210mm lens

[Drew B.]

I am now looking for a old but in mint condition 210mm lens for my 4x5 camera. Are there lens companies or lens models to stay away from?

[jeroldharter]

A lot of modern 210 mm lenses are available used and are fairly inexpensive because they are common. Schneider, Rodenstock (Caltar), Nikkor, Fujinon should all be good. I think that the filter ring for the Schneider and Apo-Rodagon S are larger than the rest.

I bought a new Caltar 210 mm 5.6 from Calumet 1-2 years ago and it has been fine.

[resummerfield]

I would choose one dating from the mid/late 1970's or newer that was multi-coated. Caltar N II lenses often sell on Ebay for around $200.

[Drew B.]

what about a wallensack raptar alphax lens? (whatever that is??)

[k_jupiter]

what about a wallensack raptar alphax lens? (whatever that is??)

A Wollensack Raptar, usually a Tessar style lens, is usually single coated, if at all. Alphax is the shutter it's mounted in.

If it's cheap, try it. It certainly has the coverage for 4x5, marginally for 5x7. You might like the effects it gives you. I have some shorter Raptar lens (127mm) in a different shutter and am very pleased with them. I use them on 3x4 format film. But.. your mileage might vary.


tim in san jose

[Kilgallb]

I bought a decent 210 mm Sironar N from KEH out of Atlanta. It was rated bargain and cost less than $250. I cannot believe how sharp this lens is on 4x5, corner to corner. Makes my 35 mm stuff look terrible.

[Andrew Moxom]

The other relatively unknown aspect about the older symmar S lenses is that they can be used as convertibles. I read about this on the large format forum yesterday actually. A 210 becomes a 280 with the front elements removed.

I think when the newer versions of Symmar XL, and newer, this feature will not work as well, if at all.

[darinwc]

the Symmar and Sironars are winners. They are sharp and have good coverage.
The tessar type lenses, Raptar, Commecial Ektars, Xenars, and coated tessars, are all decent.
The 203mm Ektar is highly regarded as a very sharp lens also, but it has the least coverage.
Stay away fromthe Geronar.

Watever lens you pick, try and find one is good shape with an accurate shutter.

[Ole]

I would choose one dating from the mid/late 1970's or newer that was multi-coated.

One of my newest (and best) lenses is a 210mm f:6.1 Xenar. It's single-coated. Multicoating makes a slight difference with lenses with more air spaces, but with Tessar-types (six surfaces) it is not necessary at all.

I regularly use this one, and older (1960's) Xenar 210/4.5, an even older Angulon 210/6.8, a G-Claron 210/9, and a Symmar 210/5.6 convertible. They are all good lenses which are capable of outperforming most photographers.

I use all these different ones for different purposes and film sizes, as well as differences in size and weight...

[Nick Zentena]

The older Fuji W in Seiko shutters are often good value. Plus if you move up in format have larger coverage then most. One of the better coverage per $.