lens for LF 4x5 omega view (recomendations pls)

I am looking at a

210 F6.8 CALTAR II-E MC COPAL BULB, TIME (4X5)(42 MOUNT), LARGE FORMAT VIEW LENS

OR

210 F6.8 GERONAR MC COPAL BULB, TIME (4X5)(42 MOUNT), LARGE FORMAT VIEW LENS

What do you think about these lenses? They are on keh for prices I can afford. I am a newbie to LF and would like to get a decent lens.

manjo said:

I am looking at a

210 F6.8 CALTAR II-E MC COPAL BULB, TIME (4X5)(42 MOUNT), LARGE FORMAT VIEW LENS

OR

210 F6.8 GERONAR MC COPAL BULB, TIME (4X5)(42 MOUNT), LARGE FORMAT VIEW LENS

What do you think about these lenses? They are on keh for prices I can afford. I am a newbie to LF and would like to get a decent lens.

Click to expand...

They are identical lenses. One with the makers trade name, geronar, and the other with the Calumet housebrand name, caltar. It's a good first lens but it will not get really sharp until about f16 and smaller. They're a good value for a beginner mostly because you're getting a first class shutter with it.

Be sure that the shutter operates flawless, also to slow times, they should not be sticky.
I have got too many lenses with inaccurate timings or whith only B and T settings operational. It's a real pain, even if the lenses are good.

G

I plan to use it for landscapes, f32+ so is sharpness a problem for portraiture ? what is the typical f value for portraits in LF?

manjo said:

What do you think about these lenses?

Click to expand...

There are at least two threads on this site about the Geronar, because I asked the same thing myself when I started with LF and the Geronar 210 came with the camera. You can read the posts if you like, but as I recall, they were pretty favorable. I use mine stopped down to at least f22 and find the results are sharp and contrasty. Unless you enlarge beyond 16x20, you'll be satisfied with the results I think and maybe even larger, but I haven't done so, so I can't comment.

The other option is 180 F5.6 FUJINON W COPAL BULB, TIME (4X5)(42 MOUNT) (58) WITH CAPS, LARGE FORMAT VIEW LENS which is another $100 more than what I planned for. And on KEH this is LN- condition.

Don't buy a lens for more money than you planned for. You are looking at a 180mm and not a 210mm (see your first post), even though I'd suggest you a 150mm or 180mm lens to start with.
The 5.6 will give you a brighter view on the groundglass.

Get yourself a good starter, learn the trade and the longer you practise LF, the more you read, the better you will know what kind of lens you want to buy.

G

Whatever you do, don't succumb to the lens collector syndrome, it's a horrible thing that will alienate your wife...


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