Portrait Lenses for 4x5

Reinhold · May 1, 2011

What focal lengths do you folks prefer for portraiture on 4x5?

Mostly head & shoulders?
3/4 length?
Outdoors, including the dog?
Nose, pores & pimples?

Do you fight inadequate bellows draw?

The reason for the questions is that I just posted a mounted meniscus lens for 5x7, and am thinking of adding something more suitable for 4x5.

Take a look...
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Your thoughts?...

Reinhold
www.classicBWphoto.com

Rick A · May 2, 2011

Right now, I have a 10" Ilex Paragon (Portronic) in barrel, and use a top hat shutter. I have plenty of bellows draw to go much bigger, Calumet cc-401 w/22" bellows, and a Cambo w/18" belows. The cc-401 will get you in closer than you will ever want to be, the extra long bellows is great for macro with the right lens.

barzune · May 5, 2011

My favourite 4X5 head-portrait lens is my 360mm tele-xenar, which doesn't require full extension. My Linhof SupTecV has more than adequate bellows, so that is not a problem.

I suppose I could get a clear shot of nose pores and pimples if that was the challenge, but I haven't tried yet.

David A. Goldfarb · May 5, 2011

210 Symmar works for me, or any of the modern plasmats for more or less straight portraits. I have an 11.5" Verito if I want something funkier.

jp498 · May 5, 2011

I tend to like the 210 tessars for this job. I'd use a soft focus of similar focal length if it were more affordable like you've built.

Portrait Lenses for 4x5

Reinhold

Rick A

barzune

David A. Goldfarb

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jp498

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