Recommend 210mm and 300mm Lenses for 5x7

georgeqiao · Jul 27, 2014

Hi everyone,

I am pretty new to this forum. I just decided to purchase a 5x7 Chamonix 057N Horizontal model camera. I have taken classes in large format photography, and have been shooting for half a year now. But this is the first view camera I own. I know the limitation of 5x7, but I just like the ratio and extra film space.

I am looking to add two lenses. I already have the 110 Schneider XL. Now I want a 210 (as it is a little longer than normal), and a 300 (as a short telephoto for portraiture). It is a very frustrating experience trying to figure out which one to get. Since the 110 ate lots of my budget, I want the 210 and 300 to be relatively inexpensive (within 300 each?). It has to cover 5x7, Multi-coated, and not too heavy (maybe not over 1 pound?)

Any suggestions are welcome! Thank you.

George

jp498 · Jul 27, 2014

You won't get it for $300, but a kodak 305 portrait or verito/veritar would be very nice portrait lenses than can be nice and sharp or nice and soft. A more generic high quality portrait lens would be a Kodak Commercial Ektar and those are pretty close to that price range.

georgeqiao · Jul 27, 2014

Thanks jp. What price should expect for a good 300mm portrait lens?

garysamson · Jul 28, 2014

A 210mm lens is the normal focal length for the 5x7 inch format. I would look on the KEH website for a used Caltar 210 lens which should be under $300.

Vaughn · Jul 28, 2014

For the 210mm -- Computar Symmetrigon 210 /6.3

Check out specs: http://www.largeformatphotography.i...hp?37912-Computar-Symmetrigon-150-180-210-6-3

In a Copal #1, so might be a little heavy (a little under 20oz). Great (actually fantastic -- sharp, great contrast) lens usually found at a good price as it does not cover 8x10. Look for one with the metal lens hood (usually came with the lens).

ChuckP · Jul 28, 2014

It will probably be hard to find a multicoated 300 under $300. My light modern 300 is the Nikon M 300 f9. Not sure of current prices but may be around $500. The plasmat 300mm lenses are a lot larger. Any plasmat 210 will be OK. Price around $200-250 for one in ex condition.

Sal Santamaura · Jul 28, 2014

georgeqiao said:
...I know the limitation of 5x7...

What limitation?

Old-N-Feeble · Jul 28, 2014

georgeqiao said:
Thanks jp. What price should expect for a good 300mm portrait lens?

If you're asking about the previously-mentioned 305mm Kodak Portrait Ektar then you'll not likely find a nice example for less than $1000 and they're relatively rare. Some have sold for much more than that. Unless I planned on using the 300/305mm solely for portraits I'd be looking for two lenses of the same focal length.

There's quite a large jump between 110mm and 210mm. That doesn't bother some people but most (or many) would nestle a 150mm in between. You'd have a nicely-spanned set: 110, 150, 210, 300. Later you could add a 72 SA XL and something like a a Fuji 450-C.

I've seen several Fujinon 300-C on eBay recently for very reasonable prices. But you'll be lucky to find a nice one for $300. You should be able to find excellent examples of Fujinon 210 and 300 plasmats for around $300 each though.

Speaking of Fujinon, they made a series of soft focus lenses "somewhat" similar to Rodebstock Imagons. These are the Fujinon-SF series and they can be bought for far less than either the Portrait Ektar or Imagon. I just looked... these were only made in 180, 250 and 420mm focal lengths... no 300mm.

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 28, 2014

You MIGHT find a 12" Commercial Ektar (300mm) in your budget range. But at that price it would probably have issues or at least need a good CLA. It's an f6.3, which is plenty bright enough for focusing, and it is a terrific portrait lens too, just a different look (not soft-focus) from the 305 Portrait Ektar. It's also a lot smaller and lighter- the 305 requires an Ilex #5 shutter. Your Chamonix may not be able to fit the 305 Portrait Ektar, period (depends on what lensboard it takes) and even if it fits, it may not handle the weight. The 12" Commercial Ektar is in an Ilex #4, which will fit on a Linhof Technika board without modifying the flange (I have done this myself on my Canham 5x7 which took Linhof boards).

