210 claron on 8x10: Too dark?

[gbenaim]

How dark is the 210 g-claron on 8x10? Is the field of view significantly wider than the 240? Thanks.

[Tom Perkins]

I used this lens on 8x10 for about 3 years. It is a little dark indoors but fine outside. The thing I found difficult was the minimal movements, and, as I like to use front rise a fair amount, I had some vignetting or just ran out of room with it. Compared to the 250 it seemed significantly wider. If I were still using that format I would look for a lens with a little more coverage.

[Terence]

About the same as the 240mm, which makes sense as they're both f/9 lenses. A bit dark indoors, like Tom said, but fine outdoors. A good dark-cloth is the key. For weight/price/coverage, I haven't found its equal. I'd like a little more coverage too, but not at the expense of weight or cost. It's pretty wide by landscape standards, but not by indoor architectural standards. I'm not usually a wide-angle shooter. It's my widest 8x10 lens. Very sharp even in the corners.

[minorzone]

the 210 kowa graphic will equal the g claron in sharpness...and give just enough extra room for movements... of course the 210 computar/kyvytar will really get you there...it will cover 7x17 in a pinch...

[Ole]

I've about given up on the 210mm G-claron. Given up on getting one, that is - I have one which arrived with front cell only, and one which has the foggiest rear cell I've ever attempted to look through. So unless someone wants to swap a pristine front cell for a transparent rear cell, I've given up now.

Instead I have a 210mm f:5.6 Symmar which barely covers, a 240mm Symmar which covers well enough, and a 210mm f:6.8 Angulon when I need lots and lots of coverage. The Angulon is useable on 12x16" too, although it's only specified to cover 10x12".

Note that all of these are significantly brighter than the G-Claron - and although heavier, it's not as significant a difference as between a 360mm f:5.6 Symmar and a 355mm f:9 G-Claron.

[Greg Davis]

Ole, which Symmar do you use? Is it the Symmar-S, or the APO Symmar? And does it get very dark on the corners?

[Shawn Dougherty]

I have the 210 G-Claron but have only used it on my 4x5. I just got the adapter board to use it on my 8x10 C1. I'll be sure to check in when I have some real shooting experience with it... and have made some final prints. All the best. Shawn

[Nick Zentena]

I have the 240mm. It's darker then I'd like but not overly dark. The 150mm I find overly dark.

OTOH the 210mm Fuji-W is often similar priced to the G-claron. Faster. Not that big. 58mm filters I think. #1 shutter. If you can find a first series I think it's a better choice.

[Ian Grant]

Changing the screen would make a huge difference, my first 10x8 an Agfa Ansco came with it's original screen fitted, but the seller had included a Beattie screen which he'd bought and never used.

With the Beattie screen I can easily view & focus with my Ross Protar 151mm f16 wide angle even with interior shots with normal room lighting, same goes for using my two Hexanon f9 150mm & 240mm lenses.

Ian

[Ole]

Ole, which Symmar do you use? Is it the Symmar-S, or the APO Symmar? And does it get very dark on the corners?

All my Symmars are "plain old unlettered" convertibles.

The light falloff is about the same for all lenses (except the 210mm Super Angulon which would strain both my finances and my back): cos^4. So the difference between center and corner brightness is pretty well constant for all 210mm lenses on 8x10" - at the same aperture.

The 210mm Symmar is "marginal" enough in coverage that I prefer using it on 18x24cm, but would swap to either the 240mm Symmar or the 210mm Angulon for 8x10".