90mm or not

Old-N-Feeble · Jun 8, 2017

If I could buy one lens at the moment and had the 135 and 210 you have, I would buy a 90mm Nikkor. The f/8 and f/4.5 both have excellent reputations and sell for approximately the same price, on average. Be aware, an appropriate center filter for the f/4.5 is far larger, harder to locate and costs far more than a 67mm variety for the f/8, which can use a relatively common Schneider CF designed for their 90/8 Super Angulon. Lastly, the f/4.5 is a monster compared to the f/8... but if you need the speed you have no choice.

This would give you a very nice 90/135/210 lens set. Until and 'IF' you decide to replace the 135 and/or 210, you can do that later when more funds are available. It's true neither the 135 or 210 are 'the best of the best' but from what I've read they're pretty good... certainly good enough to learn with. The Wollensack should accept a Series Size slip-on filter adapter that a metric adapter ring can screw into so you can use common filters. If I can find an adapter here then you can have it for the cost of shipping.

Vaughn · Jun 8, 2017

I learn to photograph in a similar rain forest. I mostly used a 'normal' lense for the 4x5...a 150/5.6 Caltar IIN, a 210mm for the 5x7 and a 300mm for the 8x10. I have since added a 180mm for the 5x7 and a 250mm for the 8x10 (and an occasional 210mm)...and some longer lenses, but generally still appreciate the normal lengths in the tight places of the forests.

Perhaps with greater experience with short lenses (for the format), I could better learn how to see with them. But for now, I feel they include, they see, too much. In the chaos that is the temperate rain forest, I often try to simplify and pull some visual organization out that chaos.

I'll have to find my way back up there one of these days!

Vaughn

esearing · Jun 8, 2017

90 is ok, but I really like using my 65mm and getting in close. There is a 72mm that covers upto 5x7 that is really nice too.

Terry Breedlove · Jun 8, 2017

I bought a Nikon 90mm f 4.5 SW unfortunately before I received Iomans message that he had Grandagon for sale. I also contacted Hugo and ordered a carbon fiber board for it maybe save a little weight to help when shooting that lens.

Old-N-Feeble · Jun 8, 2017

The weight of your lens board will be the last thing to worry about.

Terry Breedlove · Jun 8, 2017

True but I figure that lens is pretty large and heavy so I cut back where I could.

Roger Thoms · Jun 8, 2017

The Chamonix lens boards are very nice.

Roger

Terry Breedlove · Jun 8, 2017

Spendy for sure and I could have gotten a Linhof board much cheaper but I thought what the hell a new camera needs a new board.

Patrick Robert James · Jun 8, 2017

You are doing the right thing Terry. You only live once! Might as well enjoy it.

If I were you I would replace the other lenses as well. Good lenses are cheap these days, especially 150/210s. I'd especially replace the Raptar. Those are meant for press cameras. Once you start using the Chamonix, you will get tired of the Raptar's limitations really quick! You will see what I mean, although use it for now of course.

Don't forget to post your images! I look forward to seeing what you are going to do with it.

Terry Breedlove · Jun 9, 2017

Patrick Robert James said:
You are doing the right thing Terry. You only live once! Might as well enjoy it.

.

Patrick that has more meaning to me than you know. Thank you.

John Koehrer · Jun 10, 2017

You should be able to get a Series adapter ring for the 135. You will have to get an accurate measurement
of the front ring and get a slip-on adapter. depending on size and wanting to use a single
size filter for all three lenses go with a Series VI ring. They're avaiable in threaded or slip-on sizes.
It's not going to fit the 90 though.

Ian Grant · Jun 10, 2017

Terry, remember with your lenses work best sharpness is at f22, the135mm Raptar is a Tessar design and will be excellent at f22 but the corners and edges will be a touch softer at f16 (just noticeable) and then progressively softer at wider apertures. That might be great for portraits but unwanted for landscapes etc.

Ian

Terry Breedlove · Jun 11, 2017

Oh thank you I did not know that. I will be shooting with it over the next couple of days so I will use F 22.

Two23 · Jun 11, 2017

Terry Breedlove said:
I was wondering if the 90 mm f 4.5 is heavy for the light weight Chamonix ? Does it support it firmly ?
?

Yes. I have no problems.

Kent in SD

Terry Breedlove · Jun 12, 2017

Thank you

Terry Breedlove · Jun 14, 2017

I was thinking. I am very used to shooting my Hasselblad with the 50mm and the 150mm. I think the 90mm and the 210 Nikkors that I have coming in will be about as close to those two Hasselblad as i can get. So this should be a pretty easy transition for me as far as being used to a certain look and sue.

winger · Jun 14, 2017

I've had an F1 since the fall of 2013 and love it. I started on a monorail and kept that until I was sure that the Chamonix could do what I was used to doing and it does (sold the monorail). FWIW, I have a 105mm, 135mm, and 210mm and the 105mm is rarely used. I wouldn't mind adding a 300mm-ish. But in MF, I added a 45mm to the 75mm and 120mm I had for the P645. I don't shoot the same way or the same things on all formats. And you and I probably don't shoot the same things either.

