90mm and 210mm lenses value for money recommendation for my new Chamonix - any new lenses made?

abruzzi · May 8, 2024

Ian Grant said:
Doremus mentions the 203mm f7.7 Ektar, these are coated dialyte lenses, and they are excellent from Infinity to 1:1. They were sold for medical/dental, police & forensic, scientific, as well as general purpose use with Kodak's Specialist 2 Half plate cameras

Here in the UK/Europe they were made by Kodak Ltd, one advantage is they are all in standard Compur/Copal #0 sized shutters, the earliest in the Kodak Epsilon, later Prontor SVS, neither have a shutter preview lever, the Prontor SVS only has B - so you need a locking cable release, the Epsilon at least has a T setting. Very late versions were in a Compur #0.

If size/weight is an issue the 90mm f6.8 Anguulon is an excellent lens. I have one in my light weight kit.

Ian

Yeah, I was able to resurrect my 203mm by moving the sels from an old Compur to a more recent black Copal 1. I still have the compur, but it has a lot of things wrong with it, so the transplant made the most sense.

I was testing a 65mm Angulon on a digital back, and it was suprisingly sharp. People look down on the Angulons because usually they have very little room for movement on their reccomended format. (65mm-->6x9, 90mm-->4x5, 120mm-->5x7, 185-->8x10.) But I try to avoid the big wides (I assume they are all boigon derivatives--Super Angulon, Grandagon, SW, etc.) I don't shoot wide that often, and when I do, I don't use much in the way of movements, so I'm satified with the baby angulon.

Marcelo Paniagua · May 8, 2024

For 210mm, I find Calumet Caltar-S II 210mm f/5.6 one of the best value for money options. Pretty cheap given the lens quality (Rodestock).

sperera · May 8, 2024

BrianShaw said:
Why not transplant that lens to a lensboard that will work on your new Chamonix? Or are you like me... multiple same/similar lenses on different lensboards are a reasonable option?

And, yes, it is a very beautiful camera with nice features. I just about choked at the price of a lensboard and then really choked at the price of the camera, You are truly wise and lucky to be able to own and use that instrument.

yes of course I'm going to put the 150mm onto the Chamonix (uses Linhof boards) as wont be using the Sinar F2.....

Steve Goldstein · May 8, 2024

Marcelo Paniagua said:
For 210mm, I find Calumet Caltar-S II 210mm f/5.6 one of the best value for money options. Pretty cheap given the lens quality (Rodestock).

Umm, that’s a Schneider Symmar-S. Caltar II-N was Rodenstock.

Marcelo Paniagua · May 8, 2024

Steve Goldstein said:
Umm, that’s a Schneider Symmar-S. Caltar II-N was Rodenstock.

Stand corrected, Thanks Steve. Previously I owner the N so that stuck in my mind after selling it and getting the S. A fine lens and good value nonetheless.

chuckroast · May 8, 2024

Marcelo Paniagua said:
Stand corrected, Thanks Steve. Previously I owner the N so that stuck in my mind after selling it and getting the S. A fine lens and good value nonetheless.

I love my Caltar IIE 210mm f/6.8. I probably use it more than any single lens in my kit.

That said, when it's appropriate, the 150mm f/5.6 APO Symmar is an amazing lens as well.

Ian Grant · May 9, 2024

abruzzi said:
Yeah, I was able to resurrect my 203mm by moving the sels from an old Compur to a more recent black Copal 1. I still have the compur, but it has a lot of things wrong with it, so the transplant made the most sense.

I have a US made 203mm Ektar as well, in a Compur #1, the cells were re-sleeved when Wollensack stopped making shutters.

abruzzi said:
I was testing a 65mm Angulon on a digital back, and it was suprisingly sharp. People look down on the Angulons because usually they have very little room for movement on their reccomended format. (65mm-->6x9, 90mm-->4x5, 120mm-->5x7, 185-->8x10.) But I try to avoid the big wides (I assume they are all boigon derivatives--Super Angulon, Grandagon, SW, etc.) I don't shoot wide that often, and when I do, I don't use much in the way of movements, so I'm satified with the baby angulon.

Angulons got a bad name because of quality issues with early 90mm lenses, it was a Copmur #0 tube length issue, rectified by SN 5,000,000. I bought a 120mm Angulon for 7x5, ut's a lovely sharp lens.

