135 mm lens. 4 x 5 format

Paul Johns · Apr 26, 2009

Hello. I am doing a river trip very soon and I would like some advice as to what would be a good lens to use with my Sinar P 4 x 5 camera. I have 135 mm and 210mm lenses.
Do you think the 135mm lens would be a good lens to use?
I don't want the images to look too wide angle.....I want more of a std. lens look.

I am told that the 135mm lens would be good to use...however, I would like a second opinion.

mjs · Apr 26, 2009

It's really, really hard for someone to recommend a lens to someone else -- we have no idea what you like. We can do a bang-up job at recommending the lens we'd use, but that may be completely meaningless to you.

The obvious question, though, is that if you have two lenses, why don't you take them both? There's a reason why lenses can be changed -- and why most of us have more than one of them!

That said -- sure, the 135mm would be a good lens to use! So would the 210mm. Good luck on your trip!

Mike

Pinholemaster · Apr 26, 2009

For decades the 135 mm lens has been used as a standard lens on 4x5. Don't think you'll have a problem with it. A 150 mm is closer to the mathematically correct standard lens. For portraiture, the 210 mm has been the standard for 'normal.'

Paul Johns · Apr 26, 2009

Thanks Walter...that is good to know.
Yes I purchased the 210 lens for portraits; I find the 135 mm lens can be used in the studio also.

The pics featured here are mainly medium format (Hasselblad and Pentax 6 x 7)
I have only just recently started using 4 x 5 lrge. format.
I would like to use 8 x 10 when I grow up.

http://photographspauljohns.blogspot.com/

vet173 · Apr 27, 2009

A sinar-P for a river trip? That's going the extra mile for sure. If you were to take only one lens the 210 is the optimum. Although some may prefer wider, the 135 is wide but wont reduce the horizon a useless line.

photobum · Apr 27, 2009

You don't say what river but...Have you ever been on a major river before? In the spring? I would leave the Sinar at home and buy a beat to s#!+ Speed/Crown Graphic w/ 127 or 135 lens. Or check your insurance policy and all the small print.

My last time on the Colorado I found the Nikonos to be perfect.

k_jupiter · Apr 27, 2009

It would depend on the 135 lens. If it's a Tessar clone, be very careful with the edges and corners. I am sure your P can easily overdrive the coverage of that type lens. If it's a "w" or"ws" type lens, I am sure it will be fine.

I am not sure I would take my Sinar on a river (if I had a Sinar or a river) but don't let us stop you. A 4x5 Crown would be more my taste. And it would be with the 135mm in this case.

tim in san jose

Paul Johns · Apr 27, 2009

The river is the Whanganui River (New Zealand). I didn't think the 210mm would be suitable...but I will see what it looks like. The 135mm is a NIKOR. Thanks for your feed back.
The trip is a jet boat ride to the site..camp over and explore the surrounding area.

explorehttp://www.whanganuijet.co.nz/whanganui-jet/index.php

mrladewig · Apr 27, 2009

I have in my kit 65, 75, 125, 150, 210, 300.

I could see my 210 and 300 as very useful to capture details on the river. My 125 and your 135 are useful for moderate wide angles. FYI, Your Nikkor is a plasmat derivative. I'm not sure what the river is like (ie deep canyon, open country, glacial U-valley). In a very deep canyon, a 65-75mm might be more useful if you want to capture the entire canyon. But based on the photos I see on their site I think the 135 and 210 will compliment each other well.

A Sinar P is definitely not the easiest camera to haul around though. If you can get a field camera (eg Tachihara, Shen Hao, Ebony, etc...) for that trip instead, it will be much easier to carry due to the form factor.

