Want to Buy WTB: long lens for 4x5

koja · Oct 5, 2012

Hi,

I am looking for some long lens (450-650mm range) for my 4x5 kit. I have horseman monorail and I am thinking about Sinar copal shutter so I am not very picky about shutter of the lens.

I am living in Czech Republic so EU residing lenses would have advantage of zero VAT and customs taxes.

Thanks for your offers.

removed account4 · Oct 5, 2012

hi koja

you probably already know this, but just in case you over looked this ...
with the symmar converted you will need more than 620 to have it focus at infinity ..
don't forget the nodal points are farther out with the symmars than with a traditional lens.
( maybe it is its plasmat-type design? ) i have a 210-370 and don't have enough rail space on my toyo
with it converted, luckily i have another camera with a longer bellows s t r e t c h and it works great.

good luck with your quest !
john

koja · Oct 5, 2012

Thanks!!!

I probably SHOULD have known this but no... I forgot to check the extension for converted lens. I have an extensible horseman rail but according to Schneider paper the extension for infinity focusing should be 760mm... That's just too much.

I'm gonna put Symmar off the list.

jp80874 · Oct 5, 2012

A lens that might be useful is a Nikkor 450M f9-f128 in a Copal 3. It has an image circle of 440mm @f22, but goes way beyond that at higher numbered f stops. It weighs 1.41 pounds or 640 grams. That is at least several pounds less than the lens you originally requested.

Though no longer made this is a very popular lens and thus widely available used but in good condition on eBay or the forums. If your interests grow beyond 4x5 this lens will be useful on several other formats. I have carried mine from 4x5 to 8x10 and 7x17. The diagonal on 8x10 is 313mm. The diagonal on 7x17 is 464mm, confirming my statement that the coverage grows significantly at f stops above f22. I usually shoot the lens at f45-64 on the 7x17 and am very happy with the negatives.

Good luck in your hunt.

John Powers

PS: If you are not already a member, you might want to join the Large Format Forum. http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/index.php. I have seen this lens offered there, but you need to be a member for 30 days before you can access the for sale section. "For Sale/Wanted" sub-forum, which is open only to those who have been members for 30 days or more.” The rules.

jp80874 · Oct 6, 2012

I see there is a Nikkor 450 M on the LF Forum now offered at $575. This is quite a bit lower than I paid, but lenses were higher priced then.

John P

Old-N-Feeble · Oct 7, 2012

What... no love for the 450mm Fujinon-C? You'll lose an f-stop but it's in a Copal #1 and is tiny compared to the Nikkor-M.

Alan Gales · Oct 7, 2012

How about a 19" or 24" Artar in barrel?

koja · Oct 8, 2012

jp80874 said:
I see there is a Nikkor 450 M on the LF Forum now offered at $575. This is quite a bit lower than I paid, but lenses were higher priced then.

John P

Unfortunately seller of that lens is from US and I am in damn EU. It means 20% VAT... But thanks for the advice anyway!

koja · Oct 8, 2012

Alan Gales said:
How about a 19" or 24" Artar in barrel?

Well, after some research on sinar shutters I gave it up. Nikkor and Fujinon seem both as a very good option. I am scouting ebay (in EU) and trying to improve my budget.

koja · Oct 22, 2012

Hi, nobody in EU has some spare Fujinon, Nikkor, Apo-Ronar or smth. similar?

koja · Oct 26, 2012

Apo Ronar 480 heading my direction.

Want to Buy WTB: long lens for 4x5

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