Starting of lens question - 150mm vs 210mm

VikAG · Feb 15, 2022

Hi!
I'm just starting of with 4x5 photography and would like your advice on whether I should get 150mm vs 210mm or both. I need your advice on the brands that I am looking at.
The two lenses are:
1. Rodenstock Sironar N 210mm f/5.6 (Mint condition from Japan. And from the pictures it truly looks super clean).
2. Schneider Symmar-S 150mm f5.6 (From UK. Claims to have a recent CLA but has that Schneideritis).

They are both in the $300-$500 range. I am inclined to getting both but I am not sure if I am getting in deep early on as I am still new to this style of photography. Also, the camera I bought is the Intrepid 4x5 MK4.

Context: I usually shoot with a 35mm or a 50mm lens in the 35mm world. I tend to gravitate ever so slightly towards the 50mm. I like to shoot landscapes (not very wide), environmental portraits, suburban street shots (not busy places).

Please advice and I hope to start my 4x5 journey soon!

ic-racer · Feb 15, 2022

I'd get both.

abruzzi · Feb 15, 2022

90-150-210 is a very common 3 lens kit in 4x5 so buying both isn't necessarily a bad thing. 4x5 has a different aspect ratio than 35mm (1.25:1 vs 1.5:1) so an exact match to 35mm focal lengths won't be entirely accurate. 150 is a pretty "normal" lens, maybe a bit wider than 50mm on 35, but not as wide as 35mm on 35. 210 is not going to be as long as an 85mm but heading in that direction. So do you lean wide or long?

GKC · Feb 15, 2022

Personally I like a 210, but if I were just starting out and all things being equal, I'd opt for the $300 lens(whichever that one is) and buy lots of film.

wiltw · Feb 16, 2022

Using short axis of frame (92mm) as the basis of ratio,

150mm on 4x5 is 1.63x...about same short axis AOV as 40mm on 135.
210mm on 4x5 is 2.28x...about same short axis AOV as 55mm on 135.

If you like to do product photography, I would select 210mm. If you prefer slightly wider FL on 135, I would select 150mm.

VikAG · Feb 16, 2022

Thanks for the inputs so far. I also read that the compur shutter is problematic. The Schneider Symmar-S 150mm f5.6 lens has a compur shutter. Maybe I should look for one with Copal shutter?

otto.f · Feb 16, 2022

I could hardly do without both. 150 for landscape, outside work. It’s mostly wide enough before I carry my 90mm. 210 for stills mainly and also outside

Nitroplait · Feb 16, 2022

90's 150's and 210's are some of the most common lenses for 4x5 and there are always many available on eBay at any given time - no need to rush a purchase.
I would just get the 150mm (or whatever is cheaper) and make sure you have ample funding for lens board, film, film-holders and processing (or processing equipment if you plan to do this yourself).
You will need to practice a bit to get the process under your skin, and what you thought you needed may not be the same after you have gotten the hang of it.

VikAG · Feb 16, 2022

Hi! Another question please. So I’m going for the Rodenstock Sironar N 210mm f/5.6 mostly. In the listing it says COPAL 1 shutter and Wista board. Now I checked with Intrepid and they are saying it may not fit in their camera. And their lens board also may not work with it. They said get a technika or linhof board. I am confused about this lens board compatibility issue. Does any one have inputs on how to make my setup compatible?

Nitroplait · Feb 16, 2022

VikAG said:
...Now I checked with Intrepid and they are saying it may not fit in their camera. And their lens board also may not work with it. They said get a technika or linhof board. I am confused about this lens board compatibility issue. Does any one have inputs on how to make my setup compatible?

