Large Format

[ratboy]

It also depends on the rest of your setup
If you are only carrying 1 lens, then i guess the 150mm is ok

If you plan a 2 lens setup ... then maybe a 135 + 210 would be
more useful then a 150 + 210

 

[student]

I have a few lenses for my 4x5. But I found that the lens I use most is the Nikkor 210mm.

I found it very versatile. Used it to for landscape, people and macro. My 150 somehow just do not get used very often.

But others may see differently.

 

[hongsien]

I have a few lenses for my 4x5. But I found that the lens I use most is the Nikkor 210mm.

I found it very versatile. Used it to for landscape, people and macro. My 150 somehow just do not get used very often.

But others may see differently.

You may have found a buyer for your 150mm lens! Not me lah! but Keltzar ......anyway, there is not much difference in the viewing angle beween a 135 and a 150....they are both about the same size too....

HS

 

[hongsien]

If you don't want to carry too many lenses Schneider has though about you! There are several Schneider Symmars convertibles available in the market (eBay market) that you can use as a normal 180mm and when you remove the rear elements (and use only the front part) it becomes a 360mm BUT the aperture becomes half (e.g. from F5.6 it will now be F 12).

The 'normal' Schneider symmars can actually also be used this way, try it out! Schneider apparently didn't use the 'convertible' inscription anymore in later productions......

There are other focal lengt combos as well. They are not that tack sharp but what the heck with 4x5? It saves on the weight, if thats important.

 

[melhjt]

hong sien,

pls elaborate on the schneider lenses being able to convert. do you mean that if i were to take the rear element off my 150mm apo-symmar, it can be used as a longer lens?

why does the aperture effectively reduce?

 

[hongsien]

hong sien,

pls elaborate on the schneider lenses being able to convert. do you mean that if i were to take the rear element off my 150mm apo-symmar, it can be used as a longer lens?

why does the aperture effectively reduce?

Hi,

I am not exactly sure if the current Apo-Symmars can do the trick (do you have the -N or the -S version?)......I only know the first series after the convertibles can do it too (they were NOT APO lenses), these were Symmar and Symmar-S (bigger image circle). Don't know if the design has changed substantially with the appearance of the APO's. Worth the try, I have the -S version of the 150 apo, not tried it yet.

Why the aperture effectively becomes less is because with the middle elements at the front it is now as if looking through a peephole......less light going through.........(diameter of the middle elements are smaller in most LF lenses).

I will try to look for more info on the convertibles for you.......I got it on my mac as a link, but I am using a PC laptop in HK now for the moment. My imac is still in Sing Sing..........

HS

 

[hongsien]

Ok, as promised, I found some articles on the net:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0039CM

http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/faq/large_format_lenses/#q14

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lfforum/topic/499332.html

http://www.talkaboutphotography.com/group/rec.photo.equipment.large-format/messages/108394.html

 

[marios_pittas]

I am looking to buy a 90mm lens Angulon/Super-Angulon. I am not bothered about f/8 or f/6.8 (or whatever that might be), or image circle (do not intend to do movements with it).

However, I am VERY bothered about good contrast, so for those of you who have been using LF for a while, can the non-mc Angulons deliver? Has anyone tried them in bright and dull weather conditions (I understand that performance of non-coated lenses lacks behind in bright sunshine)? Anyone has any prints to show to practically demo "IMHO"? .. oh and is anyone selling?

Marios

 

[marios_pittas]

Hi,

I am not exactly sure if the current Apo-Symmars can do the trick (do you have the -N or the -S version?)......I only know the first series after the convertibles can do it too (they were NOT APO lenses), these were Symmar and Symmar-S (bigger image circle). Don't know if the design has changed substantially with the appearance of the APO's. Worth the try, I have the -S version of the 150 apo, not tried it yet.

Why the aperture effectively becomes less is because with the middle elements at the front it is now as if looking through a peephole......less light going through.........(diameter of the middle elements are smaller in most LF lenses).

I will try to look for more info on the convertibles for you.......I got it on my mac as a link, but I am using a PC laptop in HK now for the moment. My imac is still in Sing Sing..........

HS

I have used before the convertible 150mm Symmar. Back then, when I asked on photo.net I was warned (the gist anyway) that "just because the lens can be focused it did not mean that the quality would be there".

True enough, you may "convert" the lens but be prepared for a very "flat" negative in my experience.

 

[marios_pittas]

For some more info with regards to the use and expected results of the convertible Symmar have a look here:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=003Csv

 

[Keltzar]

Interesting. I just decided not to bid on an old Rodenstock Sironar today, in favour of waiting for the Sironar-N , or the Symmar-S (more coverage). It appears the ol' Sironar may have been interesting too.

Any idea what is a cheap and good super-wide angle to get i.e wider than 90mm.

Went to Russel Wong's exhibition today. Seems he is experimenting with his 8x10 (wisner) too.

 

[marios_pittas]

Interesting. I just decided not to bid on an old Rodenstock Sironar today, in favour of waiting for the Sironar-N , or the Symmar-S (more coverage). It appears the ol' Sironar may have been interesting too.

