Good LF tele lens for 4x5

Jarvman · Oct 28, 2008

What is a good reasonably-priced tele lens for a 4x5 camera? I was thinking somewhere in the region of 300mm, maybe a bit less but not too close to 150mm. I haven't spent any money in a few days! Any thoughts? edit: The title should say good, I'm not after another goof lens after past experiences!

pgomena · Oct 28, 2008

Look for a good used Schneider Tele-Xenar. I'm pretty sure they came in 300 and 360mm focal lengths. I own a 360, which needs about an 8 or 9-inch bellows draw. Good lens, very sharp. Mine is an early 70s model, I think I paid about $500 for it a decade ago. It is coated, but it appears to be single-coated, not multicoated. I may be wrong. Big copal 3 shutter which I mounted with no problems on a Wisner/Zone VI 4x4-inch lensboard.

Nikon also made very good teles, but I'm not familiar with all the focal lengths they manufactured. The 300mm Schneiders often were sold for Linhof Technicas, so look around for ones on Linhof boards as well.

Peter Gomena

Nick Zentena · Oct 28, 2008

Do you need a tele or just a 300mm? 300mm fast big lenses are pretty cheap these days but may be too heavy for a small 4x5. The small compact slower 300mm seem to have held their resale value better. But are cheaper new

edtbjon · Oct 28, 2008

Nikon 360 has a good reputation. It can also be converted to a 500 or a 720 (if memory serves me correctly), by changing the back group of the lens.
Tele-Xenars are good lenses too and they are still made today.

//Björn

Trevor Crone · Oct 28, 2008

The Tele-Xenars are good performers, compact too. I have the 210 which is a very capable performer. I also use a 240 Tele-Congo which I bought on Ebay some years ago and again this is a good little lens.

Seabird · Oct 28, 2008

Its not clear whether you really do mean "tele" or just long-focal length. If the latter, and if your camera has sufficient bellows draw, I'd recommend the Nikkor M-300 f9 - particularly if you're into carrying your gear any distance. It is small, light and sharp.

removed account4 · Oct 28, 2008

i would suggest 2 different lenses .. either a symmar convertible
or a 15" tele raptar ( usually comes in an alphax shutter if not in a barrel).
the raptar is a telephoto and wil not take a ton of bellows to use
( it is used on a graflex slr or speed/crown graphic) the convertible will
take full bellows ... and then some if it is used converted.

coriana6jp · Oct 28, 2008

If you can find one a Fuji 300mm T F/8 is a good lens, that only needs about 210mm of bellows draw. If your camera has enough bellows draw skip the telephoto and go for a long lens like a Nikon 300mm M or Fujinon 300mm C. They will be lighter, take smaller filters and be marginally sharper. Also they have the benefit of covering 8x10 if you ever decided to go that route. None of the Telephoto lenses in the 300-360mm range will cover 8x10.

Hope it helps.

Gary

Huub · Oct 29, 2008

I use both a 9.0/240 apo-ronar and a 5.5/360 tele-xenar. The tele-xenar needs a bellows draw of about 220 mm. Mine is about 25 years old, single coated, Linhof labelled and very sharp. It weighs about 900 gr and takes 67 mm filters. My Toyo 45AII has about 32 cm maximum bellows draw and this is probably the longest focal length it can take without adding the extension back. Using movements with this lens is something to get used to because of the tele construction. The 240 mm fits nicely between my 150 mm and the 360 mm and is less sharp than the tele-xenar. It takes 49 mm filters and is much lighter and is easier to use with movements.

darinwc · Oct 29, 2008

Hey jarvman, let us know what camera you have. Alot depends on this.. BTW there are some very similar recent threads on htis subject. make sure you check those out.

Daniel_Buck · Oct 30, 2008

I would suggest a 240mm G-claron. It's a small lens, but still covers more than 8x10! copal 1, and 55mm filter threads. It only opens up to f9, but it's a great little lens for hiking, both for 4x5 and 8x10. I believe they go for about $475 or so.

If your camera can handle a 450mm, I would suggest a Fujinon-c 450. Like the G-claron, it's a nice small lens, copal-1 and 55mm threads.

Both of these make excellent hiking lenses!

joneil · Oct 31, 2008

If you can find one, a "true" telephoto for the 4x5 is the Wollensak Tele-Raptar. I think it is 15" inches, or converted, about 375mm. I have one and love it. Like most true large format "telephotos" the coverage is limited, but I really like mine.

