Starting out - Rodenstock or Schneider 90mm

[msbc]

Hi,

Just starting out in LF. Have a Chamonix 045n-1 on order and now looking around for lenses. I want a 90mm lens for landscapes. Not too expensive, not too heavy but, as this will be my main lens I'd prefer to invest in a keeper rather than a 'just make do' lens.

As most of my work will be landscapes at f/22 or abouts I don't need a super fast lens. This has lead me to 6.8 as a good compromise between potentially hard to focus f/8's and heavy f/5.6's or 4.5's (comments on this welcome - am I being paranoid about focusing f/8's ?).

Looking around I see the 2 best contenders in this space as the Rodenstock Grandagon-N 90/6.8 or Schneider Super-Angulon Classic 90mm/6.8. Would appreciate any insight into these two lenses and how they compare to each other. Is the Schneider worth the extra dollars?

[Toyon]

The reason why a 90 is hard to focus is that the rays are concentrated in the center of the fresnel (if your camera has one). You have to move around a bit to see clearly in the corners. I have several f8 lenses, and none of them are hard to focus in the center, even in low light. Now, soft focus lenses - they are truly hard to focus.

[Gem Singer]

For outdoor photography, you are being paranoid about f8 wide angle lenses.

I have never had a problem composing or focusing an f8 lens outside in the daylight.

The Nikkor f8 90SW throws a 235mm image circle. Hard to beat.

Schneider and Rodenstock lenses are equal in quality.

A 90 wide angle is not necessarily the ideal first lens for landscape photography.

[msbc]

For outdoor photography, you are being paranoid about f8 wide angle lenses.

I have never had a problem composing or focusing an f8 lens outside in the daylight.

Most of my shots are dawn or dusk - so fairly low light. Does this make a difference to using an f/8 lens?

A 90 wide angle is not necessarily the ideal first lens for landscape photography.

Gem, what other focal lengths would you recommend?

[Gem Singer]

In low light, you are correct. An f8 lens will be more difficult to compose and focus than a faster lens.

Check out the Nikkor f4.5 90SW. It also throws a 235mm image circle. It's one of the brightest 90's out there.


My first choice for landscape photography would be a 135 - 180 "normal" lens. You can always add a shorter and/or a longer lens after you have made a few images and determined your personal preference.

There's quite a difference in the look between lenses for the 35mm and 4X5 formats.

[Mike Herring]

Yes, very hard to focus in dim light. I have had an f8, f6.8 and an f4.5 90mm. I would never go back to the slower 90mm lenses. I do a great deal of interiors and sunsets. Even with a 8x focusing loupe, it was very difficult to see the screen edges.
You get what you pay for!!!
I have been in this business for over 30 years. You can take this statement to the bank !!!

Take care,
Mike

Most of my shots are dawn or dusk - so fairly low light. Does this make a difference to using an f/8 lens?


Gem, what other focal lengths would you recommend?

[Eric James]

I've never had a problem composing with or focusing the 90mm Nikon SW f8. The image circle of the Nikon may provide you with a greater advantage; you won't need to tilt a 90mm much for landscape work, but the extra rise or fall can certainly come in handy.

My first LF lens was a Fuji 240mm, quickly followed by the Nikon 90mm. I didn't find the 90mm particularly difficult to work with, but then and now it is my least used lens. I shoot only landscapes and use my 150mm far more often than my 90mm or 110mm lenses.

You may find that an after market ground glass will help more than a faster lens.

Welcome to the forum.

[Steve Hamley]

Although a 90mm may not be the first choice for a landscape lens, it can be useful in certain settings, for example a near-far sunset or sunrise depending on the foreground object. The attached sunset was done using the Schneider 110mm SS XL. It's a nice sunset/sunrise lens because it seems very flare resistant, a surprise given all the glass in it.

Cheers, Steve

[Eric James]

Sweet shot!

[Steve Hamley]

Thanks Eric!

Cheers, Steve