4x5 lens selection

The Sironar-N is an apochromatic design, from before they prepended the APO designation to the name.

- Leigh

Yeah, just done some test shots with the Sironar-N and I quite like it.
Only issue with this lens is that I can't close the front cover of my Crown Graphic with the lens in. The lens is too big.
I haven't received the Fujinon yet. Hope it's small enough to fit in the camera for easy transportation.

I am interested in Schneider Angulon 90mm f6.8. Anybody has opinion on this lens?
Most 90mm are quite bulky but this one is so tiny.
cheers

I've got the Caltar IIN version of the 210mm Sironar N, and two Meridians (a 45B and a 45C). The lens just fits inside these cameras when they're folded closed, but only due to a custom aluminum board I machined out of 1/4" plate that has a 3/16 recess. I'd expect that among folding metal fields few or no other cameras are going to close with this lens mounted. (A Nikon SW 90mm f/8 fits inside a closed up Meridian on a flat board-- but not with the standard Nikon lens cap!)

It's my understanding that Linhof Technikas won't fold up with Sironar 150mm's mounted on flat boards.

Ian Grant said:

There's nothing to choose between any of the 3 you've listed, get which ever's the best bargain.

Click to expand...

I agree 100%. There haven't been many bad large format lenses made, especially not by any of those companies.

I will just add that the lens board that comes (or doesn't come) with the lens is also a part of what might make it "the best bargain." A lens that comes pre mounted on the lens board that you need for your camera not only saves you money, but saves you a search and waiting time.

Pupfish, if I grind the bottom flange of the rail the lens just fits inside without the cap on but I think I just work around it even its a PITA to travel with.

2F, yeah I figured that out when I checked the price of Graphics lens board. Luckily, the Sironar came with a graphics lens board.
This lens has Copal #1 and others are #0 so it's good to have its own.