Large Format Lens

Hi all,

I am looking into getting a lens in the region of +200mm for 4X5, I have a Shen Hao and a 90mm and 150mm so would like a lens with a bit more reach. I found these two lenses at a reasonable price and would like to hear any advice regarding which one to spring for. Would these lenses work fine on my Shen Hao? Lenses are:

FUJINON-W 250mm F6.3 CM Large Format Lens

SCHNEIDER SYMMAR-S 210mm F5.6 Multi-Coated

Thanks to all for your input, it is greatly appreciated.

Paul

Paul,

Either lens will be excellent. The 250mm will, of course, have a bit more reach that a 210mm.

I have the 210mm Symmar-S. It is tack sharp and has excellent contrast. I can't comment on the 250mm as I have no experience with it. I do have a couple of Fujinon lenses (135 and 180) that are excellent.

Another option, if you can find one, is the Nikkor-M 300mm f9. Even though it's an f9 lens, the ground glass image is nice and bright. I use this lens a lot on my Tachihara.

Added note: The bellows draw on the Shen is a shade over 300mm, so you'll be limited to infinity focus with a 300mm lens. With lens tilt you can maximize depth of field for landscapes, but you sure won't do any close-in work with this lens on a Shen Hao.

You might want to take a look at the LF Info site, Here. Scroll down to the 'Lenses' section. There is a lot of info there that may help you.

Also, check out the LF Forum

I hope this helps,

--P

If you want a longer lens, another option for your 300mm bellows draw is the Nikkor 360T. I've got one and it's a stellar performer, yet has plenty of focus range on shorter bellows. Some folks criticize them, but I have absolutely no regrets with mine.

I forgot about the 360T! It's rather large and heavy (805g) but it is a fine lens. You can also attach a rear element for 500mm, or attach a rear element to get 700mm, but you'd need a camera, such as a KB Canham, to use them; they won't work on the Shen Hao.

Nikon is no longer producing LF lenses, unfortunately. As a result, they will be harder to find as time goes on.

Another is the 240mm f9 Fuji Fujinon A (245g). I'd like to get one of these, myself.

Here's a nice roundup of 'Future Classics for 4x5': Kerry Thalman's Future Classics

--P

If a 300 is in the mix at some future point in time, I'd probably get a 210. The 90-150-210-300 is a good sequence of lenses. If you get brave from that point, the Nikon 500T can be used on the Shen Hao, but the minimum focussing distance is something like 20 feet, with very little bellows draw left. The 500T has the same front element as the previously mentioned 360T and you occasionally find the rear elements sold separately.

A 300 f5.6 is too heavy for the Shen Hao. I'd really stick with the f9 or even the Fuji 300 f8.5 (another good long lens).

I've never used the Shen Hao, but we've used the 360T for years on Wista Fields and Zone VI. It's not our most-used lens, but there are times when it's especially useful for narrowing the field of view.

Hank, Dan and Preston.

Thanks for the advice on lens selection. I went for the Fujinon, it arrived this am and as soon as my lens board arrives I will be out to give it a go. Should be nice if the weather clears after the snowstorm we've just had.

Paul

Paul,

So you settled on the Fuji 250? Let us know how it performs you.

We're glad to be of help.

--P

Paul,

If it were me, starting where you are and all things being equal on that camera, the Fuji 250CMW is probably what I'd choose. With any Shen Hao you should be able to focus pretty close with either focal length. The Fuji 250 still fits in a Copal 1 and I've thought about that lens a few times. Two other lenses worth serious consideration are the Schneider G-Claron 270(somewhat uncommon) and the Fuji 240A/9. Both are more compact and both can definitely focus to infinity on any Shen Hao and can get in close. But 210 is a really useful focal length for 4X5 both in the landscape and in portraiture too.

Not all Shen Hao models can focus properly at infinity with a standard 300, but you should be able to use a telephoto 360 like the Nikon 360T and the Fuji 400T. However, if you do go for a 300 later, I would definitely recommend a compact lens like the Nikkor M/Fuji A or C rather than the big f5.6 plasmats.

In my kit I've got 65, 75, 125, 150, 210, 300, 400T (plus 50 and 75 macros). If I've got no idea what I'm after for a day, in the field I typically carry the 75,125,210 or the 75,150,300, but if I know what I'm after I might have a closer spacing in the lenses I carry.

I think you're really going to like that lens. I use a 210mm nikkor, and love it. Great focal length. The extra kick in focal length with the 250 will help when isolating subjects.

So I finally got to use my new lens yesterday. I love the way it gives me a narrower point of view from the 150mm. I admit it took some getting used to with the front element being so far away, I had to reach further than I was used to with the 90 and 150 to adjust aperture and filters Anyway it performed really well and just have to wait for the film to come back.

Thanks all

Paul

They are both excellent, however the NWS 250 Fujinon f 6.3 will cover 8x10 so if you ever wanted to re-sell it, it would have more value. Should you ever encounter a WS 250 Fujinon f6.7 (single coated) it would be worth even more since it covered 80 degrees or 10x12 equivalent the 8x10 shooters loved this lens for it incredible swings and tilts.

Lynn.

Lynn