lenses for hand-held Linhof Technika?
ARCHIVAL PRINTS
rangefinder coupled lenses for a 4X5 Linhof Master Technika? More
specifically which lenses perform well at (heaven forbid) large
apertures (f8-16)? A 2 lens outfit would be very versatile (120mm &
210mm) vs. a 90/135/210 combo.
After studying the MTF curves for various Schneider lenses (available
online at www.schneideroptics.com) I no longer feel that the 110mm
super symmar XL lens is a good choice for hand-held available light
photography. The performance at f22 is indeed impressive but wide
open it is not. The performance of the super-symmar HM 5.6/120mm and
especially the apo-symmar 5.6/120mm are far better wide open, so I
assume that they would also be better at f8, f11, etc. The super
symmar HM 120mm has a much larger image circle (180mm at f5.6, 210mm at
f22) than the apo-symmar 120mm (148mm at f5.6, 179mm at f22). The MTF
curves for the 120mm apo-symmar are very impressive wide open, and at
200 grams I assume that this lens could be left on the camera when
folded? The size of the image circle could be a problem...
What do you think?
Perhaps a 120mm and 210mm lens combo would be better (i.e. more
versatile and portable) than a 90/135/210 or 75/135/210 combo?
I do not yet have the MTF curves for the Rodenstock 75/90/135/210
lenses
but I assume they compare well to Schneider.
I have seen resolution tests for the above lenses on the internet, but
there is more to lens quality and sharpness that just resolution...
I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Regards from Toronto,
Mark Nowaczynski
M. J. Rossano
<3895D940...@home.com>...
I had the same question a few years back and answered it for myself. My
lenses of choice were:
90mm f/4.5 Rodenstock Grandagon-N
135mm f/3.5 Carl Zeiss Planar T*
210mm Schneider Apo Symmar
All of these lenses performed exceptionally well at full aperture on a 4x5
Super Technika V. The contrast and resolution were quite good right into
the corners of the frame, allowing enlargements that were *very* crisp up
to 11x14 and suitable for most of my purposes even at 20x24. In addition,
these lenses are mounted in shutters that allow top speeds of 1/400 or
1/500. The focal lengths chosen gave a nice spread of angles of view. The
only catch is that the 135 Planar is quite expensive and not easily found.
The older non-T* Planar is OK (I had one of those for a while, too) but not
nearly as contrasty or sharp in the corners wide-open as the newer T*
formulation. The same can be said for the 135mm f/3.5 Schneider Xenotar.
Obviously you could substitue a 210mm f/5.6 Rodenstock Apo Sironar-S for
the Apo Symmar, since these lenses are very similar in peformance. The
90mm Grandagon-N could be replaced by a 90mm f/5.6 Schneider Super Angulon
(not the XL, its rear element doesn't fit through the hole in a Technika
front standard), although I personally feel that the Rodenstock lens
performs a little better, and it's 2/3 stop faster, besides.
Hope this helps,
Mark
p2mac...@compuserve.com
"M. J. Rossano" <mros...@friend.ly.net> wrote:
> ARCHIVAL PRINTS <archiva...@home.com> wrote in article
> <3895D940...@home.com>...
> > What lenses are suggested for hand-held available light photography
with
> > rangefinder coupled lenses for a 4X5 Linhof Master Technika? More
> > specifically which lenses perform well at (heaven forbid) large
> > apertures (f8-16)? A 2 lens outfit would be very versatile (120mm &
> > 210mm) vs. a 90/135/210 combo.
> >
> I had the same question a few years back and answered it for myself.
My
> lenses of choice were:
>
> 90mm f/4.5 Rodenstock Grandagon-N
> 135mm f/3.5 Carl Zeiss Planar T*
> 210mm Schneider Apo Symmar
>
> All of these lenses performed exceptionally well at full aperture on
a 4x5
> only catch is that the 135 Planar is quite expensive and not easily
found.
> The older non-T* Planar is OK (I had one of those for a while, too)
but not
> nearly as contrasty or sharp in the corners wide-open as the newer T*
> Hope this helps,
> Mark
I think you have some good suggestions. I also vote for the Planar.
It is compatible with keeping it in the camera, closed. The 150
Symmar, is another choice (I'm not sure about the apo-Symmar, but if it
can close, it would likely be better). I'm not sure the others will
let you close the camera. This is not so important in a studio
situation, but can be a real nuisance in a handheld, available light
situation.
You will also note that with the Planar (or Xenotar) there is not much
possibility for perspective correction, but there is with the Symmar.
Naturally, this is just my opinion, your situation may be otherwise.
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Before you buy.