How many LF lenses do you own?

fingel · Apr 10, 2005

Lets see....
65mm Nikkor, 90mm SA, 90mm Angulon, 105mm Nikkor, 135mm Fuji CMW,
135mm Optar, 135mm Busch Raptar, 150mm symmar-s, 160mm Angulon, 180mm Heliar, 180mm Symmar-s, 203mm Ektar, 210mm Sironar-N, 300mm Fuji C, 450mm Nikkor M,

Unless you also count barrel lenses then add a 210mm Apo-Nikkor, 10.5" Wollensak Amaton, and a 135mm Hermagis anastigmat, 7" Aero Ektar.

So I guess that is 19 total.

Some stay with my Speed Graphic kit for light weight or handheld shooting (203mm 135 optar, 90mm angulon) or for use with the focal plane shutter like the Hermages, aero-ektar.

Some are with my main 4x5

and some are for my 8x10

I use most of them regularly with the 135mm CMW, 300mm, and 450 probably getting the most use.

Some just have specialized uses like the uncoated Helier is a great portrait lens that I don't use all that much but when I need to shoot a portrait that is the first lens I go to. The Aero-ektar is just a big ol honken piece of glass and looks really cool on the camera Seriously it is one super sharp lens and great for low light situations with it's f 2.5 maximum aperture (optimized to shoot wide open at infinity)

removed account4 · Apr 10, 2005

- 19 -
65mm SA;
90mm SA;
127 Tominon;
135 Xenar;
14cm Protar
150 Symmetrigon:
150 G Claron;
203 ( dedicated to a rb series d )
210/370 Symmar;
10 Tele Optar;
Wollensak Veritar 14"
15 Tele Optar;
Wollensak Vitax 14";
Wollensak Verito 14;
Wollensak Veritar 14";
Wollensak Velostigmat 13-20-25;
Dallymyer Leverstop;
Morrision 6x8 ... AND

2 meniscus lenses i harvested off of 19th century cameras

cjarvis · Apr 10, 2005

How bizarre that a thread from October 2002 suddenly become revived. I'll bet many of the original posts need updating. I sold one of the casket sets I posted originally.

I use a Goerz Pantar set, a Busch Vademecum set and a Wollensak f/4.5 14.5" variable focus Velostigmat...depends on the format. The big lens is best as portrait on 8x10 or landscape 11x14, so frequency varies wildly. The casket sets are always in my pack and are used every time I shoot for the most part.

JG Motamedi · Apr 10, 2005

After significant paring down over the past few months, I am left with 10 lenses which I use of a regular basis.

150/5.6 Sinar Sironar-W
150/2.8 Schneider Xenotar
240/3.5 Schnieder Xenar
240/9 Fujinon-A
9"/3.6 Holmes Booth & Haydens Petzval
11"/3 Dallmeyer Patent 3B Petzval
13.5"/3.5 Eastman Anastagmat
16"/3.8 Wollensak Vitax
450/9 Nikon Nikkor-M
22" f/4 Dallmeyer Patent 5A Petzval

This is list does not include the 10+ lenses (mostly junk) I have sitting on shelves or in drawers waiting to be repaired, mounted or sold.

Jeremy · Apr 10, 2005

update!

135mm B&L which is separated and beat to hell, haven't found the shot to take with this one yet
180mm f/5.6 Fuji
12"f/6.3 Ilex Paragon
12" f/4.8 Kodak Portrait Lens
17" f/10 Kodak Copying Ektanon

Tom Hoskinson · Apr 10, 2005

Too many to count...

Ok, I am a lensaholic.

Donald Miller · Apr 10, 2005

I just have one lens...it is a lens that my pal Blansky designed. It is a 35-840 mm F 1.4 Zoom that will cover 16X20 with tons of movement. I am pleased to say that although it cost me the rights to my next born son, it allowed me to sell all of the other nineteen lenses that I had accumulated over the six weeks that I have been involved with LF and ULF photography.

For those of you that might be interested...this is a monster of a lens with a 153mm front element...Blansky sold me on this when he told me that the size of my lens was an indication of the size of another physical attribute. Since I can stand all of the help that I can muster in this regard...well, you know where that led me...

Graeme Hird · Apr 10, 2005

Mongo · Apr 10, 2005

Nine, of which I use seven regularly. Three are usually in my bag for 4x5, three are in the bag for 8x10, and one lives permanently on my Pacemaker Crown Graphic. Of the other two: one needs a Packard shutter that I haven't yet picked up, and the other is a 90mm Linhof-select Angulon that's seeing no use since I got a 90mm Super Angulon. (I just haven't gotten around to selling the 90mm Angulon yet.)

