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Thread: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

  1. #1

    What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    Hi, please recommend a small lightweight lens for back packing, I will be using a Chamonix 4x5 and making prints no larger than 12x16.

  2. #2

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    Re: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    What focal length do you like???

    Steve K

  3. #3
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Re: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    Tin Can

  4. #4

    Re: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    Quote Originally Posted by LabRat View Post
    What focal length do you like???

    Steve K
    125mm,135mm or 150mm.

  5. #5
    Martin Aislabie's Avatar
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    Re: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    Look for small aperture lenses - regardless of focal length.

    Fuji "A" series and Nikon "M" series lenses are well regarded, small and light - but they are longer focal lengths.

    Any of the standard 135mm and 150mm lenses from the big 4 are reasonably small and light.

    Small light wide angle lenses are a problem - all the wide angle lenses are fairly heavy due to the amount of glass you need.

    Again the thing to look for is nothing with too wide an aperture.

    My problem had been not the size or weight of any individual lens, I too have gone for fairly compact lenses, but the number of lenses that I have accumulated.

    Also, once you have your lenses, invest in some step-up rings so you only carry one set of filters - it is too easy to fill your bag with lots of filters.

    Martin

  6. #6

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    Re: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    I've been satisfied with the Fujinon-W 125/5.6 and the Fujinon-W 150/6.3 (inside lettering). Both a very small lenses.

  7. #7

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    Re: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    Schneider angulon 90mm/f6.8, symmar 135mm f5.6 and Kodak Ektar 203mm f7.7 are very light and good performers.

  8. #8

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    Re: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    I second the suggestion for the 203mm Ektar lens. It’s an outstanding performer and it’s tiny and lightweight.

  9. #9

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    Re: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    The Kodak Wide Field Ektars are nice, for example the 135 mm, or 100 mm (no movements). For some reason, old Kodak lenses are expensive these days.

  10. #10
    Resident Heretic Bruce Watson's Avatar
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    Re: What small lightweight lens for 4x5 backpacking?

    Quote Originally Posted by GoodOldNorm View Post
    Hi, please recommend a small lightweight lens for back packing, I will be using a Chamonix 4x5 and making prints no larger than 12x16.
    Kerry Thalmann was our resident expert in lightweight LFP kit, especially for hiking. He's still keeping his old website up, but it hasn't been updated in quite a while (a couple of decades?). That said, there's no real reason to update it -- nothing has changed. No one is designing or making new lenses. What's available new is just stock that was made years ago.

    I bought most of my kit, most of my lenses, based on Kerry's work. I'm grateful that he published it, and sad that he's no longer active on this site. His was a valuable voice of reason.

    Bruce Watson

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