LF lens list (borrowed from the ULF thread)

[noseoil]

The ULF thread gave me this idea for a new thread. (Scott, feel free to cut and paste!)

4x5 lenses
65mm f4 Nikon (not used much, no center filter)
90mm f8 Super Angulon
125mm f5.6 Fujinon CMW (most frequently used)
127mm Rodenstock Ysarex (from Polaroid 110b)
180mm f5.6 "
180mm f8 Fujinon / soft focus
203mm Kodak Ecktar

4x5 & 8x10 lenses (4x5 back for the 8x10, no 35mm adapter, yet)
240mm G-Claron (thanks Jim)
300mm Schneider Symmar-S (105mm filters, ugh)
480mm Nikon f9 (enlarging lens on Packard shutter, good coverage!)

[Dan Fromm]

Um, are you bragging or asking a question?

[noseoil]

Dan, just curious about the types of glass out there and what people have settled on as their "best" lenses for the job. I'm sure there will be a wide range of choices and I'm interested in people's preferences. No right or wrong answers. Best, tim

P.S. If I were bragging, it wouldn't be about lenses but more about things like my son, etc.

[Removed Account]

135mm Wollensak f/4.7 Raptar

It's my only lens at the moment, I will probably place a wanted ad for a 240 soon. I'm actually quite happy with it since it seems to have a decent amount of coverage for movements, although being my only LF lens I have no frame of reference for this. The only thing is that it has the funky shutter speed markings (1, 2, 5, 10, 25 etc...). If I find a lighter camera it would probably work very well as a landscape lens, but I need something with more "drawing" ability for my still-lifes and portraits.

- Justin

[naturephoto1]

If I post my list of 4 X 5 lenses I am concerned that I will be accused of bragging. :rolleyes: :o

Rich

[Dan Fromm]

Rich, post away. The OP gave a nice clarification.

Noseoil, thanks for the clarification. Here are some of mine. All used on 2x3, most cover more. I have lenses that I see as relative clinkers or just too hard to use, no need to mention them. Also a couple that are really pretty specialized. Ones in italics usually stay home. All bought because good value for money.

38/4.5 Biogon in Copal 0 (great lens, covers 84 mm)
1.75"/2.8 Elcan (not a good lens, barely covers 6x6)
47/5.6 SA in Prontor 00(single-coated, a keeper)
58/5.6 Grandagon in Synchro Compur 00(separated, jury's still out)
65/8 Ilex in Compur 00(a keeper)
80/6.3 WF Ektar in Supermatic(another keeper)
95/2.8 Saphir in Prontor Press(jury's out, shutter has to be scaled for it)
100/6.3 Neupolar (superb macro lens, hard to use)
101/4.5 Ektar in Supermatic(a keeper, the gold standard)
4"/2.0 Taylor Hobson (a keeper, the platinum standard, but heavy)
105/3.7 Ektar in Supermatic(last one wasn't a keeper, this one's untried, shutter needs CLA)
105/4.5 Comparon in #0 (macro only, still on trial)
105/5.6 El Nikkor (macro only, easier to use with flash than the Comparon or Neupolar, still on trial)
105/5.6 Zircon in Copal 1(jury's out)
120/7.7 Uno (a little soft, usable)
127/4.7 Tominon in Copal 1(surprisingly good)
130/6.3 CZJ Tessar in Compound(fine lens, 1911-2, shutter needs an overhaul)
135/5.6 Symmar in Synchro Compur(convertible, better than usable)
135/10 Apo Saphir (keeper, I really shouldn't carry it and the Symmar)
150/5.6 Zircon in Copal 1(on trial)
150/6.3 CZJ Tessar (1911-2, super lens)
150/8 Apo Ronar (keeper)
160/5.6 Pro Raptar in Rapax(very good lens, shutter needs service)
180/6.3 Saphir on Synchro Compur(recently arrived, shutter needs service)
180/10 Apo Saphir (keeper)
210/5.6 Zircon (ugly, shoots very well, too heavy)
210/6.8 Beryl (good)
210/7.7 Beryl S (better, contrastier than GRII)
210/9 Konica Hexanon GRII (sharpest 210, but can flare)
240/10 Apo Saphir (keeper, bought just because)
10.16"/9 Taylor Hobson Copying Lens (very good indeed, tiny)
260/10 Nikkor-Q (Process Nikkor, really, too too big)
300/10 Cooke Apotal (fine lens)
300/10 Apo Saphir (also fine, not quite as good wide open as the 305 AN)
12"/4 Taylor Hobson Telephoto (good, bellows vignettes it at infinity)
305/9 Apo Nikkor (super lens)
360/10 Apo Saphir (also super)
420/9 Apo Nikkor (ugly, shoots very well)
450/10 RF-5 (not needed, really)
480/9 Apo Nikkor (another super lens)

