bag bellows question

Anyone using a Horseman LE for both field and inside stuff? I currently have the LE with Rodenstock Sironar-N 210 MC lens. Does anyone know the shortest lens that can be used with the Horseman square bellows and still be able to utilize a good bit of the movements; in other words that will not require a bag bellows.

I'm new to LF and hope that I have phrased the question correctly. Something tells me that I should probably be patient and get a bag bellows first so that I don't short-change myself on a more appropriate short focal length lens. If that assertion is correct, then what would be a good choice wide angle lens with good coverage to go along with the 210 Rodenstock?

Thanks for any information.
Chuck

I've used an LE, both field and indoors. It's a pretty heavy camera on its own, and for field I used a 100 mm rail with a 150 Sironar-N, while indoors I had the extendable rail (750 mm, I think) and a 210 Sironar-N. I think you could get a 90 onto the camera without using bag bellows. Also, it may be good to know that the Sinar bag bellows works well with the camera too. As does the normal Sinar bellows.

Chuck,

I just came back from a 10 day holiday in the mountains carrying a 210mm and 120mm lens. I can strongly recommend that combo.

As for using a bag bellows, I am tempted to start using a bag bellows with anything shorter than 135mm, even if I don't have a Horseman.

It is perfectly possible to use a standard square bellows even with a 90mm on a lot of cameras but you won't be able to use a lot of movements, if any...

Greetings,
G

Thanks you guys for the info. I came across a chart showing "lens equivalents to 35mm for the longest film dimension not the the film diagonal".

For 4x5 it says that a 210mm lens is equivalent to a 63mm lens in 35mm format and a 90mm lens is equivalent to a 27mm; 100mm = 30mm, 105mm = 31mm, and 110 mm = 33mm. I like the idea of my wide angle being in the 90 to 110 range and I think a bag bellows would be a wise choice.

Thanks again.
Chuck

Chuck, I have a LE with the Horseman bag bellows .... and I happily haul the whole rig with me in the field too.

The shortest lens I can use with the standard bellows and still have plenty of movements is a 150mm. I use a lot of rise, fall and shift for landscapes. I can get about 25mm of movement (according to the scales on the camera) in any direction with my 150mm lens. Tilts and swings are also no problem.

Any shorter than 150mm, and I'd suggest a bag bellows. I also have a 90mm lens (on flat lensboard), and with this lens at infinity focus the normal bellows are so compressed that no camera movements are possible.

BTW, the Horseman bag bellows are really big. These bag bellows easily allow me to focus my 300mm lens at infinity. PM me if you'd like and I can send you a few photos showing the scale of 'em.

Chuck,
I have the LE with a 90mm Fuji and you definitely need the bag bellows with a 90. It's a great camera.

I use a toyo 45F, I made a rather oversized bag bellows for it, I can comfortably use anything from my 90 to a 210 without having to change bellows, if needed.


erie