What high-quality 90mm lens for Intrepid 4x5 and Chamonix 45H-1?

[mdarnton]

Well, he did say 90mm! My favorite 4x5 wide angle happens to be the 108mm Raptar. . . . but he didn't ask for that. :-)

[xkaes]

Well, I won't bring up my favorite alternative either -- the current plate of spaghetti being quite enough to digest!

[Alan Gales]

Well, I won't bring up my favorite alternative either -- the current plate of spaghetti being quite enough to digest!

Yeah, no reason to throw some meatballs in it or smother it in Parmesan Cheese. Maybe a glass of wine and garlic bread too!

[Leszek Vogt]

I've been eyeing various options and 90mm Grandagon N F4.5 would be my choice. True, it's heavy so you have to decide which lighter version (perhaps ?) you might want. As soon as I saw your Q, my thoughts aligned with Peter. It would be something between F8-9 and lower stops....and while it's a formidable glass.....you can eventually decide whether it does what you desire and if not, replace with something that makes more sense to you.

OK, here is a little example....I wanted 360mm in the worst way. After some usage and looking at other options, I might be looking at 400mm or even longer. Anyway, who knows and hands-on experience does weird things to people, you may want to go to 80/75mm or even higher than 90mm ?

Les

[xkaes]

I had a Fujinon NSW 90mm f8 for a few years. It was a beautiful lens to use, and with great results, but it was large and heavy. The Fujinon SWD 90mm f5.6 was even bigger, heavier and expensive -- I can't imagine lugging that puppy up a mountain. So I sold the 90mm f8 for something smaller and lighter. It was not a 90mm, but eventually, it all worked out for me.

[mdarnton]

If you had filled out your profile, we would know where you are, and then maybe some local would volunteer to show you what he has. One doesn't really get an appreciation for how huge and heavy and inconvenient some of these lenses are until one has them in hand!

[Drew Bedo]

Isn't the XL lens a bit bulkier and heavier than the others?

[Greg]

I'd seriously consider getting a 75mm over a 90mm WA lens. Much a matter of personal taste and preference. Had both for years but then after realizing that I pretty much opted to use the 75mm over the 90mm all of the time, sold the 90mm and have never looked back.
just my 2 cents...

[Bill_1856]

Use your camera for a while (say, six months) before you start adding lenses.

[Dan Fromm]

OP, the best way to answer your question is to buy several examples of each of the wide angle lenses that might meet your requirements and test all of them. Several examples to be reasonably sure that variability in production won't lead you to choose a lens that's less than the very very best.

I doubt that many of us have done this exercise with lenses that meet the requirements you now think you have. If any of us have -- more power to their arms -- none of them will have your standards so what they have to say won't help you. You'd best test for yourself.

When you're done with the exercise, you can sell the rejects. Don't sell them as rejects, that will lower the prices they'll fetch.