Having gone to the trouble of making a tandem camera to be able to use my longer lenses, I find that the longest I routinely use is the 360.

Specialists, not for general use, all stay home:

25/2.8 Summar (ex-YELUU, best above 10:1)
25/3.5 Luminar
40/4.5 Luminar
50/3.5 Neupolar (MicroNikkor is better)
55/2.8 MicroNikkor AIS (super reversed @ f/4 above 2:1 on 2x3)
63/4.5 Luminar (poor cosmetics, good glass)

[John Kasaian]

I don't know if this helps or not. Which lens is "best" depends on the subject (such as a medium wide for intimate landscapes and a long for the "grand vista" landscape) and my subjects change (old churches, portraits, garden furniture, airplanes etc...,) also sometimes I'll want a certain "look" that a particular lens can offer so I'll list my most used lenses instead:

8x10
240mm G Claron
19" RD Artar
14" Commercial Ektar
10" Wide Field Ektar(creamy-er than the G-Claron)
12" Dagor(very old & uncoated)
159mm Yellow Dot Velostigmat(when there's not enough room to 'back up')

[naturephoto1]

OK Dan,

Here are my 4 X 5 lenses:

Rodenstock f6.8 75mm Grandagon N MC
Congo WA f6.3 90mm WA MC lens (sharp one)
Rodenstock f6.8 90mm Grandagon N MC
Schneider f5.6 120mm Makro Symmar HM
Schneider f5.6 120mm Apo Symmar L
Schneider f5.6 120mm Super Symmar HM
Rodenstock f5.6 150mm Apo Sironar S
Schneider f 5.6 210mm Symmar S MC
Rodenstock f9 240mm Apo Ronar MC
Rodenstock f9 300mm Apo Ronar MC
Rodenstock f9 360mm Apo Ronar
Fujinon F12.5 450mm C MC
Nikon f11 500mm T ED
Nikon 720mm rear elements for Nikon f11 T ED

Horseman 2X converter for 150mm 4 X 5 lenses

Special Macro lenses with Linhof Macro Adapter (lens board cone) Compur Shutter and lens adapters:

Canon 20mm Macrophoto lens
Leitz f2.5 25mm Photar
Canon 35mm Macrophoto lens
Schneider f4 50mm M Componon
Rodenstock f4 75mm Apo Rodagon D 1X
Rodenstock 4.5 75mm Apo Rodagon D 2X

Rich

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't keep a list by format, since I've got overlapping formats and lenses that don't cover the format at infinity, but are useful at closer distances. The formats I shoot are 2x3, 4x5, 5x7, 8x10, 7x17, 11x14 and with rollfilm backs 6x7, 6x9, 6x12, and 6x17--

