Re: [Largeformat] LENS -- WHICH ONE?

[norbal@okstate.edu]

From: norbal@okstate.edu


Pete,

I agree with you, Pete.  I all depends on your shooting style and the
printed format you deal in.  I like to print full frame so for the most
part I crop in camera, so when I print I just print my desired size.  I
started out with Japanese 35mms and ended up with Leica R cameras and found
a lens variety of 19mm, 35mm, 90mm, 180mm, 400mm suited my photography
needs, almost doubling as you changed lens to a higher focal length.  When
I bought my 4X5 I went with 75mm, 135mm, and 270mm which gave me a similar
perspective of what I had in 35mm camera lens allowing much of the same
picture framing no matter what format I was using whether I was shooting my
LeicaR's or 6X7 or 4X5.  My 75mm and the 270mm are Rodenstock lens, which
have performed beautifully in some pretty adverse conditions from a winter
in Iceland to the tropics and my I was able to get a 135mm which is a 3.5
Zeiss Planar, and excellent find and a beautiful lens and it has performed
as well as the Rodenstocks in the same situations.

Tom

From: "Pete Caluori" <pcaluori@hotmail.com>

>From: Pete Groh <pjgroh@cros.net>

>Another question: Nikon or Schneider glass? Nikon is about
>$300 or so cheaper; does that make Schneider that much better?
>Alway liked Nikon glass, but thought I would ask the question
>before I placed an order -- or started hunting around on EBAY.

Greetings,

The focal length of the lens should be based on what you intend to shoot.
I
do mostly landscapes and find I use a 135mm (on 4x5) about 60%-70% of the
time and 210mm about 25%, but that's me.

I used to swear by German glass, but after using and seeing a number of
photos taken with other glass I'm more of the opinion that it doesn't
matter
that much.  One lens might perform a little (and I'm talking a real little)
better under one circumstance than another, but generally it doesn't
matter.
  Just get good glass!

Good luck!
Regards,  Pete