First lens for 4x5- good "allrounder"?

John Earley said:

I agree that some shutters may have been switched but this Nikon brochure from the mid 70's proves that Nikkor large format lenses did come in older chrome ring Copal shutters.

Screen Shot 2021-05-20 at 5.15.20 PM by JOHN EARLEY, on Flickr

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Interesting, I've never seen that. I've only ever seen nikkor catalogs clearly displaying the black shutter. I know on the black shuttered Nikkors (I have 3) the lens name is clearly marked on the shutter. I wonder if they did that on the silver ringed shutters? I have some lenses that have been through the mill, but given that this thread was a beginner looking for a first lens, the last thing I'd reccomend to a beginner is something that /might/ have issues, or something that would require enough LF knowledge to deal with workarounds. The biggest would be a mismatching aperture scale. I've seen lots of lenses on eBay with a perfectly normal looking shutter then upon closer inspection, it has the entirely wrond apertures. The press shutter are less of a problem, after all 1/500 is rarely close to accurate, and even 1/250 isn't that commonly used, but they're still possibly limiting, especially on a fast lens, where you really want to shoot wider open (maybe not ƒ5.6, but I do a lot of photography in the desert where sunny 16 is almost all I need. If I shot 400 speed film, I'd need to stop down to ƒ32 minimum to use 1/125)

EDIT: Actually, looking closer at the 135mm you posted with the course chrome rin, and that one does show the nikkor name and focal length on the shutter, so that is clearly an original and I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend.

Two things about my comments.
1. You are correct about lenses having the correct shutter. Whether chrome or black rim, the lens could have been switched from the original shutter. Checking closely before a purchase is important. Remember too that some Nikkor lenses like the 300 Q and 450 Q could be had in a Copal 3 shutter with both 300 and 450 f stop markings.
2. Although the Nikkor lenses did come in chrome rim Copal shutters it is best for beginners to be cautious of lenses of that age as their shutter may need a tune-up which could be costly. I would only buy if there was a good return policy.

get a 120mm. slightly wider than your 35mm and since you're just getting the one lens a little extra wiggle room for cropping vs a 135mm couldn't hurt.

Thank you all. The Photrio forums are an amazing resource and full of helpful people.

I am looking for a Fuji 125mm f/5.6. It seems to be wide, but not crazy wide, image circle enough for 4x5 and affordable for the first steps in LF.

Bit late to this, I bought an Intrepid last year and have a Nikkor 90/4.5 and a 180/5.6. I use the 180 most of the time. I wasn't sure what to go for 150 or 180 and in the end bought on price and availability from ebay.

Now, in 35mm land I am a 50 kind of person. However I found that while the 180 in 4x5 is apparently "longer" than a 50 in 35mm it still feels wider because of the aspect ratio. In general when going through formats I have started looking at the angle of view along the horizontal vs the diagonal, at least this way I know what a lens corresponds in one dimension.

The Intrepid is a good camera, yes it has its issues but one thing I never got was unsharp results out of the 40 sheets or so I've done so far. For the price you can't beat it really (just don't literally beat it...).

I like wide. Lenses I use in order of most used on 4x5. 135mm, 65mm, 180/315mm convertible, 240mm, 90m, 210mm, 150mm, 300/500. I just can't carry all those most of the time. Recent trip I took my 4x5 and 5x12 in one backpack and packed only 135mm, 210mm, and 300/500mm lenses. I can use the 135 only on the 4x5. I had the 65mm in the car but did not use it. I find I can crop a 65mm image if needed rather than feeling tight on a 90mm. A 75mm might be a better choice for me in the long run or the 80XL.

esearing said:

Lenses I use in order of most used on 4x5. 135mm, 65mm, 180/315mm convertible, 240mm, 90m, 210mm, 150mm, 300/500. I just can't carry all those most of the time.

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I'll never complain about carrying a Leicaflex w/ a 90 lens ever again. When it comes to carrying stuff, LF shooters are in a whole 'nother dimension compared to us 35mm miniature film camera enthusiasts.