I just got the SYMMAR-S 5,6/210mm on COPAL NO.1. Can You tell me what is the lenses best for, and how good or not are they? Can I made some DIY board for it?
I will be using it on 4x5 and 8x10 format's. I search around for symmar-s 210 photo's on forum but i couldn't found mutch.
I have the same lens and I this is one of my sharpest. It is a beautiful lens.
Used both for landscapes and portrait.
The drawbacks are :
- Its weight (compared to the 200M Nikkor)
- The dimeter of filters if you have tiny companions of the symmar.
You won't be disappointed with this lens.
Christian
210mm is the "normal" lens for a 5x7 camera, but it is a fantastic lens for 4x5 (favorite focal length for some) and it has more image circle than most 4x5 field cameras can use. I also used mine for 8x10 for a year or so before getting a better covering lens. You have to line up the little crescent on all 4 corners just right and the image circle will just fit. Though, if you contact print you may still see some vignetting.
The Symmar-S 210 is a very popular lens, you may have not searched well enough.
I posted mine here: http://www.largeformatphotography.in...3&postcount=40
I've had my Symmar-S since 1980. It and my 150 Symmar-S are my favorite lenses for 4x5. It's a great lens for portraits, tabletop work and landscapes.
I've used it on an 8x10 for subjects closer than infinity. It's a tight fit. I now use it on my whole-plate camera as a moderate wide angle lens. It has only a little bit of room for movements on WP, maybe 2 inches.
So I will look also for symmar-s 150mm in future. What about 300mm lenses ?? I think there also is Symmar-s 300mm what about that lenses for portrait / nude ?
The 300mm Symmar-S is huge and heavy, in a big Copal 3 shutter. It takes a 105mm filter. A fantastic lens for 8x10; it has more resolution than you will be able to use. To use it on 4x5 you'll want a sturdy monorail camera.
For 300 mm you might want to consider the Nikon 300M. It's an f/9 but you don't really miss the stops with the longer lenses. It will cover 8x10 and not rip the front standard off a 4x5. The huge f/5.6 300 may not fit some 4x5's.
You might also consider a 305mm f/9 G-Claron. Sharp as a tack, covers 8x10 with plenty of room to spare, and about the same size or slightly smaller than the 210 Symmar-S.
Peter Gomena
I bought my 150 & 210 S lenses in 1975. The 210 was my main lens for 4x5 until going digital in my commercial studio ten years ago. I considered replacing it with a super symmar HM and did a side by side comparison with a HM that Schneider sent for evaluation. The image circle of the HM was larger and would have ben a nice wide for my 8x10 but the color of the S was much more neutral with the HM being 10-12cc green. Contrast and resolution were about the same.
The S is about as good as it gets.
Wondering if it is possible to made (DIY) lensboard for copal 1 for my SYMMAR-S 210mm ??? Is there some dimension's website or something like this ??
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