I'll sell off the 90mm Angulon at some point and add a 300mm lens to the collection, and hopefully that will be it for LF lenses for a while.

bobfowler · Apr 10, 2005

My lens collection is in a perpetual state of flux. As of today:

65mm f/8 Super Angulon
90mm f/6.8 Angulon
90mm f/8 W.F. Caltar
101mm f/4.5 Ektar
105mm f/4.5 Tominon
163mm f/4.5 Paragon
180mm f/5.6 Sironar
210mm f/5.6 Sironar-N
215mm f/4.8 Series S Caltar
8 1/2" f/5.6 Ross Homocentric
9" f/5.6 Wollensak Copy Raptar
9" f/5.6 Copy Paragon (2 of these)
10" f/6.3 Paragon
11.5" f/8 B&L Rapid Rectilinear
12" f/9 Apo Nikkor
12" f/9 Apo Artar
14" f/9 Red Dot Artar
Wollensak Triple Convertable

Crap! That's 19 lenses!!! And I'm still looking for something in the 16" range...

James Bleifus · Apr 10, 2005

Geez, you guys have humbled me. I only have my Schneider 121 SA (which I now get to keep since it covers 810!), a Schneider 210 G-Claron and a Fuji 400 which will be seeing ebay in June. I wish I had the lower back, and the backpack, to carry all the lenses you guys have listed. I can barely fit my three lenses, camera and holders in my Super-Trekker now.

Cheers, James

John Kasaian · Apr 10, 2005

At last count, 26. I think I have a problem!

BradS · Apr 10, 2005

just four...

127mm Raptar, 135mm Xenar, 135mm Symmar-s, 210mm Geronar

Flotsam · Apr 11, 2005

Just one, A 150mm Geronar. [sob]

But if any of you gluttonous fellows with an embarrassment of optical riches are lying awake at night feeling guilty and want to donate to the underprivileged photographers charity, something in the low to medium 200s to cover 4x5 would be appreciated

johnnywalker · Apr 11, 2005

Like Neal, just one: a Schneider 210mm Symmar convertable. I'm on the lookout for a reasonably priced 120 or so (or maybe wider) for my 4X5.

jimgalli · Apr 11, 2005

Constant state of flux but well over a hundred a few months ago when I was riding to Las Vegas with my bride and was bored out of my mind and made a list. I was out playing all day today (04-10-05) and used somewhat in order: 355 GD Dagor, 450 f12.5 Fujinon, 135mm CaltarIIN, 210 G-Claron (dagor type) 10 3/4" Goerz RD Artar. Sheesh, that's only 5. Guess I should sell the rest.

Wait a minute. I also used the Kodak 7.7 170 and the Protar VII 7" in a dual tryptich. A good old fashioned shoot out. If only there was 44 hours in the day so I could develop that film. OK, so that's seven. Not quite as bad.

bobfowler · Apr 11, 2005

James M. Bleifus said:
Geez, you guys have humbled me. I only have my Schneider 121 SA (which I now get to keep since it covers 810!), a Schneider 210 G-Claron and a Fuji 400 which will be seeing ebay in June. I wish I had the lower back, and the backpack, to carry all the lenses you guys have listed. I can barely fit my three lenses, camera and holders in my Super-Trekker now.

Cheers, James

James, that 400 Fuji doesn't necessarily HAVE to go to ebay in June... I'm in the market for something in that range for my 8X10......

Charles Webb · Apr 11, 2005

I think I must be one of those underprivileged photographers

I have and use 3 soft focus lenses of various focal lengths, along with 5
sharp lenses that I have used for most of my years in photography. A Red Dot Artar 150 mm or so, Wollensak Raptar 180 mm, Schenider 360mm and
an old Caltar 210 mm. Also recently acquired A Turner Reich 8/14/20 that Jeremy Moore knows more about than I do. I am interested in one of Jim Galli's Claron G Dagor types in an 180 to 215 mm category, but have the normal problem of insufficient funds.

Francesco · Apr 11, 2005

I only use one lens right now for my 8x10 work - a 355 G-Claron.

photomc · Apr 11, 2005

WELCOME BACK

Francesco said:
I only use one lens right now for my 8x10 work - a 355 G-Claron.

Frist off Welcome back Francesco - you were missed!!!

three cameras = three lens
135 optar
150 Caltar E
180 Wolly

but there is a 210 Rodenstock on it's way to me...

now to find a nice brass lens for the Eastman No. 1

mark · Apr 11, 2005

135 xenar
150 caltar
180/360 conv. symmar
210 komura

WOuld love a 90mm modernish lens for color work.

zonesys · Apr 11, 2005

I use a Wista Field 45 DX for B&W landscape. As weight is a major issue on backpacking my usual set is :
- 6.8/90mm Angulon
- 6.3/150mm Fujinon
- 7.7/203 Wide Field Ektar or 9/240mm Fujinon
There are not "modern" (APO or other else...) lenses but they perform well,are compact and affordable on second hand market.
zonesys

scootermm · Apr 11, 2005

I have a 300mm f5.6 Nikkor W that I use for 8x10 work. Also have a 14" f6.3 Kodak Ektar that Ill hopefully be using with my 7x17.

nice and simple. makes that backpack somewhat lighter.

raucousimages · Apr 11, 2005

12 plus a pin-hole setup

Shmoo · Apr 11, 2005

Three lenses: 150mm f5.6 Sironar-N, 90mm f5.6 SA XL, and a beautiful 305mm f9 G-Claron that I bought from Jim Galli (beautiful lens!). Now I promise not to buy any more until I can use them properly (this could take some time)...

S

How many LF lenses do you own?

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