The Large Format Lens .com

Large Format Lenses…

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:10:45 +0000

While most of the photography industry is now highly invested in pocket sized digital cameras capable of producing impressive images for what they are, there are those of us that still appreciate the finer things in life, like a big information rich negative, a big camera, and of course a big beautiful piece of glass to go along with it. If you've found your way to this site you are probably among this group. My intent for this site is to help other like minded individuals find information about and hopefully good deals on large format lenses for 4x5 and larger view cameras.

To start off, take a look at these lenses from the "big four" manufacturer's (Fuji, Nikon, Rodenstock and Schneider). I'll always keep the lenses with the lowest current bids/prices here on the first page so you can hopefully pick up on some good buys.

Nikon Nikkor W 180/5.6 Large Format Lens. Made in Japan
US $695.00

TEST CHART FOR Rodenstock Sironar APO 150mm f/5.6 LENS
US $9.95

TEST CHART FOR Rodenstock Sironar APO 360mm f/6.8 LENS
US $9.95

Nikon 2156-55-200mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor - W/ 2 Yr Warra
US $252.88

Nikon Nikkor W 135 F 5.6 Copal Shutter - 5
US $295.00

TEST CHART FOR Rodenstock Sironar APO 240mm f/5.6 LENS
US $9.95

Nikon f. Largformat 300mm f/5.6 Nikkor-W Lens with Copa
US $680.00

Nikon f. 4x5 1:5,6/150 mm Nikkor-W in Copal O
US $453.00

To learn more about how this site works and it's intents please visit the About page or just begin browsing around. As time goes on and I learn more and have time I'll be making more posts about large format lenses and providing more categories for auctions.

Telephoto

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:41:25 +0000

Telephoto Large Format Lenses:

The large format lenses in this category are, in many ways, in a class all to themselves. Many photographers automatically associate long focal length lenses with telephoto lenses and vice-versa. While in smaller format SLR style lenses most longer focal lengths will be telephoto it certainly isn't the case with large format view camera lenses. The telephoto optic is a unique design that has some characteristics that you should be familiar with as a view camera photographer.

Take a look at these lenses for sale or keep reading below...

Schneider 500/5.5 Tele-Xenar #4502621
US $825.00

TEST CHART FOR Schneider 600mm f/9 Tele-Xenar APO
US $9.95

1959 SCHNEIDER Lenses Curtagon & Tele-Arton Vintage AD
US $8.00

Schneider-Kreuznach Tele-Arton 240 F5.5 4x5 Lens F/5.5
US $549.00

Linhof Schneider Tele Xenar 360mm Lens W/ Shutter
US $275.00

TEST CHART FOR Schneider 800mm f/12 Tele-Xenar APO
US $9.95

TEST CHART FOR Schneider 600mm f/9 Tele-Xenar APO
US $9.95

TEST CHART FOR Schneider 800mm f/12 Tele-Xenar APO
US $9.95

Comparing a long lens to a "normal" lens by the same manufacturer and in the same series - Fujinon W 180mm to Fujinon W 300mm for instance - you will find that the lenses are generally very similar in appearance with the longer lens being notably larger and having a bigger shutter. However, if you then look at a Fujinon T (telephoto) series lens in 300mm you will immediately notice some significant design differences.

As far as the practical differences of a long lens and a telephoto lens of the same focal lenght, there are a couple of major ones. First, the advantageous part of a tele lens is the fact that it requires less bellows extension to focus on a given point than a non-tele lens of the same focal length. For example, a 300mm lens would require 30 centimeters of bellows extension to focus on infinity. A 300mm telephoto lens would require substantially less, probably only about 20 centimeters giver or take. Many large format photographers will choose to go with a telephoto lens if the camera they intend to use it on is not capable of extending itself to accommodate the equivalent focal length in a regular lens.

Another thing to keep in mind that can be a disadvantage is the fact that this type of lens has it's nodal point located near the front of the optic as opposed to nearer the center. This means that when applying tilt to the front element your image on the ground glass will shift much more than with a traditional lens design. This will require significantly more shifting of the front or rear element to compensate.

Super Long and Ultra-Large Format Lenses: Over 450mm

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:02:54 +0000

Over 450mm - large format lenses

The large format lenses in this category are definitely getting into the big and heavy arena... for the most part. While there are still plenty of reasons to use some of these lenses on 4x5, many people will be putting them to use on 8x10 and larger cameras. A "normal" lens for 8x10 is around the 360mm area. For an 11x14 you're looking at a about 440mm. And for a truly huge camera like a 20x24 a normal focal length lens is 760mm.

Turn your 500mm 1000mm 650-1300mm lens To a Telescope +
US $109.99

Nikon Nikkor 500mm f/4 P IF-ED
US $1,090.53

RODENSTOCK APO-RONAR-CL 1:9 F=480mm / 19in. Camera Lens
US $13.35

"KALIMAR" 500MM. F8.0 PRESET LENS WITH TRIPOD MOUNT
US $1.29

Five Star 500mm Film Camera 1:8 Lens 902930 w/ Case
US $2.00

Nikon Nikkor ED 500mm f4 P Manual Focus AIS
US $2,250.00

Kalimar 500mm F8.0 Preset Lens with Tripod Mount Used
US $45.00

Super 16 Optex 14.5-480mm T3 PL Mount - Used
US $32,000.00

When getting into ultra-large format cameras and large panoramic formats such as 7x17 and 8x20 it can often be hard to find modern current production lenses in normal and long focal lengths, that is unless you're willing to pay fairly dearly for them. Schneider, for instance, makes a beautiful series of lenses just for this area of photography known as Fine Art XXL series.