Paul Johns · Apr 27, 2009

Thx. mrladewig.
I didn't think the 210 could be used in this situation (I didn't think beyond its use as a portrait lens in the studio). I will take my H'blad with me too...I have
the std. 80mm lens.
You can see one river shot taken with the 80mm on my blog site : http://photographspauljohns.blogspot.com/

Venchka · Apr 27, 2009

Paul Johns said:
The river is the Whanganui River (New Zealand). I didn't think the 210mm would be suitable...but I will see what it looks like. The 135mm is a NIKOR. Thanks for your feed back.
The trip is a jet boat ride to the site..camp over and explore the surrounding area.

explorehttp://www.whanganuijet.co.nz/whanganui-jet/index.php

Take both lenses.

Paul Johns · Dec 9, 2010

I have been told that the 300mm lens would be a good standard lens to use on an 8 x 10 format for studio photographs = portraits and full figure.

I have also been told to use a 450mm lens in preference to the 300mm.

I would like to hear what some of you experts use in the studio.

If I could also use the lens in a outdoor setting (landscapes) that would be an extra bonus.

I intend to try a 210mm lens that I already have.

Answers always appreciated.
Paul

holmburgers · Dec 9, 2010

Go to flickr.com and serach "8x10 450mm" and "8x10 300mm". Or go into some of the LF/8x10 groups and search the focal lengths. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand posts!

k_jupiter · Dec 10, 2010

So Paul, How did that trip pan out? Did you find a 135 that the P would handle and how did it work?

My normal lens on my 8x10 is a 300 Ektar Commercial. Stunning.

tim in san jose

2F/2F · Dec 10, 2010

Wow! Talk about a pain in the rear for shooting out and about in nature. I'd do yourself a favor for future outings. F's are cheap. Pick up an F-2 rear standard and a multipurpose standard for the front so you can leave the big P standards at home on this sort of trip, and end up with a lightweight and compact F-1. Doing this makes the camera about 6 lbs. sans lens and board – about as much as a Technika. The usefulness of most of the P's benefits (i.e. precision and solidity) is all but lost out in nature anyhow, and they do nothing but add weight (and quite a bit of it).

How did it turn out in the end? What lens did you use?

Paul Johns · Dec 11, 2010

The 300 Ektar Commercial is what i will start looking for. Appreciate your help. It will be mainly for studio setups...but I trust it will be fine for outdoors also.
I used the H'blad in the end for the river trip...but used the Sinar for some interior shots at the River community called Jerusalem.
Are your photographs 8 x 10 's? I could only see them as thumbnails as I am not subscribed yet.
I especially liked the flags.
Ok Tim..thanks.

Paul Johns · Dec 11, 2010

I know what you mean by the Sinar being weighty. I used the convenient Hasselblad in the end.
Its 8 x 10 lenses that interest me now. I like the time and concentration the Sinar P requires to set up.
The lens I am after is for a studio set up.

BrianShaw · Dec 13, 2010

k_jupiter said:
My normal lens on my 8x10 is a 300 Ektar Commercial. Stunning.

My portrait lens on my 4x5 is a 12 inch (300) Commercial Ektar.
STUNNING!

Paul Johns · Dec 13, 2010

This is great to know. Would the 14" Commercial Ektar be just as effective for portraits on the 4 x 5 ?

Paul Johns · Dec 13, 2010

hello Brian. Do you have any examples on line of your portraits taken with the Ektar on your 4 x 5" ?
pauljohns@slingshot.co.nz

BrianShaw · Dec 13, 2010

I'll post one tonight. I find the 12" to give a very good working distance between subject and camera when doing headshots. For me a 14 might be too much distance, and a 10 too little.

BrianShaw · Dec 13, 2010

Here is one. I hope it is OK to link to another site:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showpost.php?p=629946&postcount=4

Paul Johns · Dec 21, 2010

Hello brian. I am unable to see the photograph you have enclosed. can you please send to my email address?
pauljohns@slingshot.co.nz

BrianShaw · Dec 21, 2010

Here y'go.

BrianShaw · Dec 21, 2010

If I didn't mention earlier... FP4 and totally forgotten exposure. I think I recall aperture being wide open, though.

135 mm lens. 4 x 5 format

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