Recommendation for lens for 4x5; equivelent to 28mm in 35mm format?

[craig.knapp1]

Hi, I am 50, yet new to 4x5 photography. I have an Omega 45D camera with a 240mm Schneider Tele-Arton lens. I sort of have a collection of equipment that uses Schneider lenses including the Kodak Retina iiic, various Franka (folders), and even some Schneider enlarging lenses...so keeping with my Schneider glass, I am looking for recommendations/confirmation of my best guess, as to a lens for 4x5 which gives an approximate horizontal view equivalent to a 28mm lens for 35mm format (and allows for moderate camera movements). I am a bit confused by Schneider Optics website (vintage lens data found under the INFO tab) because of "image circle", angle of view, and format sizes.

I believe candidates include (for B&W film):
Symmar-S 120mm with its 70 degree field of view would yield a 35mm format equivalent between 24-28mm, but I do not see this lens for sale very often.

Symmar 5.6 100mm lens.

Angulon 6.8 120mm lens

Any help is appreciated, as I am Stationed in Germany and will likely be purchasing a lens on-line, thus unable to verify my estimates of "coverage" before buying.

Thank you.

Craig Knapp

[ic-racer]

The perfect match would be a 100mm lens, however, most 100mm lenses out there are for 6x9cm format, rather than 4x5in. Schneider's 100mm Symmar-S is a perfect example. It is for 6x9cm, not 4x5. Since they don't make a perfect match for you, I'd go with something they do make. How about a Schneider Super Angulon 90. That is a very popular lens. Probably 1/3 the 4x5 community here has one or had one at some time. It will be like a 25mm lens on a 35mm camera.

[craig.knapp1]

RE: IC-RACR

It appears the Super Angulon 90 has a 100 degree of view, which seems to be between a 35mm format 14mm and 18mm lens? If this is true the 90mm Super Angulon is considerably wider than my goal of a 28mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Craig Knapp

[krb]

RE: IC-RACR

It appears the Super Angulon 90 has a 100 degree of view, which seems to be between a 35mm format 14mm and 18mm lens? If this is true the 90mm Super Angulon is considerably wider than my goal of a 28mm lens on a 35mm camera.

The spreadsheet I use for this type of calculation tells me that 28mm on 135 is 99mm on 4x5.

When you say 100 degree view, are you sure you are reading it correctly? There is a difference between having a lens that projects 100 degrees vs having a lens that projects a 100 degree view onto a 4x5 negative. The lens needs to project a wider image than is being captured so that you will have room for lens movements, after all.

[Roger Thoms]

I'll second ic-racers recommendation on the 90mm SA, one of my favorites. I've always felt it was a little closer to 24mm on 135.

Roger

[LJH]

Don't mistake angle of coverage for angle of view. Put simply, you're taking a 4x5" section out of the image circle created by the angle of coverage.

[Ian Grant]

A 90mm lens on 5x4 is close to a 28mm on 35mm and there's plenty about at good prices. Both the Super Angulons and Grandagons are excellent performers you need to decide whether you want the faster f5.6 SA or the f8 SA or the f4.5 Grandagon or f6.8.

Calumet branded Caltar W 90mm's are also good value, they rebadged the SA and Grandagon.

BTW if I use a 90mm on my 6x17 camera the angle of view is wider than on a 5x4 camera, format determines the actually field of view, image circle determines the maximum potential angle of view.

Ian

[craig.knapp1]

151419JAN12

Thanks to all who have helped. I think I was confused between angle of coverage and angle of view.....Looks like the 90mm Super Angulon is the way to go.

Craig Knapp

[al5256]

Hi,
While discussing the focal length there is a problem using wide angles on view cameras with normal bellows systems. I will be also buying a 4x5 field camera and doing some research on the lenses. I’ll be getting a Grandagon N 90mm f/6.8 which is equivalent to 28mm on 35. Most of the users of view cameras advised that I have to use a bag bellows to get full advantage of movements. I wonder what APUG users think about this. Thanks.

[David A. Goldfarb]

Depends on the camera, but most field cameras with tapered bellows can handle a 90mm lens (unless it's one of the latest ultrawide versions that allow for extreme movements, like the Schneider 90/5.6 SA-XL) without a bag bellows. At most you might want a recessed lensboard, if that's easier than using a bag bellows on your particular camera, but it may not even be necessary.

A camera with a square bellows might not be as flexible with a 90mm lens focused at infinity.