150mm Large Format Lenses - Some Advice Please

Papilio glaucus

D
Papilio glaucus

  • 0
  • 0
  • 5
The Bee keeper

A
The Bee keeper

  • 1
  • 4
  • 131
120 Phoenix Red?

A
120 Phoenix Red?

  • 7
  • 3
  • 141
Chloe

A
Chloe

  • 1
  • 3
  • 128
Fence line

A
Fence line

  • 10
  • 3
  • 169

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,173
Messages
2,770,629
Members
99,573
Latest member
IconicTyphoon
Recent bookmarks
0

DREW WILEY

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2011
Messages
13,825
Format
8x10 Format
There are different legitimate reasons to coat or multicoat. One is to reduce flare. But since certain special types of optical glass have become rare or extinct due to either exorbitant cost or proscribed toxic ingredients, multicoating has become an important method of fine-tuning optical performance. This doesn't mean that single
coated lenses are inferior. I've used single-coated lenses which were better in almost every category than later multicoated equivalents; but they also employed
glass no longer available. So it all depends. Likewise, with reference to "apo". Among German manufacturers, Rodenstock beat Schneider to the finish line with
respect to a noticeable improvement in general plasmat view camera lenses, so highlighted this with an Apo marketing designation on the Apo Sironar N series.
Now you've got the Apo Sironar S series which is equally corrected a stop or more wider open. But neither meet the Apo standard for true reproduction lenses like
4-element Apo Nikkors, which might be cheap now on the used market, but originally were quite expensive. And all along, both Schneider with its Apo Artar series,
and Rodenstock, with Apo Ronar, had been making lenses closer to true apo designation.
 

Dan Fromm

Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2005
Messages
6,806
Format
Multi Format
Drew, don't forget coating's importance for transmission. This isn't as significant for LF as for smaller formats, where fixed focal length lenses often have more elements and air-glass interfaces than LF lenses and where zoom lenses are common. I've had a couple of S8 cine cameras whose zooms t/stopped much slower than they f/stopped. The wretched things were best suited for use outdoors at high noon on bright days. Not so much a problem with LF lenses, but real nevertheless.
 

DREW WILEY

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2011
Messages
13,825
Format
8x10 Format
I'm certainly not an optical engineer, but have listened to a few of them enough to understand that coatings are themselves part of an extensive tool kit when designing lenses. For several years I worked side-by-side with an ex-NASA optical engineer. The highest contrast and most accurate color transmission lens I've ever used in any format was a 14 inch multicoated Kern Dagor. Although some people consider this particular lens to be the holy grail of large format lenses, it was frankly just too much contrast for me, especially for color chromes. So I sold it and replaced it with the previous Kern single-coated Dagor, which still has high contrast, but not so over the top. Neither are "apo" despite their superb color characteristics - that would be the related Goerz Trigor graphics lens, which I've never my got my hands on, and probably never will. No need for it, really. I could simply go into the darkroom and grab a 360 Apo Nikkor. At a certain point, getting nitpicky about such things is a waste of time. You'd need one huuuuge print to tell the difference in resolution.
 

Alan Gales

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
3,253
Location
St. Louis, M
Format
Large Format
If you were shooting landscape then I would tell you that there is no real difference that matters between the 180mm that you own and a 150mm. With portraiture I feel different about it though. Ari and I discussed 300mm versus 360mm lenses for 8x10 which is the same as 150mm versus 180mm for 4x5. I like the little little extra reach of the my 14" (358mm) lens and Ari says that he has always done better with a 300mm. Who is right? I guess we both are. :smile: You can try a 150mm lens compared to your 180mm. I doubt you will keep both focal lengths though.

As far as Schneider versus other brands of 4x5 lenses. If you want sharp and contrasty then any modern lens will do. If you are happy with your Schneider then buy another. Besides the modern Cooke soft focus portrait lens, it's with the older 4x5 lenses where you really find a lot of differences. Think Ektar, Dagor, Heliar, Petzval, etcetera.
 

DREW WILEY

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2011
Messages
13,825
Format
8x10 Format
Apples to apples relative to lens design, 180's will have a bigger image circle than 150's and distinctly less illumination falloff towards the corners. Just double that
for 8x10. I distinctly prefer 360 to 300 for 8x10 (used a 360 on 8x10 today for an image that need that extra bit of usable circle).
 

Ai Print

Subscriber
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
1,292
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
I have a 180mm Apo Sironar S and because of that I won’t use a 150 but I do use a 135mm Apo Sironar S to bridge between my 90 and the 180.

If I were really set on using a 150 I would punt the 180 and get a 210 in working towards portraits.
 

jimgalli

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
4,236
Location
Tonopah Neva
Format
ULarge Format
Fujinon 125mm f5.6 with lettering inside rim, single coated. 150 is too close to 180.
 
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
21
Format
35mm
Someone else mentioned the Computar Symmetrigon 150 6.3. I have one and love it. No complaints about image quality.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom