What lens did you get bored of?

[darinwc]

I'll admit it I got bored of a 240mm G-claron in a polaroid shutter that I shot a few 4x5's with. Something about it just didnt excite me even though it was hyped up. I'm not sure if it was the focal length or speed or speed or shutter it was in or what.

Sooo.. What lenses have you bought but for some subconcious reason gotten bored of and sold/stored away?

 

[Nick Zentena]

Hey my 240mm Claron got stored to. But on 8x10 it wouldn't be stored . That's one thing with LF lenses can be reused with bigger/smaller cameras.

 

[Tom Stanworth]

150mm lenses on 5x4 in general...or any std lens I would rather use a 135/180 or wider/longer. The hype about the 240 is more coverage on 10x8 for such a compact lens. I dont use 50mm too much in 35mm either

 

[Dan Henderson]

I find that I almost never use the 80mm lens on my medium format rig any more. My oldest lens is a 150, but the images from that lens always satisfy me more, and I use it whenever possible. I use a 250 if I need more reach, and a 50 if a wide angle effect is useful.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I didn't get bored with it, but I did sell it off because I just wasn't using it enough. I got rid of my 75mm for 4x5 - it's so wide that I almost never used it on landscapes, and I don't shoot interiors enough to make it worth keeping.

 

[colrehogan]

I had been storing away my Nikkor 120 mm SW (and had debated whether to sell it several times). I didn't get bored with it, but that focal length didn't seem to work for me on either 5x12 or 8x10. For whatever reason, I decided to try it on my whole plate camera a couple of weeks ago. I liked the image I saw on my ground glass. Maybe I will keep it after all.

 

[jp80874]

I can't say that a lens has bored me. As I have gone to larger formats I have added lenses when I ran out of image circle (IC). Example: I would vignette corners using a 305 G Claron with movements for architecture on 7x17. I added a 12in-300mm Dagor usually solving the problem.

A better photographer with an engineering backround, Michael Mutmansky, was able to use the 305 G Claron lens for architecture. As a novice in 7x17 I needed more movement. Learning to better use back movements balanced against distorting shapes and sizes has taught me better use of ic.

John Powers

 

[2F/2F]

Schneider 121mm on 8x10...I expected it to be a lot cooler than it was. I use it on 4x5 often and love it. The few times I rented an 8x10 I tried the lens. With the 5x7 reduction back it was nice, though. I realize now that I just don't like super wides all that much. Same with my Canon FD 17mm.

 

[Ian Grant]

Well not bored but grossly under used n - my Nikon M f9 300mm, apart from testing I've used it twice in the 20 years since I bought it new. I had thought if I ever moved up to 10x8 it would come in useful, but now I have I found my coated Dagor has better coverage and is just as sharp.

Ian

 

[wilsonneal]

Schneider 165/8 Super Angulon. It's sitting on the shelf now and I have no plans to use it. Keep thinking I will sell it, but just don't get around to it. Also don't use the 360 Caltar II-N that much. Also, own a 480mm Rodenstock, but have never mounted it in a board. I mostly use my 240 Caltar. If it folded up inside the Kodak Master, I don't think it would ever come off the camera.
Neal

 

[gandolfi]

on FL: almost all modern coated lenses. without character for my kind of images.

not really planning to sell them - they are on display.

cool lenses: almost all old ones. Plasticca, Verito, Heliar, Dagor and so on....

 

[Andrew Moxom]

I sold my Sinar selected 360mm, as it was a bohemoth for 4x5. Should have kept it for 8x10, but I don't use 4x5 enough to warrant an upgrade to 8x10 either, so it had to go to help fund a 150 for my blad.

 

[Vaughn]

Tools don't bore me. Generic shots using tools do tend to bore me...such as wide angle shots whose only redeeming feature is the fact that they are wide angle.

Vaughn

 

[Deckled Edge]

250 mm Wide Field Ektar in Ilex #5. Too wide for the 7x17, and too soft at the edges. It was a go-to in the 8x10 days but it will seize up from non-use with the F&S. The 12 in. Dagor and 16-1/2 in. Apo Artar have pushed out the old WFE forever.

Vaughn has it right with WA. 7x17, even with long focus IS wide angle. Too much is too much.

 

[pgomena]

120mm Schneider Super Angulon on 4x5". I've had it for 25 years and rarely use it. Roughly equivalent to 35mm on 35mm, another lens combo I just don't use. If I was to step up to 5x7", I might find it valuable, however, so it remains in my kit.

Interesting to see how everyone else is responding to this thread. I love a normal lens. My 150mm for 4x5 is probably my favorite focal length for a lot of subjects. My "vision" usually fits normal-to-slightly long focal lengths (or vice-versa.) I love the look of a 240mm on 4x5". I have a good friend who loves wider-angle lenses and uses them spectacularly. Maybe that's why the manufacturers make so many different focal lengths, eh?

Peter Gomena

 

[Vaughn]

...snip...Vaughn has it right with WA. 7x17, even with long focus IS wide angle. Too much is too much.

Moderation in all things -- including moderation! Sometimes wide is the way to go. I occasionally put on the 159mm on the 8x10 (not often...the 210mm sees a little more use) when I need to express a bigger volume of space in close quarters such as deep in the redwoods.

Vaughn

 

[darinwc]

I find it interesting that people shelve their superwides.. though i can understand it with panoramic formats because it is the format that makes it wide not the angle of view.

 

[Nick Zentena]

I sold my Sinar selected 360mm, as it was a bohemoth for 4x5. Should have kept it for 8x10, but I don't use 4x5 enough to warrant an upgrade to 8x10 either, so it had to go to help fund a 150 for my blad.

I wouldn't worry . I'm sure you would have found it huge for 8x10 to Fast lenses 300mm and above are just plain big.

 

[makan]

All of them at some time because I got bored of the format/lens combination. So I took another one to come back later on. Works well for me.

 

[imazursky]

I shelved my 180mm nikkor w. I am enamored with my 65mm Fuji SWD, 90mm F8 SA and the 210 Symmar for my 4x5.
I only have one lens for my 12x20. The 480 APO Nikkor.

 

[bill schwab]

Funny. I just re-discovered my 240 G-Claron and forgot how much I loved the thing! Needs the right scene though...

 

[Dennis S]

I shoot 35mm and it seems every camera I buy has a 50mm lens on it I HATE 50. I have 5 of the taking up space. THEY WILL NOT GO AWAY. Thanks that made me feel better.

 

[bruce terry]

Over 11 years I made plenty of 8x10/240 Dagor negs, but only TWO with a 480 Artar – nice lens, but never fit-in with my semi-wide-to-normal eye.

Just a personal thing I suppose.

 

[Daniel_Buck]

I didn't purchase it (it was given to me free, saved from the dumpster!) but I have a 135mm symmar that I just don't use very often. I end up using 90 or 180 instead, 135 just doesn't seem to fit my vision I guess.

 

[David Buchan]

Schneider 165/8 Super Angulon. It's sitting on the shelf now and I have no plans to use it. Keep thinking I will sell it, but just don't get around to it. Also don't use the 360 Caltar II-N that much. Also, own a 480mm Rodenstock, but have never mounted it in a board. I mostly use my 240 Caltar. If it folded up inside the Kodak Master, I don't think it would ever come off the camera.
Neal

Any idea what price one would go for as i recently inherited a Schneider 165/8 Super Angulon excellent condition. I don't shoot large format so looking for a buyer. Thanks