Going the route of a G-claron (i have two myself) or similar works very good too, but I personally find that any larger focal length lens that might cover 8x10 or larger is hard to find or expensive if you do. Maybe it is just me, but interested in the larger formats seems to be growing, not shrinking.

good luck
joe

Jarvman · Oct 31, 2008

I think an inexpensive 4x5 telephoto would suit me better than a 300mm for an 8x10. The less bellows draw the better really. I think I'll keep an eye out for a 300mm tele-xenar. Thanks for the advice. There's one on eBay now but it don't look so pretty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Schneider-Kre...14&_trkparms=72:1301|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

seawolf66 · Nov 6, 2008

the 15 inch raptar takes about nine and 3/8 inches of bellows , I have one : a nice lens :

Ole · Nov 6, 2008

Stay away from the 300mm Tele-Xenars: They were an older model, and some of them only cover 6x9cm.

A 360mm f:5.5 Tele-Xenar is a completely different beast: Covers 5x7" straight on, and fits in a Compound #3. Most of them are coated too, unlike the LF 300mm Tele-Xenars. Flange focal distance for the 360 is about 210mm.

If you want something closer to 300mm or a bit less, a non-tele lens is far lighter, cheaper, and has more coverage.

Me?

I use a 355mm G-Claron - when I don't want to lug the 360mm f:5.6 Symmar around.

Wyno · Nov 6, 2008

I used to have a Komura 400mm Tele convertible (300mm, 400mm, 500mm) that I used on a Nagaoka 4x5 and a Shen Hao 4x5. It was just about too much for the Nagaoka at full extension, but the Shen handled it easily. It was a great lens and now Mick Fagan is enjoying the use of it.
Mike

Jarvman · Jan 10, 2009

I went and got a 300mm tele xenar but aren't sure what copal lens board I need for it. Is it a 1, 2 or a 3?

edtbjon · Jan 11, 2009

Jarvman said:
I went and got a 300mm tele xenar but aren't sure what copal lens board I need for it. Is it a 1, 2 or a 3?

What shutter is it in? Lensboards are drilled for shutters. Anyhow, if it has a Compound shutter, which is probable, you cannot find any pre-drilled lensboard for it.
As the Compounds usually comes with a flange instead of a retaining ring, it's better (in my opinion) to attach the flange to the lensboard and then screw in the lens in the flange. Anyhow, here's a link to Ole's data on Compound shutters:
Ole's Compound data

Good luck with your new lens.
//Björn

2F/2F · Jan 11, 2009

I love my Tele-Xenar. It is a 180mm made for medium format, but they made a whole bunch of different lengths. I would like to get the 270mm myself. Using front tilts and swings is very hairy, however...

Jarvman · Jan 11, 2009

Cheers bjorn. Here it is... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=370132415827

Maybe I should've taken Ole's advice and got a 360mm one. I never read anything properly before charging at things! I don't use front tilts/swings so that shouldn't be a problem. It must be a compound shutter which is the reason I couldn't find any marking designating it's lensboard size. How do I go about getting a board for this then? I'm using it on a Chamonix 4x5.

Ole · Jan 11, 2009

That's not a Compound shutter - I think it must be a Compur #2.

Data for those are in the same thread that Björn linked to.

Jarvman · Jan 11, 2009

Oh, how do I get a lensboard for it then?! Does this mean I've gotta get someone to drill one for me?

edtbjon · Jan 11, 2009

Yep, either by someone who has the tools etc. or try it yourself. Finding a 60 or 65mm drill-bit is hard, so it's more a matter of cutting a hole which will accomodate the flange or shutter.
Of course a mechanical workshop will make you a "perfect" hole at a cost.

//Björn

Ole · Jan 11, 2009

I use a circular hole saw on a manual drill (very old, hand-cranked), and adjust the hole size with a file or knife depending on the material and how much trimming is needed. It takes a little bit of time, and not much effort.

Jarvman · Jan 13, 2009

my cuz said he can make me a lensboard no problem, the only thing is the lens has a thread to screw into the graphlex board that came with it. There's no retaining ring if i have a wooden board made.

Good LF tele lens for 4x5

Jarvman

pgomena

Nick Zentena

edtbjon

Trevor Crone

Seabird

removed account4

coriana6jp

Huub

darinwc

Daniel_Buck

joneil

Jarvman

seawolf66

Ole

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Wyno

Jarvman

edtbjon

2F/2F

Jarvman

Ole

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Jarvman

edtbjon

Ole

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Jarvman

Good LF tele lens for 4x5

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