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Thread: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

  1. #1

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    Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    Hello,

    I have tried searching the forum and the internet, altough a lot of information can be found about the Grandagon-N it is hard to find information about the plain Grandagon (non-N).
    When shooting 4x5 I close the lens down to f22. But, I want to start using the lens with a 6x9 back to hopefully be able to shorten my exposure times. I shoot most of my work at night and run exposure times from 30 to 60 minutes most of the time, sometimes this is still not long enough so I am hoping to be able to use f16 on 6x9 and shorten my exposures in some situations a bit.
    I have seen on the Rodenstock site that the working aperture for the Grandagon-N 90mm 6.8 is stated at f22-f32, but I assume that this is to make sure the coverage is adequate. If I were to shoot for 6x9 at f16 the coverage would be more than okay, my question is: would the sharpness at this aperture be okay, or is this lens sharpest at f22-f32 and is f16 to soft to use the 6x9 negatives? I want to make analogue c-prints, approx 100cm wide with the negatives, I know 4x5 will be sharper and finer grained, but this is just for those cases where the exposure times end up being way to long.

    Thank you for you answers in advance.

  2. #2

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    Re: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    f16 will be fine, maybe even sharper.

  3. #3

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    Re: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    i do not own a 90 6.8 grandagon but with most lenses f16 should be even sharper than f22. I only use f32 if it is really necessary in terms of depth of field. With all of my lenses f32 is softer than f16 and f22 because of defraction.
    In your case i think i would use f16 and portra 400.

  4. #4

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    Re: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    maybe it helps: check out the work "paradise now" by peter bialobrzeski- all shot at night.
    he shoots 4x5 and as far as i know he used f11 a lot for this project, to avoid very long exposure times.
    (he said that at some kind of presentation...)
    http://www.bialobrzeski.de/work/para...iseNow-18.html

  5. #5

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    Re: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    Thanks a lot for the quick responses guys.
    Portra 400 is a good idea as well (I tend to use fuji 160ns mostly). It and shooting at f16 will give me a lot more speed. (I also understand that portra 400 can be pushed to 800 quiet well so this might be an option as well). I will give it a try.

  6. #6

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    Re: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    Quote Originally Posted by mark.s View Post
    maybe it helps: check out the work "paradise now" by peter bialobrzeski- all shot at night.
    he shoots 4x5 and as far as i know he used f11 a lot for this project.
    (he said that at some kind of presentation...)
    http://www.bialobrzeski.de/work/para...iseNow-18.html
    I have this book, love it. I somehow never consider apertures that small when shooting 4x5, I am afraid I will not get everything sharp in the frame, f16 seems to be to big to me already, but maybe this is a misunderstanding on my part. I will try and experiment a bit with opening up a bit more with 4x5 (altough I think he uses a lot wider lenses than I mostly use, most of my work is shot with 125 or 180mm lenses on 4x5.)

  7. #7

    Re: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    I shot the lens wide open for an IR film focus test once and it was tack sharp. I have had no issues with using that lens as wide as F8 and getting more than adequate coverage...

  8. #8

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    Re: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    Thank you, good to know.

  9. #9

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    Re: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    +1

    Don't be afraid to use this lens at f8, the results may surprise you. Alternatively, consider one of the 90mm f4.5 wide angles (Grandagon, SW Nikkor...) using it at f5.6 or larger aperture to gain more light gathering ability on to the film and lowering exposure time.

    The other consideration is light fall off towards the edges of the film. To correct this using a center filter cost light loss.. There is always a trade off.


    Bernice

    Quote Originally Posted by Kodachrome25 View Post
    I shot the lens wide open for an IR film focus test once and it was tack sharp. I have had no issues with using that lens as wide as F8 and getting more than adequate coverage...

  10. #10

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    Re: Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm 6.8

    The indication by the manufacturer of f-22 has nothing in particular to do with sharpness or a recommended setting. It is the standard at which the angle of coverage is calculated. The lens will cover 4x5 adequately at any aperture unless you are using some extreme movement. In fact, I use mine on the 5x7 occasionally.

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