Any idea what is a cheap and good super-wide angle to get i.e wider than 90mm.

Went to Russel Wong's exhibition today. Seems he is experimenting with his 8x10 (wisner) too.

We were there too today! Russel's AW large format prints are the same as those that he exhibited at his exhibition next to prints from AA (I think). The coated uncoated and multicoated (and APO ) stuff got me to this info - which could be of some help wrgs to your q)
- http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/testing.html

and back to the coating stuff:
- http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/coatings.html

You also looking on "the mother of all camera shops" for LF lenses LOL. Bid low.. I need something by end of next week.. LOL

 

[Keltzar]

Marios:

I did manage to pick up a Symmar-S 150/5.6 for S$490 inclusive of shipping. Waiting with trepedition....

Nearly bought a Grandagon 90/6.8 offered to me today for S$800... then I realised it wasn't the "N" version and decided not to buy until I know the difference between all these versions !!

 

[marios_pittas]

Myself went off to investigate the "Sinar DB" price differences (that HS started ).

For 210mm, I think it does not make much difference unless you can sell off the Sinar DB shutter. The Schneider MC lens (Copal 1) goes for about US$260 while the Sinar one goes for about just below US$200. Even with out the shutter the lens elements go for about US$150 so again it depends how much you will have paid for the original shutter or if you can sell back the Sinar DB shutter to incease the US$60 difference.

Personally, I am now considering ignoring the 150mm and 210mm and getting only the 180mm and 90mm. I do have an old long lens (250mm odd) somewhere so if and when it is needed I can use that one.

"Nearly bought a Grandagon 90/6.8 offered to me today for S$800... then I realised it wasn't the "N" version and decided not to buy until I know the difference between all these versions !!"

Used to have the 90mm N series lens yet, now I have no re-collection of the differences between the various Rodenstock lenses. What I can say is that the colours of the N series lens are pretty good and contrast was really good (only shot in colour with it !).

 

[Keltzar]

I did some research today and its difficult to buy a copal shutter alone and when you can find it new, it's darn expensive!!

May be better to buy an older lens for a working synchro-compur shutter . At least the synchro-compur has 1/2 stop clicks whereas the copal does not.

BTW, what do you know about the Schneider 65/8 lens?

Any idea where I can buy just the glass of a schneider 75/8 or 65/8 without shutter so I can use my spare copal #0 shutter? Will these focal-lengths cover 4x5?

 

[marios_pittas]

I did some research today and its difficult to buy a copal shutter alone and when you can find it new, it's darn expensive!!

May be better to buy an older lens for a working synchro-compur shutter . At least the synchro-compur has 1/2 stop clicks whereas the copal does not.

BTW, what do you know about the Schneider 65/8 lens?

Any idea where I can buy just the glass of a schneider 75/8 or 65/8 without shutter so I can use my spare copal #0 shutter? Will these focal-lengths cover 4x5?

The person to "disturb" would be HS! A good starting place though would be:
http://www.schneideroptics.com/ What you are looking for is either under the leftmost menu (for current lenses) "Photography > Large Format Lenses" or under the rightmost menu (for older lenses) "Info > Age of lenses / Vintage Lens Data".

Even though my favourite lenses in other formats are wides (35mm in 6x4.5 format, and 18mm in 35mm format), I am not sure about wides in 4x5, so you may want to try them out if you can before buying. From what I see most people use such lenses in architecture (which I like but not often practice) or when using the 6x9 / 6x12 backs, in which case (say for exmaple in 6x9) the 65mm is no longer a super wide.. Personally I like the wides in the portable formats for environmental potraits etc

Which of course raises the question.. what are you going to be using your 4x5 for?

 

[hongsien]

Ok, ok, its my fault again......

I used to buy shutters from a US seller but off course due to old age (I will be 94 this year!), I lost that email address.....

Here are some on eBay that end soon, some state they don't sell overseas, but you can always ask them, as the default is US for eBay sell forms:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dllViewItem&category=30076&item=3867277714&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dllViewItem&category=4702&item=3866861443&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dllViewItem&category=15247&item=3867930662&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dllViewItem&category=15247&item=3867047955&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dllViewItem&category=30076&item=3868244355&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dllViewItem&category=15247&item=3867580852&rd=1

Good luck!
Hong Sien

 

[hongsien]

I found the address, his name is Ken Wise, ask him if he still has some shutters left. He also sells retaining rings, if you lost them:

Ken.Wise@ispwest.com

I used to send payment in cash or ask if he accepts Paypal
Hong Sien

 

[marios_pittas]

Keltzar: See what a nudge can do

For me, HS is the local LF expert, he is just a bit shy on-line

 

[Keltzar]

hi guys, thanks for the advise!

HS: Those lenses look really quite old... are you suggesting I buy them for the shutter?

I decided after some thinking that since the shutter coming on the symmar is new Copal #0 press shutter, maybe I'll just use it for the moment... and eventually I'll upgrade the whole thing when I've shot enough and probably move to a Sironar-S or a Apo-Symmar-L.