[LargeFormat] Large Format Lenses

[Les Newcomer]

I worked the large format medium with a split mind set. For Commercial
work where I was being paid well I have a Calumet NX(?) with a 180mm
Symmar S and a 90 f8 Super Ang. I used that for 4 years before buying a
65 Super Ang. Then a few years back I bought a 120 Nikor.

Except for th eNikor, this set wasn't all that expensive ($1000), could
be had for about 70-80% of what I paid for it used in '89. That's a lot
of bang for your buck.  I still haul this around in a rubbermaid rough tote.

For bottom feeding/personal growth/vacation and hazardous conditions I
aquired a Crown Graphic with a 135 Xenar, An 88mm B&L & a 10" teleoptar
which I rarely used. The 65mm SA spends most of its time on the Crown,
but can switch back and forth.


Most of my subjects are landscapes and architectural. A 135or 150 Symmar
would do better than the Xenar and a 90mm Angulon (not the super) might
be an improvement over the B&L and still have the portablility of a
press camera. Notice not a whole lot of movements, but I found that
dropping the bed, raising the lens to gain sky/remove grass/asphalt/mud
was all I really needed. 

Then again the biggest canyon we have around here is the drainage ditch.

Pam Niedermayer wrote:
> 
> I think one could make a good case for getting a single lens when new
> to a format, learning its limits vis a vis the format, before getting
> bogged down trying to find additional lenses. At least you get out
> there right away. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get such an expensive
> first lens, though, may want to save some pennies for next month when
> ready to buy the next lens. And if it turns out you don't like LF....
> However, big caveat, I'm a bottom feeder. Badger has some of the best
> prices in the world on high quality new lenses.
> 
> Pam
> 
> Karl Wolz wrote:
> >
> > Agreed, however, my feelings are that convergence and the use of rear tilt,
> > etc. are not nearly as critical if you are not shooting subjects with
> > straight, vertical lines, such as buildings or soda pop cans, as in
> > architectural or product photography.  When shooting natural subjects, there
> > is much more leeway in how to "skin you cat".
> >
> > I, too, will commonly max out the movements of my lenses when shooting into
> > canyons, Scheimplugging (betcha you didn't know that could be used as a
> > verb!), etc., but especially for someone just getting his feet wet in
> > large-format, a two or three lens selection would seem to be more advisable
> > than one lens with awesome coverage.
> >
> > Just my opinion, others have at least equal merit.
> >
> > Karl Wolz
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Verna Knapp" <vernak@wvi.com>
> > To: <largeformat@f32.net>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2001 9:44 AM
> > Subject: Re: [LargeFormat] Large Format Lenses
> >
> > > That depends on what kind of landscape work you do and where. I make
> > > a lot of use of movements, going to the limit regularly with my
> > > Canham. I'm working in Oregon, and when I get up in the mountains,
> > > the movements are very useful. The ground can be very rough, and I
> > > cannot always stand where I would wish. Also, the trees here can be
> > > very tall (several hundred feet, sometimes), and that leads to more
> > > uses for movements. Also, making sure both foreground and distance
> > > are in focus can require using the movements. The land here is far
> > > from flat! I like my lenses to have plenty of coverage. I have to
> > > be careful to check lens coverage when in the field.
> > >
> > > Verna
> > >
> > >
> > > Karl Wolz wrote:
> > >
> > > > If you're primarily doing landscape work, you're not going to be making
> > very
> > > > much use of the lenses movements and don't need nearly as much coverage
> > as
> > > > that provided by the Super Symmar.
> 
> --
> Pamela G. Niedermayer
> Pinehill Softworks Inc.
> 600 W. 28th St., Suite 103
> Austin, TX 78705
> 512-236-1677
> http://www.pinehill.com
> 
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