Those looking for long focal length large format lenses on a budget may be better off trying to find second hand optics taken from old reproduction cameras. While not as high quality as many more modern lenses they are still plenty good enough for most users, especially when contact printing which is often the largest print you'll be making with an ultra-large format negative.

Long Lenses For Large Format: over 210mm up to 450mm

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:34:43 +0000

Over 210mm to 450mm large format lenses

This is definitely long lens territory for 4x5 camera users. The lower end of this category isn't too far outside of normal and many 4x5 photographers commonly use lenses in the mid and upper 200mm range. When getting into longer lenses there are some things that should be considered including size and weight as well as your camera's bellows extension.

Schneider 1:5.6 / 300mm lens
US $750.00

KONICA HEXANON AR 300mm F4.5 CAMERA LENS WITH CASE
US $31.00

FUJI FUJIFILM FUJINON L 300mm F/5.6 F5.6 LENS + SHUTTER
US $350.00

LENS PARAGON 300MM TO FIT
US $30.59

400mm Lens - Screw-In Mount
US $10.00

LOMO 300mm optical block for 35mm camera
US $99.00

VOIGTLANDER HELIAR 240MM F4.5 4X5 LENS CLEAN NICE
US $895.00

SCHNEIDER SYMMAR-S 240MM F5.6 MC LENS +CAP CLEAN NICE
US $495.00

As you move up in focal length you are typically going to do the same with weight and bulkiness. This is no big deal if you have a studio setup with a sturdy tripod or camera stand but if you're a landscape photographer or someone who's going to be lugging their equipment notable distances on a regular basis, it' something to consider. The ruler of longer = bigger and heavier doesn't always hold up. There are exceptions such as Rodenstock's APO-Ronar 300mm f/9. Keep in mind however that you will be sacrificing maximum aperture and therefor maximum image circle and brightness on the ground-glass.

The second issue, bellows extension, is a bit more than an inconvenience. You should be sure that your view camera is capable of expanding the rear element far enough from the lens to allow for focusing. There are plenty of formulas to determine this but to get an idea if a lens just plain won't work with your camera just take your maximum bellows extension in millimeters and be aware that a lens of that focal lenght would only be able to focus on infinity in your camera, no closer.

Normal (4×5) Large Format Lenses: 127mm to 210mm

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:12:53 +0000

127mm to 210mm large format lenses:

It seems that a lot of photographers, particularly new photographers, want to immediately get hold of the widest lens they can. I don't think that's always the best idea. For beginners I believe that learning to work with a "normal" focal length lens is important before moving on to longer or wider lenses as particular situations or artistic taste dictate.

Schneider Kreuznach 150mm Apo Symmar MC 150mm f/5.6
US $449.00

MINT++ SCHNEIDER XENAR 210MM F:6.1 MC LENS + COPAL #1
US $152.50

MINT SCHNEIDER APO SYMMAR 150MM F5.6 MC LENS + COPAL #0
US $193.50

*Rare* Schneider Xenotar 150mm/f2.8 fit 4x5 150/2.8
US $4,999.00

Rodenstock 210mm APO Sironar N MC Lifetime USA HP "NEW"
US $635.00

Sony SAL-135F18Z Carl Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 Lens
US $1,125.00

Rodenstock Geronar 210mm f/6.8 Lens
US $99.00

SONY T* 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Sonnar f1.8+Filter+5Gift
US $1,369.00

Anyway, these lenses would all be considered roughly "normal" for 4x5 cameras. If you're shooting 8x10, these would be your quite wide to very wide lenses. On a 4x5 150mm seems to be the lens that many find to be just right in many situations. It's still just slightly wide but not so much that it's apparent in the photograph. Those photographers preferring wider lenses will start to get a bit claustrophobic when they look through a 210mm lens but it would be a bit more of a push to call it a long lens for 4x5 than a normal lens.

Wide Angle Large Format Lenses: 125mm and Smaller

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:12:23 +0000

125mm and smaller lenses

The lenses in this category are probably only going to be of use on 4x5 (and smaller) view cameras and as such will be the smallest we'll usually talk about on this site. It is thelargeformatlens.com after all. Even on a 4x5 any lens in this category will be considered wide angle. A 125mm lens is not drastically wide by any means but once you start working your way down from there the angle of view will open up dramatically. 90mm is definitely getting into solid wide angle territory, but it can certainly be taken a few steps farther.

FUJINON CMW 125mm F/5.6
US $345.00

Rodenstock 90mm f/6.8 Grandagon-N MC Lens Recessd TOYO
US $595.00

FUJI FUJINON W 125mm f/5.6 COPAL-No.0 Shutter
US $147.91

German Carl Zeiss Jena MC Biometar 2.8/120mm lens, EXC!
US $239.00

Voigtlander APO Lanthar 90mm 3.5 - IN BOX - VERY CLEAN
US $339.99

Schneider 72mm f/5.6 Super-Angulon XL Lens
US $355.00

SCHNEIDER SUPER-ANGULON 90MM MC LENS
US $152.50

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 90mm f2.8 T* Contax G2 G G1 Hood 90
US $289.99

At 75mm, as with the you're dealing with a lot of image on your ground glass. And believe it or not their are lenses as wide as 47mm that cover 4x5 cameras.

The thing to keep in mind when going for a super wide lens is that you can run into trouble with not being able to get your lens close enough to your ground glass, particularly if you're trying to focus on infinity. This can usually be remedied with a recessed lens board but they can sometimes be a pain to work with as far as reaching your shutter controls. Just something to keep in mind.