Terry Breedlove · Jun 14, 2017

Yep and I am the first to admit I am not really sure what lenses I will prefer to use but I am willing to buy another one or two if I end up needing them. Just going to get out there and shoot and see where it leads me. I did put my 135mm on the camera the other day and it just wasn't wide enough. So hopefully the 90 will fit that need.

Ian Grant · Jun 15, 2017

winger said:
I've had an F1 since the fall of 2013 and love it. I started on a monorail and kept that until I was sure that the Chamonix could do what I was used to doing and it does (sold the monorail). FWIW, I have a 105mm, 135mm, and 210mm and the 105mm is rarely used. I wouldn't mind adding a 300mm-ish. But in MF, I added a 45mm to the 75mm and 120mm I had for the P645. I don't shoot the same way or the same things on all formats. And you and I probably don't shoot the same things either.

My lens choices go the other way my most used lens is a150mm, followed by a 90mm, then occasionally a 65m but I've since bought a second 75mm which I've started to use instead (my other 75mm lives perenantly on my 6x17) camera. I also use a 210mm which I'm using a bit more often and have a 300 mm. A 300mm needs a lot of extension on a 5x4 camera and the bellows act like a sail so you need good weather and light, and no wind or breeze. I have a360mm Tele-Xenar instead for one project and that's far easier to use, the camera is far more stable as it needs only slight bellows extension.

Sorry to hear about your fal in 2013 - did you slip on those Autumn leaves

Ian

Ai Print · Jun 15, 2017

My go to combo with my 45N2 is my 90/F8 Nikkor, 135/F5.6 Sironar S and either my 180/F5.6 Sironar S or 200/F8 Nikkor M for the lightest kit.

Those 90mm Nikkors are *super* sharp, I thought about 90/4.5 low light work but the center filter needed bumped me to the 75mm 4.5 Nikkor who's center filter was much easier to find.

Ian Grant · Jun 15, 2017

Like you I have light weight kit usually with my Super Graphic, that's a 90mm f6.8 Angulon, a 135mm f5.6 Symmar S, and a 203m f7.7 .Ektar. I have those three lenseswith me here in Turkey bu travelled light so I'm using a Crown Graphic I keep here, a bit of a compromise but it'll be OK.

It's 35C+ and worse in the sun so keeping weight to a minimum is crucial, the upside is I can work handheld easily 1/125 or sometimes 1/250 at f22 and know from experience the results are no different to when I can use a tripod - banned most places I'm shooting and getting permissions are slow and too time consuming.

I've two 203mm f7.7 Ektar's one British mad,in a Prontor SVS #0 shutter very sharp and excellent contrast but there's no preview so slower to use, however I purchased a very late US version in a Compur #1 shutter which is fairly rare and it's really nice to use, again super sharp, excellent contrast better than equivalent Tessar & type equivalents which surprised me.

Ian

winger · Jun 15, 2017

Ian Grant said:
A 300mm needs a lot of extension on a 5x4 camera and the bellows act like a sail so you need good weather and light, and no wind or breeze

Good point.

Ian Grant said:
Sorry to hear about your fal in 2013 - did you slip on those Autumn leaves

HA (two countries separated by a common language) - While Autumn is used here, "fall" is definitely more common.

Roger Thoms · Jun 15, 2017

Terry Breedlove said:
I was thinking. I am very used to shooting my Hasselblad with the 50mm and the 150mm. I think the 90mm and the 210 Nikkors that I have coming in will be about as close to those two Hasselblad as i can get. So this should be a pretty easy transition for me as far as being used to a certain look and sue.

Terry, for about the first 10 years shooting 4x5 all I had was a 90mm and a 210mm, did just fine. I now have a good selection of lens ranging from 75mm to 450mm which is nice, but if I had to I'd go right back to the 90 and 210.

Roger

Patrick Robert James · Jun 16, 2017

I have an older LowePro Orion AW hip pack that fits my 4x5 lenses and keeps it light. I usually carry the 90 Super Angulon, 150/210 Fujinons, and a APO Ronar 300. One large slot holds a 77mm filter stack and on top of everything I keep film holders if I only have a few, otherwise they go in a sling. A dark cloth fits in there too. I keep the camera mounted on the tripod. Makes it all pretty easy to use and the hip pack keeps it light and everything right at hand. I don't ever need to put anything on the ground. I highly recommend it if you can find one.

voceumana · Jun 16, 2017

Consider a 90 mm f/6.8 Angulon (not Super Angulon). I have one, and it's a really nice performer and very compact. Although it won't permit much movement, neither will the bellows on my cameras. It was a gift, but I would easily buy it. If you want a somewhat longer wide angle, there is also a 120 mm Angulon. But that's pretty close to your 135mm focal length and you might want to have a bigger spread between the lenses.

90mm or not

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