which lens to get started?

[Dan Fromm]

2f, t'isn't brillig now and t'wasn't brillig yesterday. There are no snarks in the neighborhood, although I do have a jar of boojum jelly in the pantry. The boojum isn't as dangerous as Carroll reported.

2f/2f has a little significance in photography. The minimum film-to-subject distance is 4f plus the lens' internodal distance, which is usually neglected. 2f from film to the lens' rear node, 2 f from the lens' front node to subject at 1:1. Thanks for explaining that you were being cute in a submersible, not a close-up, way.

I quoted you. Why do you think I didn't?

And where is it written that 210 mm is the standard focal length for 4x5? I think you made it up.

 

[vpwphoto]

Agreeed... on the tele... my bad... I talk too much.

 

[djacobox372]

I own the 75 mm lens Fujinon SW, f 5.6--probably my favorite lens, the focal length is wide, but not so wide as to be overly specialized. Similar to a 20mm lens on 35mm.

That said, all those prices are high--you'd be better off passing on them and looking on ebay for a better deal.

You also may want to stay in the 135-200mm range for your first lens, which is closer to "normal" for 4x5.

 

[John Kasaian]

This arguement on what is normal is hilarious. You guys should be on television!
Lots of folks have a 210 as their only lens. Does that make it normal?
Nope, only normal enough.
Stop this before you confuse the OP and he goes digital on us!

 

[2F/2F]

This arguement on what is normal is hilarious. You guys should be on television!
Lots of folks have a 210 as their only lens. Does that make it normal?
Nope, only normal enough.
Stop this before you confuse the OP and he goes digital on us!

Only one of us is arguing what is "normal" for the format. I am arguing that though to a beginner a 210 may sound too much longer than normal to use as a standard/default lens, it is actually closer to the angle of view given by the 50mm FL on SF (that we have come to use as the overwhelmingly-standard lens on 35mm cameras) than is a 150mm; The 210 actually offers some advantages over the normal lens, and it is used by many, many large format photographers as a standard lens – an easy plurality IME.

So, how could that have confused the OP, until someone started arguing with me about something that I did not state?

210 is not a strange focal length to have as your standard 4x5 lens; in fact, it is the most common IME.

 

[outwest]

Why does everyone always ignore the 180? But not a tele, of course. A perfect compromise between the 150 and the 210.

 

[2F/2F]

Why does everyone always ignore the 180? A perfect compromise between the 150 and the 210.

I agree. Especially with a lens like the Fujinon W, which has a relatively large image circle for 4x5. But the 180 on the OP's list is a telephoto lens, which is probably why they have not been brought up all that much in this thread.

I mentioned 180mm lenses, however. I mentioned that the 180 has the same horizontal AOV as a 50mm lens on small format. It is about 20mm (13 percent) longer than normal for 4x5, while a 150mm is about 10mm (7 percent) shorter than normal.

 

[outwest]

So the 162 Wolly would be about perfect - actually a very nice lens. No, from the OP's list, the best choice was the 210, although a 210 Geronar would have been fine and a lot less expensive. Save the money for film!

 

[John Kasaian]

So the 162 Wolly would be about perfect - actually a very nice lens. No, from the OP's list, the best choice was the 210, although a 210 Geronar would have been fine and a lot less expensive. Save the money for film!

I agree, a 162 Wolly is a pretty neat lens. It was my first 4x5 lens(and it's not going anywhere so don't ask if it''s for sale!) It's worth looking for (along with the 203 Ektar/Optar & 215 Ilex) as great examples of classical glass (I couldn't resist the Mason Williams inuendo.)

 

[TareqPhoto]

I agree, a 162 Wolly is a pretty neat lens. It was my first 4x5 lens(and it's not going anywhere so don't ask if it''s for sale!) It's worth looking for (along with the 203 Ektar/Optar & 215 Ilex) as great examples of classical glass (I couldn't resist the Mason Williams inuendo.)

Yes, my first LF lens is that 162 Wolly, but i didn't shoot anything with it yet, and i started with my first new Lf lens, Rod. 150mm Siro.N, this lens is on my Shen Hao and 162 Wolly is on my Speed/Crown Graphic bodies.

 

[Gary Tarbert]

Hi , Can i suggest 4 lenses with two being more important than the other two for landscape, option 1 90 mm f8 (smaller lighter for landscape)option 2 150 or 135
option 3 240 mm Fujinon f9 (perfect backpackers lense )and Fujinon 300 8.5 C (Ditto) if you shoot interiors ignore most of my suggestions . But buy the 90 before any other , it is the first length that does not need centre filters as standard or reccessed boards (pain in the A!!)I own a 58 mm SA and hardly use it , Why? Bag bellows , centre filter and recessed boards , mandatory !!Cheers Gary