My replacements... comments or suggestions welcome

[Jehu]

My insurance company used a replacement service for my stolen equipment claim. Here's a nutshell:

Stolen: Calument C1 monorail 4x5 view camera
Replacement: Toyo 45CX

Stolen: Nikkor-w 240mm f5.6 lens
Replacement: Rodenstock 240mm Sironar-S 5.6

Stolen: Graphex 135mm (not sure about aperture. Cheap lens from Ebay)
Replacement: Rodenstock 135mm Sironar-S

Stolen: Schneider Super Angulon 90mm f8 (kind of old)
Replacement: Schneider Super Angulon 90mm f6.8

The rest of the stuff I understand pretty well. I'm confident that I'm getting a reasonable replacement.

The only time I've ever used a Rodenstock, I wasn't impressed. it was the first LF lens I ever had. Once I got the Nikkor-W 240mm, it quickly became my absolute favorite lens. A trusted friend told me that the Sironar series of Rodenstock is a completely different piece of equipment. I'm being pretty careful about letting the replacement service make the determinations. They had a Nikkor 135 digital lens as a replacement but I did a little checking and found out that digital lenses only cover 6X9. I got him to change that to the Sironar.

Any comments? They're going to start shipping any day now so let me know if you see any potential problems that I may need to research.

[Jim Becia]

In getting the two Sironar S lenses, you are probably getting a couple of the sharpest lenses you could receive if my 150 Sironar S is any indication. Looks to me like your replacements are excellent. Jim

[Vaughn]

All sounds good to me. If it was me, I would go for a field camera, but that is only because of the type of work I do.

When my 5x7 kit was stolen, I got cash and up-graded to 8x10.

[vinny]

I'd ask for a toyo AII or another top of their line view camera since you're getting the best lenses available.

[Jehu]

I tried to upgrade to the field camera but the only option that was reasonable close to the approved cost was the Camonix which wouldn't be available for at least two months.

It's good to hear good things about the Sironar S lenses.

[Jehu]

I'd ask for a toyo AII or another top of their line view camera since you're getting the best lenses available.

I'm kind of new to LF. I started this in June, 2008. I've never really understood what makes a better monorail camera. To me, it's just a light-tight way to introduce a film holder to a lens. What kind of improvements would I expect in an upgrade?

[Henry Ambrose]

I'd rather have a different camera (that's only a preference) but still you are coming out with better than what you owned. Looks like a very fair deal to me.

When you get the camera look it over and if you think you don't like it, sell it and get one you do like.

[David de Gruyl]

if those lenses are in good shape, you are getting a steal (although I like the Nikkor 240). Does the Rodenstock cover 8x10 as well?

[Jim Galli]

Virtually every replacement piece easily trumps what you started with. Who's your insurance company. I think I'll sign up and make a trip to San Francisco with every dog I own.

[Jehu]

if those lenses are in good shape, you are getting a steal (although I like the Nikkor 240). Does the Rodenstock cover 8x10 as well?

Yes. I listed that as a criteria for replacement on the 240 Nikkor-W. I have an 8X10 and as soon as I can afford holders and film, I'm going to try it out.