders, a tripod & a meter.
I also have a now-rarely-used Schneider 120, left from the days when I believed anything that Fred Picker recommended, but for the most part it has been replaced by the wider but lighter Schneider 80XL

[uphereinmytree]

The more I take, the less I shoot as I spend too much time playing and never get as far due to weight. I try to keep it to 4x5 with 3 lenses and I feel that focal lenghts need to vary more than most. I like a 125mm 240mm and 450mm or a 75mm, a 150mm petzval and a 300mm imagon Recently, I've been out with a 600mm and a 450mm together. I'm not old, but I hate heavy packs. Maybe 6 lens kit on a road trip. 75, 125, 8-10" range 300mm, 450mm, 600mm. All that said, If I know where I'm going to shoot, 2 lenses works fine.

[Malouk]

Only two,
One schneider xenar 210mm for 4x5
One industar 51 (210 mm) for my 13x18 (only for alternativ process).

[rfesk]

Three: 90/8.0 Nikon, 135/5.6 Rodenstock Sironar N, 240/9.0 Fujinon A

[Photobackpacker]

When I shot photo documentaries with 35mm (kodachrome), I carried 2 nikon bodies - one mounted with the 80 mm macro and the other mounted with a 35mm wide angle. When I switched over to 4x5, I started with a 210 and added a 90mm. I now carry a 65, 90, 150, 210, 300 and 450. Guess which 2 lenses are the most used? the 210 (35mm equiv of the 80) and the 90 - (a close approximation of the 35mm in 35mm).

For me, I am convince I view life through the 80mm(35mm)/210mm(4x5) eyes and when I get wide-eyed, I see in the 35/90 scene. (Anyone want to buy a 450 Fuiji? :)

[Renato Tonelli]

This Summer I did a fair amount of hiking in NY State (Harriman State Park). With the Linhof Technika, I started out with three lenses: 90, 150 and 210. Weight quickly became a problem on longer hikes and hot weather; the 90 got no use and the 210 made some shots inaccessible. The 150 was not quite wide enough; I should have known better - "normal" lenses have never been my favorite.
My 'solution' was a 135 Rodenstock that can stay in the camera when closed.