Alan Gales · Jul 28, 2014

You can pick up a nice modern Copal shuttered 210mm f/5.6 lens from the major manufacturers for $200.00 or less easily. I'd try to get one for a $150.00. Like the FlyingCamera wisely recommends, the 12" Commercial Ektar is a wonderful portrait lens (I own the 14" version). It will be a little over your budget but the 210 will be a little under budget so it works out close.

Patrick Robert James · Jul 28, 2014

The 210mm should be easy to find. If you want to match your XL, you should stick with a modern lens. The Fujinon-W would be a good bet. I have a 210 and it is fantastic (EBC coating). APO Symmars and the like will set you back a lot more.

For the 300mm, you could try to find an APO Artar or APO Ronar in a shutter. They are a little slower (f/9) but they are small and light. I found some APO Ronar cells that fit into a Copal 1 for only $60.

DREW WILEY · Jul 30, 2014

If you're looking at a lightwt field camera to begin with it makes zero sense to put a big clunker lens with a huge shutter on it. That's a formula
for trouble. Just pop out a bit more money up front and get something modern and compact like that Nikkor 300M or Fuji 300C while there are
still plenty for sale reasonably. You won't regret it. An excellent lightwt 210 would be a G-Claron f/9 in shutter. Don't worry that it's single coated. You'll probably never know the difference. And it will have sufficient coverage for 5x7.

georgeqiao · Jul 30, 2014

Thank you guys for all the great advice. I have decided to make the purchase. I got a Fujinon-W 210 as Patrick suggested. For 300mm, I got the 305 G-Claron, which is a little bit over budget. The two lenses cost together around 650, so still very reasonable. Do you think these are good choices? Now I have a span of 110, 210, and 305.

Patrick Robert James · Jul 31, 2014

Yes, those were good choices. The G-Claron is a better lens for you than the ones I suggested. It has a larger circle. Those three lenses should do just about anything you would ever use a view camera for.

georgeqiao · Jul 31, 2014

Hi Patrick, thanks for the advice. Are you based in California? I really like your photos.

Patrick Robert James · Aug 1, 2014

Thanks George. I lived for a decade in California, but I don't anymore.

DREW WILEY · Aug 1, 2014

The 305 G Claron will easily cover 8x10 film too, if you ever need to do that. It's an excellent lens for everything form closeups to infinity.

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 1, 2014

Great choices. Now you need a nice 150mm.

Regular Rod · Aug 2, 2014

georgeqiao said:
Hi everyone,

I am pretty new to this forum. I just decided to purchase a 5x7 Chamonix 057N Horizontal model camera. I have taken classes in large format photography, and have been shooting for half a year now. But this is the first view camera I own. I know the limitation of 5x7, but I just like the ratio and extra film space.

I am looking to add two lenses. I already have the 110 Schneider XL. Now I want a 210 (as it is a little longer than normal), and a 300 (as a short telephoto for portraiture). It is a very frustrating experience trying to figure out which one to get. Since the 110 ate lots of my budget, I want the 210 and 300 to be relatively inexpensive (within 300 each?). It has to cover 5x7, Multi-coated, and not too heavy (maybe not over 1 pound?)

Any suggestions are welcome! Thank you.

George

How about 210 and 370 for under your budget?

The Computar f9 is an excellent lens. It is also two lenses in one. It is a convertible. You get a 210 and a 370 in the one package. It weighs 11oz. with the two lens caps, retaining ring and a Linhoff/Wista/Shen Hao etc. lens board.

RR

Oh! Just read the thread. Never mind...

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 2, 2014

Yeah, you'd be VERY lucky to find a 210 Computar in shutter for $600.

Regular Rod · Aug 2, 2014

Old-N-Feeble said:
Yeah, you'd be VERY lucky to find a 210 Computar in shutter for $600.

I must VERY lucky then...

RR

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 2, 2014

Regular Rod said:
I must VERY lucky then...

RR

Where/when did you find it?? If you can find others then I'll buy them.

Regular Rod · Aug 2, 2014

Old-N-Feeble said:
Where/when did you find it?? If you can find others then I'll buy them.

eBay August 2012.

RR

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 2, 2014

It's been two years. Have you seen another one for less than $1000 since?

Regular Rod · Aug 3, 2014

I haven't been looking. I've got mine now so, as long as I've still got it, I won't be looking for another.

I suppose we must expect certain lenses to appreciate in value nowadays as there are so few LF lenses being made anymore...

RR

Recommend 210mm and 300mm Lenses for 5x7

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