Ian

sperera · May 9, 2024

OK I bought my wide angle lens last night - a Schneider 65mm F5.6 MC Kreuznach Super Angulon Copal No. 0 for £281 free shipping to Gibraltar. Described as 'near mint' which is good enough for me. Thoughts?

So this will go with my Schneider 150mm F5.6 Apo-Symmar

xkaes · May 9, 2024

65mm sure is wide -- and that's a great price. If you decide it's TOO wide for you, you'll have no trouble making some money selling it.

locutus · May 9, 2024

This rises a somewhat interesting question, what was the last large-format lens in production? The Kan Rinpoche 60mm f/11.5?

sperera · May 9, 2024

locutus said:
This rises a somewhat interesting question, what was the last large-format lens in production? The Kan Rinpoche 60mm f/11.5?

thats a good question Id like the answer to indeed!

sperera · May 9, 2024

xkaes said:
65mm sure is wide -- and that's a great price. If you decide it's TOO wide for you, you'll have no trouble making some money selling it.

thanks for the encouragement hahaha

Ian Grant · May 9, 2024

xkaes said:
65mm sure is wide -- and that's a great price. If you decide it's TOO wide for you, you'll have no trouble making some money selling it.

I think Stephen will soon buy a second Wide Angle LF lens, like a 90mm. I have a 65mm f8 Super Angulon, I use it rarely but when I do it's a shot that wouldn't work with a 90mm, or even a 75mm.

Ian

sperera · May 9, 2024

Ian Grant said:
I think Stephen will soon buy a second Wide Angle LF lens, like a 90mm. I have a 65mm f8 Super Angulon, I use it rarely but when I do it's a shot that wouldn't work with a 90mm, or even a 75mm.

well to be fair I thought it a great price and I like very wide angle so I'm hoping I like it!!!!! we shall see.......next in line is either a 210mm or a 300mm cant decide which...and that will be me done....I have 2 x 50mm and 80mm and 110mm and 120mm and 150mm and 250mm for my Hasselblad bodies so.......and a 28mm and 50mm and 90mm Leica R lenses for the Leica R6.2 I used to have til it was stolen by someone within DHL in Germany I posted about that Paepke photo are lawyering up against DHL to sort something out (now breathe!). Also have Nikon lenses and Zeiss lenses for 35mm format in a few threads incl. M42.....lenses.....love them....

Ian Grant · May 9, 2024

sperera said:
well to be fair I thought it a great price and I like very wide angle so I'm hoping I like it!!!!! we shall see.......next in line is either a 210mm or a 300mm cant decide which...and that will be me done....I have 2 x 50mm and 80mm and 110mm and 120mm and 150mm and 250mm for my Hasselblad bodies so.......and a 28mm and 50mm and 90mm Leica R lenses for the Leica R6.2 I used to have til it was stolen by someone within DHL in Germany I posted about that Paepke photo are lawyering up against DHL to sort something out (now breathe!). Also have Nikon lenses and Zeiss lenses for 35mm format in a few threads incl. M42.....lenses.....love them....

It was a great price for an excellent lens, I just think you will see a wide gap between 65mm and a 150mm, particularly when you mention your 35mm/MF ranges.

Ian

chuckroast · May 9, 2024

sperera said:
OK I bought my wide angle lens last night - a Schneider 65mm F5.6 MC Kreuznach Super Angulon Copal No. 0 for £281 free shipping to Gibraltar. Described as 'near mint' which is good enough for me. Thoughts?

So this will go with my Schneider 150mm F5.6 Apo-Symmar

I have this lens and you will not be disappointed. It is wiiiidddddde on 4x5, however, so it takes getting used to seeing things that way.

blee1996 · May 9, 2024

I also have a Chamonix 4x5 F1, and prefer small/light-weight lenses that I can carry in a small school daypack. And ideally all the lenses share same filter size or at least similar enough with adapters. So far the most used two lenses I carry are:

- 135mm f/5.6 convertible Symmar, 40.5mm filter
- 210mm f/6.3 Vivitar (Osaka/Komura), 40.5mm filter

I tried the 203/7,7 Ektar and enjoyed its performance, but the shutter on mine was a bit crummy.

Even though I do not use 90mm in the filed often, I do have a few 90mm lenses. The size difference between the f/6.8 Angulon and f/8 Super Angulon (or Fujinon SW) can be substantial. f/8 versions definitely have more coverage, and I tend to use a lot of swing/shift/tilt in wide angle landscapes.

