Originally Posted by
jim10219
I went through the same thought process when I first got into large format about a year ago. I eventually settled on the 90mm (a Fujinon 5.6). The field of view is nice (about where a 28mm is on 135), it has plenty of coverage for movements for architecture photography, and I don't feel it needs a center filter. I read reports of the 75mm lenses needing a good center filter to combat vignetting and that's what turned me away from them. Though, to be fair, I never really gave one a chance, so I can't comment on whether or not that's just another unsubstantiated internet rumor or not. I may add a 75mm one day, but for now, I'm pleased with the 90mm.
I would also recommend looking at a 135mm or 150mm lens (preferably 150mm). The jump from a 90mm to a 210mm is a bit large, and you might find yourself looking for something in between. The good new is 135mm and 150mm lenses are among the cheaper focal lengths in 4x5, as they're kind of seen as the "normal" focal length and are probably the most common. The 90mm, 150mm, and 210mm is a good set to start off with, in my opinion.
If your eyes are good, I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between an f4.5 and an f8. In dim light, they're all pretty hard to see, but if you wrap the dark cloth all the way around to shut out all of the ambient light and give your eyes time to adjust, you can make do. If you're eyes aren't so good, then that extra stop and two thirds might actually make a difference to you in rare circumstances, and may be worth the money. If the f8 lenses were impossible to compose on, then they wouldn't make them.
Bookmarks