Favorite Lens

[Doremus Scudder]

A quick scan of my exposure records shows the 135mm focal length to be the most used. I like the 135mm length better than the 150mm because it's just a bit wider and I can always crop a bit if needed.

Next on the list for landscapes is 90mm followed by ~200mm (I've got 203mm and 210mm lenses, so it depends on which I'm carrying).

Best,

Doremus

[jnantz]

ilex seminat 6"
it renders and image unlike any lens I have ever used
stopped down it is sharp and contrasty like a modern lens, wide open things look like a Japanese silk painting.
like anything it takes some getting used to figuring out how to use it

[Jim Noel]

A 150 Dagor for 4x5.

[willwilson]

Fuji 135mm NW. Small, light, sharp, and cheap. It is multicoated with the 52mm filter thread. Great little lens, definitely my go to.

I have a CM-W too but really no difference between them except the CM-W is bigger. Honestly, it needs to get sold.

[Greg]

Depends on what project I am pursuing at the time to photograph...
90mm f/5.6 Super-Angulon XL: When I was doing a lot of WA architectural photography that required extreme rises.
150mm Repro-Claron: When I was shooting Chromes of CUs in nature.
500mm f/7 Komura Tele: Favorite lens in the fall here in New England.
180mm FUJINON W: If had only one lens with my 4x5.

[Salmo22]

As some have already said; "it depends". My two favorites are the Nikkor SW 120mm f8 and Fujinon A 240mm f9 lenses. Both are excellent performers and have generous image circles that allows me lots of 4x5 camera movements when needed.

[Rick A]

When I shot 4x5 my favorite lens was a Ysarex 127mm scavenged from a Polaroid 110B. It lived on my Speed Press and rarely got switched out for any other focal length. I never warmed up to 135 or 150mm, my next favorite is a Kodak #32 Anastigmat, and a 210mm Wistar.

[Michael Graves]

10 inch Gold Ring Dagor...by a long shot. No pun intended.

[linhofbiker]

when I started with 4x5 about 50 years ago the camera came with a 135 Symmar. I used this lens exclusively for many years till I needed a 90mm Angulon for interiors of my wife's commercial interior design projects. I still remember shooting tungsten film with hot lights. Those were the days - I even shot a wedding with same outfit. The 8x10 prints were amazingly sharp being much better quality than those from a Hasselblad according to the lab that did the processing. Later I still used the 135 Symmar to make copies of my wife's watercolor portraits on Fuji 64T. Some clients wanted giclee copies up to 30x40. The prints made were as good as the original according to the artist (my wife).

[Dugan]

My first 4x5 lens was a Schneider 210mm f6.1 Xenar.
That was my only lens through college, and for years afterwards...I shot everything with that lens and a Calumet CC-400. It did almost everything I asked of it.