Zeiss Luminar 25mm f:3.5, Linhof board with macro extension cone and RMS adapter, Prontor Press 0--2153325
Rodenstock Apo-Grandagon 55mm f:4.5, Copal 0 shutter, Linhof 2x3 board--11513907 (2000)
Linhof Schneider Super Angulon 65mm f:8, Synchro-Compur 00, Linhof 2x3 board--7905414 (1961-63)
Rodenstock Grandagon-N MC 75mm f:4.5, Copal 0 shutter, Linhof recessed board w/cam--10523369
Linhof Schneider Angulon 90mm f:6.8, Synchro-Compur--2565258 (1950-51)
Linhof Schneider Super-Angulon 90mm f:8, Synchro-Compur, Linhof recessed board w/cam--11900113 (1970-72)
Schneider Xenotar 105mm f:2.8, Synchro-Compur Shutter, Linhof board--8701729 (1964-65)
Berthiot Perigraphe 120mm f:14, Ilex #3 and orig. barrel
Caltar II-N (Rodenstock Sironar-N) MC 135mm f:5.6, Copal 0--10847066
Linhof Zeiss Planar 135mm f:3.5, Synchro-Compur 1 w/cam--5194691
Linhof Schneider Xenar 150 f:4.5, Compur 1 w/cam--11800140 (1970-72)
Goerz Berlin Serie III Dagor 168mm f:6.8, Rapax--279599 (1910)
Caltar II-N (Rodenstock Sironar-N) MC 180mm f:5.6, Copal 1--10509780
Goerz American Optical Co., Gold Dot Dagor 8-1/4” f:6.8, barrel--819577 (1963-71)
Linhof Schneider Symmar 210/370mm f:5.6/12, Compur 1 w/cam--11891518 (1970-72)
Schneider 21cm f:3.5 Xenar in barrel, coated by B&J--165828 (1925-28)
B&L 5x8 f:4.5 Tessar 1c (8.75”) in barrel on 4x4” wooden lensboard for 5x7” Press Graflex--3195204 (1921-22)
Kodak Wide-Field Ektar 10” f:6.3, Ilex Universal #5--EI 373 (1948)
Voigtländer Petzval in brass barrel with S.K. Grimes custom flange and 6 waterhouse stops on Sinar board--14220
Wollensak Verito 11.5” f:4 in Studio shutter on Wista (Linhof-type) lensboard with custom flange by S.K. Grimes
Goerz American Optical Co., Gold Dot Dagor 12” f:6.8, barrel--814134 (1963-71)
Schneider Tele-Xenar 360mm f:5.5, Compound w/cam--3415625 (1952-54)
Voigtländer Heliar 36cm f:4.5 w/leather caps, barrel--2745702
Wollensak Verito 14.5” f:4 in Studio #4 shutter on Sinar lensboard
Goerz American Optical Co., Apochromat Artar 19” f:11, barrel--767754 (1945-48)
Busch Vademecum Sätz II, missing 15cm cell, adapted to Copal #1 Press shutter by Tim Sharkey

I also have a Canon FD 35mm/f:2.8 Macrophoto that I use like the 25mm Luminar for macros occasionally.

[TheFlyingCamera]

Here's my list... (copied from the ULF thread). I do more portrait/figure work than landscape, so my lens list tends toward the longer end more than the wide end, but for when I do travel, I've got a few lenses that handle the wider end very nicely. I've listed the formats I use each lens with.


75mm Rodenstock f6.8 (4x5, should cover 5x7 but haven't tried. )
90mm Rodenstock f6.8 (4x5,5x7)
110mm (4 3/8") Goerz Am.Opt. WA Dagor f8 (4x5,5x7)
150mm Sinaron (Rodenstock) f5.6 (4x5)
159mm Wollensak f12.5 (5x12, 8x10)
210 Sinaron (Rodenstock) f5.6 (4x5, 5x7)
210 Wollensak Graphic Raptar f6.8 (5x7, 5x12, 8x10)
240 Nikkor-W f5.6 (8x10)
250 Fujinon f6.7 (5x7, 5x12)
300-T Fujinon f8 (4x5, 5x7 in an extreme pinch)
12" Commerical Ektar (5x7, WP, 5x12, 8x10)
14" Commercial Ektar (5x7, WP, 5x12, 8x10, 11x14)
Seneca 6.5x8.5 Portrait f5 (5x7, WP, 8x10??)
Bausch & Lomb 11x14 F4.5 portrait Tessar (8x10,11x14, maybe larger...)
Jamin Darlot 1861 petzval portait (fstop, focal length unknown, but apparently covers 8x10, maybe 11x14).
600mm Apo-Germinar f9 (11x14... bought it with plans to make a studio 12x20 - should cover admirably at portrait range)
18"/29"/39" Manhattan Optical triple-convertible Rapid Rectilinear f7. (11x14, 12x20 when converted)

I think that covers most everything.

Ooops- forgot the 12" Wollensak Velostigmat f6.3. That should cover 8x10, but for now it's set up to go on my Seneca whole plate field camera.