Intrepid makes lens boards for their cameras and should be precise in explaining as to why their board wouldn't work with a lens in a Copal #1 shutter.
They claim the 4X5 MK4 is Linhof Technika board compatible, and a Linhof Technica Copal #1 board is likely more rigid than the plastic material Intrepid uses, but why theirs wouldn't work is beyond me.
Demand an answer from Intrepid, not speculations from random people on the internet.

jimjm · Feb 16, 2022

VikAG said:
Hi! Another question please. So I’m going for the Rodenstock Sironar N 210mm f/5.6 mostly. In the listing it says COPAL 1 shutter and Wista board. Now I checked with Intrepid and they are saying it may not fit in their camera. And their lens board also may not work with it. They said get a technika or linhof board. I am confused about this lens board compatibility issue. Does any one have inputs on how to make my setup compatible?

All you need is a lens board that is compatible in dimensions and thickness for the camera. If the lens comes mounted in a Wista board, it's easy to switch it to a Linhof/Technika-style board that's drilled for a Copal 1 shutter, which is very common.
You'll probably have to remove the lens (w/board) when folding the camera, but that's the case with most cameras of this type.

GKC · Feb 16, 2022

I haven't found Compur shutters problematic.
Also the 210mm is quite suitable for landscapes as Roman Loranc can certainly squeeze some intriguing images out of his 210mm
https://www.romanloranc.com/

Doremus Scudder · Feb 16, 2022

Wista boards are Linhof-Technika compatible. Same board, different manufacturer. I've got a mix of Technika, Wista, Goaersi and no-name boards that all fit my Wistas. Any camera compatible with Technika boards will take all the others.

And, if for some reason your board is not the right size, just get one that is. Just make sure the mounting hole is the right size for your shutter. There are many to choose from for sale all over.

Best,

Doremus

abruzzi · Feb 16, 2022

Doremus Scudder said:
Wista boards are Linhof-Technika compatible. Same board, different manufacturer. I've got a mix of Technika, Wista, Goaersi and no-name boards that all fit my Wistas. Any camera compatible with Technika boards will take all the others.

this.

For 4x5 cameras, the Linhof Technika IV boards are the most common and used by many disparate camera makers. I think they are popular because they are relatively small boards but will still work with a Copal #3 shutter. Putting a small lens on a 162mm board makes it very hard to pack for field work. Even the 142mm Sinar board is bulky, and I have a Technika to Sinar adapter on my Sinar F.

Sirius Glass · Feb 16, 2022

wiltw said:
Using short axis of frame (92mm) as the basis of ratio,

150mm on 4x5 is 1.63x...about same short axis AOV as 40mm on 135.
210mm on 4x5 is 2.28x...about same short axis AOV as 55mm on 135.

If you like to do product photography, I would select 210mm. If you prefer slightly wider FL on 135, I would select 150mm.

I recommend getting both.

bdial · Feb 16, 2022

Nothing wrong with both, but if I were making the choice, and I could only choose 1, it would be the 210.
If you like to be selective, vs capturing everything, the 210 works for that, it's also a nice focal length for portraits and close work.
My first 4x5 kit was a 210 and a 90.

shuddered · Feb 18, 2022

VikAG said:
Hi!
I'm just starting of with 4x5 photography and would like your advice on whether I should get 150mm vs 210mm or both. I need your advice on the brands that I am looking at.
The two lenses are:
1. Rodenstock Sironar N 210mm f/5.6 (Mint condition from Japan. And from the pictures it truly looks super clean).
2. Schneider Symmar-S 150mm f5.6 (From UK. Claims to have a recent CLA but has that Schneideritis).

They are both in the $300-$500 range. I am inclined to getting both but I am not sure if I am getting in deep early on as I am still new to this style of photography. Also, the camera I bought is the Intrepid 4x5 MK4.

Context: I usually shoot with a 35mm or a 50mm lens in the 35mm world. I tend to gravitate ever so slightly towards the 50mm. I like to shoot landscapes (not very wide), environmental portraits, suburban street shots (not busy places).

Please advice and I hope to start my 4x5 journey soon!

the factor multiply factor between 35mm cameras and 4x5 cameras is about 3 so if you gravitate to your 50mm lens the 150 might be a similar lens. schnideritis just means the black paint is flecked off and does nothing to the performance of the lens.

Starting of lens question - 150mm vs 210mm

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