What's a good 16.5 inch lens for 8x10?

[axs810]

Looking to add to my lens collection! What are some good (or popular) 16.5 inch lenses for 8x10 format?


(mostly for portraits/people and landscapes)

[pierre506]

420mm Dagor~

[mdarnton]

For portraits, 42cm Heliar. Good luck finding one.

[Michael Graves]

If you can settle for a 15", here is something I stumbled across. I have the 16" version of the Apo-Raptar and love it.

http://lensn2shutter.com/15inaporaptar.html

[axs810]

Opinions on Goerz Apochromat Artar 16.5" f/9.5? (not the red dot version)

[Mark Sampson]

Very high resolution, no distortion, lower contrast than a more modern lens.

[John Kasaian]

Opinions on Goerz Apochromat Artar 16.5" f/9.5? (not the red dot version)

Excellent!

[DrTang]

Voigtlaander Portrait

[Corran]

Probably any lens in that focal length area would be more than good enough for most uses, so probably whatever is easily available and in your budget would be fine. Specific lenses, especially those with certain character or strengths, may be more in line with your vision, but we can't determine that.

Personally, I very, very rarely shoot longer than 300mm on my 8x10 for landscape. The times that I do, or want a longer portrait length, I've got a 450mm f/9 Nikkor-M, which is probably one of the best all-round lenses out there (and has a huge IC, way more than stated officially, see my recent portrait on 8x20 film for example).

[MIke Sherck]

My favorite 420mm lens on 8x10 was the Fujinon 420mm L in a Copal 3 shutter. Sharp, contrasty, very sweet lens. Also a very heavy lens. I switched to a much lighter 16 1/2" RD Artar in an Ilex shutter and was happy with the exchange. The Artar was an excellent lens in its own right, in my opinion. I think the Fujinon had slightly harder contrast but that ultimately didn't make up for the sheer weight.

On the other hand, I'd take either one of them if I were still shooting 8x10.

Mike