Help buying a lens for 4X5

[maayanz]

Hi there,
I can not decide what lens to buy camera 4X5
I do not quite understand the differences and I'm very glad your help.
I shoot mostly studio portraits
1. 210 F5.6 SINARON-S
2. 210 F5.6 SYMMAR-S

And another question:
What is the difference between 210 f5.6 SINARON-S and the 210 f5.6 SINARON-N

Thank you to everyone who can contribute his knowledge.

Maayan

[Bill_1856]

Save your money. If you don't know what you need then you don't need it.

[E. von Hoegh]

What Bill1856 said. Any modern lens will do you just fine. You wouldn't be able to see any difference between the two lenses you mentioned.

[Alan Gales]

The Sinaron-S has more coverage than the Sinaron-N. It is also said to be slightly sharper. It is also a lot more expensive.

For portraiture you would be very happy with either the Sinaron-N or Symmar-S as said earlier.

[Ari]

Save your money. If you don't know what you need then you don't need it.

Hah! Then most of the people on this forum should be quite rich by now
If you can't be helpful, then at least don't be discouraging.

Maayan, the two lenses you mentioned are good for 4x5 portraiture; as others have said, the main difference will be price and image circle.
For portraits, you don't really need to worry much about image circle, so find the lens in the best condition at the best price.

[Oren Grad]

What is the difference between 210 f5.6 SINARON-S and the 210 f5.6 SINARON-N

There is no "Sinaron-N".

Sinar re-branded Rodenstock lenses, unfortunately using a confusing naming system:

Sinaron-S = Sironar-N / Apo-Sironar-N
Sinaron-SE = Apo-Sironar-S
Sinaron-WS = Apo-Sironar / Apo-Sironar-W

[Alan Gales]

There is no "Sinaron-N".

Sinar re-branded Rodenstock lenses, unfortunately using a confusing naming system:

Sinaron-S = Sironar-N / Apo-Sironar-N
Sinaron-SE = Apo-Sironar-S
Sinaron-WS = Apo-Sironar / Apo-Sironar-W

Your right, we misspelled it. I even knew better!

There is also a Caltar II-N which is a rebadged APO-Sironar-N

[Alan Gales]

Sorry, that's You're right. Man I'm having a bad day!

[Ivan J. Eberle]

The 210 Caltar IIN is also the same lens as the Sironar S same as the Rodenstocks APO Sironar N though it can often be found about 10% to 20% less expensively. It's not at all unusual to find mint ones selling for a bit less than $200 USD. Surely this must be one of the best values in all of photography.

Mine is terrific, super sharp with great coverage. The huge 301mm image circle allows experimenting with all the camera moves that make view cameras so worthwhile.

[Bill_1856]

If you can't be helpful, then at least don't be discouraging.

I think it's excellent advice. Wish that I could follow it myself.