Are you Wide Angle? Normal? Tele?

[Chuck_P]

Don't know yet, I've only had a 210mm with my 4x5. But, just this week my Nikkor SW 120mm arrived, but have yet to be able to use it. With 4x5 it would be considered a moderate wide angle lens, I think equivalent to 35mm in small format, looking forward to my first exposures with it this weekend.

 

[Yamaotoko]

I like hovering just either side of 'normal', slightly wide (135) or slightly long (210, both on 4x5). I have a 300, but like Mike (post #3) it just comes along for the ride most times. Besides, I've only got a 300mm bellows draw, so even with raking my back out I can't focus closer than about 20', which is where a lot of the things I like usually are. I also like going super-wide too, I had a 90 (again, on 4x5) but just couldn't quite find a 'groove' with it, now I'm considering a 75, so my 300 may get passed off since there's only so much room for things that don't get used... but then comes the thought: "What if I ever get an 8x10?".

On my 645 kit I like the dramatic angles of the 35mm (which is why i'm looking at 75's for 4x5). Again, that's a wide-normal lens set, 35, 55, 75, the only exception being the 150 (comparable to the 300 on 4x5, except it actually gets used because I can actually focus it!).

 

[OldBikerPete]

I calculate that a 210mm lens on my 5x4 has the equivalent effect on perspective and viewing angle as a 52mm lens for the equivalent aspect ratio centre portion on a 35mm frame.
So, stipulating that a 210mm lens is 'normal' for 5x4 (NOT 150mm as seems to be the popular conception), 210mm is my longest lens followed by 135mm, 90mm and 65mm.
So I guess I'm wide-angle.
Peter.

 

[Huub]

I am the opposite of most people here: i am longer lens person. My most used lenses on 4x5 are a 240 and 360, closely followed by the 150. My 90 mm i use seldomly in landscapes and my 58 mm gets almost only used indoors. Because my 240 mm is pretty dim, i use a 210 for portraits when working in a studio. It just fits my way of seeing better. In 35 mm i prefer my 28 mm and 21 mm lenses...

 

[John Koehrer]

Why Dangle ;P

 

[Hikari]

I calculate that a 210mm lens on my 5x4 has the equivalent effect on perspective and viewing angle as a 52mm lens for the equivalent aspect ratio centre portion on a 35mm frame.
So, stipulating that a 210mm lens is 'normal' for 5x4 (NOT 150mm as seems to be the popular conception), 210mm is my longest lens followed by 135mm, 90mm and 65mm.
So I guess I'm wide-angle.
Peter.

"Normal" is designated as equal to the diagonal of the format. 150mm is the normal focal length for 4x5. 43mm is normal for 35mm. 50mm is "standard" in that it is not "normal."

 

[Hikari]

Unfortunately, my angles are getting wider. I would like to be normal. Perhaps I need to carry a heavier camera.

I do most of my work with normal lenses. Especially landscape and portraits. I might use a longer lens for landscapes. I tend to go wide with architecture, especially interiors. I like wides with panoramic cameras.

 

[nana sousa dias]

For landscape I use mostly 47mm and 90mm on 4x5 field camera and 45mm on Pentax 67 or 645.

For studio portrait I use the most 210mm on 4x5 and 135 macro on pentax 67 and 645.

With 8x10 camera I use 210mm and 360mm, the most.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

For landscape , I used 250 mm Sonnar Copy at Kiev 88. For Macro and to 4 meters far objects , 80 mm planar copy. I used 5 Leicas until today and I prefer 50 mm. But this summer I will buy a R4 with 150 mm Telyt for Ektachrome 100 vs.
Now I have Rollei 35 S 40 mm Sonnar and Nikon One Touch with a 35 mm Sonnar.
Other two large format cameras will be built , first 6x17 cms Anamorphic Pinhole Camera with BW Kodak film , developed for positive and toned with Palladium and emulsion transfer - if possible I am still look for an answer - to glass and second camera homemade 35 mm Lomo Spinner with slit lens

 

[hirokun]

On my Linhof Technikardan S 4x5 I own & use 72mm, 75mm, 150mm, 300mm.

My most used lens is probably the 150mm, followed by 75/72mm. Although I like long focal lengths, I hardly shoot with my 300mm lens. The reason may be its heavy weight, big size, or simply that I usually pick the lens needed to frame the subject. I also shoot more wide angle as I tend to shoot more architecture & cityscapes.

My next purchase will be a 47mm and a 150mm lens (to replace my old one). I'll sell my 75mm, too. The 72mm is a recent purchase

 

[A Sabai]

4X5 format 90, 135, and 210. It seems I go through a preference change on a daily basis, I think it is just the mood of the landscape I am in at the time. Do I want to grab it all, or isolate elements of the scene? I just got a 360 and wonder how often I will use that. Sometimes I wish I had a 1,200mm, but I am glad I'm not carrying a camera in the field that will accommodate it.