I tend to use the smaller 90/6.8 Angulon and 65/8 Super Angulon with my Point'n Shoot 4x5 camera (3D printed), where I do not use any movements and use scale focus.

David Lindquist · May 9, 2024

locutus said:
This rises a somewhat interesting question, what was the last large-format lens in production? The Kan Rinpoche 60mm f/11.5?

That is a good question. The Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-S "Edition" series were made in 2018 (in focal lengths 150, 210, 240, 300 and 360 mm).

I think you could argue that we don't really know that the last large format lenses have been made. With their agile manufacturing capabilities I wouldn't be incredulous to see China make some new ones. Of course there is the problem of no new full featured between the lens shutters...

David

locutus · May 9, 2024

I think the Kang Rinpoche came out also in 2018 or 2019. I guess those Sironar's where for Linhof? As they still listed those on their official pricelist (at eye-watering prices)

Intrepid however have announced they are in the prototype stage of a 150mm f/4.5 with a shutter, as detailed here: https://kosmofoto.com/2024/03/intrepid-camera-unveils-new-150mm-large-format-lens-and-shutter/

The price target for that also feels quite sensible, and this will then allow Intrepid to sell a completely new kit of camera, film holders and lens, which i can see sense in.

Marcelo Paniagua · May 9, 2024

locutus said:
I think the Kang Rinpoche came out also in 2018 or 2019. I guess those Sironar's where for Linhof? As they still listed those on their official pricelist (at eye-watering prices)

Intrepid however have announced they are in the prototype stage of a 150mm f/4.5 with a shutter, as detailed here: https://kosmofoto.com/2024/03/intrepid-camera-unveils-new-150mm-large-format-lens-and-shutter/

The price target for that also feels quite sensible, and this will then allow Intrepid to sell a completely new kit of camera, film holders and lens, which i can see sense in.

really interested on their shutter. Will be pending on them.

MARTIE · May 9, 2024

I have the same lens. A great lens but not much room for movements, even less if you add a filter and especially when compared to a 75mm.

Consequently, my 75mm and 90mm get a lot more use.

David Lindquist · May 9, 2024

locutus said:
I think the Kang Rinpoche came out also in 2018 or 2019. I guess those Sironar's where for Linhof? As they still listed those on their official pricelist (at eye-watering prices)

Intrepid however have announced they are in the prototype stage of a 150mm f/4.5 with a shutter, as detailed here: https://kosmofoto.com/2024/03/intrepid-camera-unveils-new-150mm-large-format-lens-and-shutter/

The price target for that also feels quite sensible, and this will then allow Intrepid to sell a completely new kit of camera, film holders and lens, which i can see sense in.

Not sure what, if anything, Linhof had to do with the production of the "Edition" series. See this thread from LFPF: https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/archive/index.php/t-146467.html Nothing really firm here, some speculation that Greiner might have had a hand in making this happen. One of the replies links to a German large format photography forum, maybe that has more information along this line.

It is my understanding that 25 of each focal length were made. Linhof Studio explicitly shows the 150 mm as "sold out." They show the remaining four focal lengths and say they have the 210 mm in stock. The other two sellers of these that I am aware of, Badger Graphic and Greiner (in Germany), only show the 240, 300 and 360 mm lenses.

Linhof has a new digital and analog lens price list out, dated 1 April 2024. For analog lenses it shows the 210, 240, 300 and 360 mm "Edition" lenses, for prices it says "On request." Last years price list showed actual prices.

David

xkaes · May 9, 2024

chuckroast said:
I have this lens and you will not be disappointed. It is wiiiidddddde on 4x5, however, so it takes getting used to seeing things that way.

On some (most?) cameras it will need a recessed board -- and I won't mention the extra cost of a central neutral density filter!!! But I love my 65mm, and I don't need a recessed board, and often don't need a CND filter either.

sperera · May 9, 2024

2nd lens bought - Nikon Nikkor W 210mm f5.6 in mint condition incl. lens board and caps for £236 incl shipping
Pretty pleased with my purchases - two lenses for £516 isn't bad at all.

sperera · May 9, 2024

thanks for all your comments...will report back when I start shooting them.

90mm and 210mm lenses value for money recommendation for my new Chamonix - any new lenses made?

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