considering 72mm XL & 110mm XL

I am considering to buy a schneider 72mm f5.6 SA XL and a

110mm f5.6 XL for the purpose of scenics, interiors landscapes.

I own a 210mm APO which is a fabulous lens. I dont like

focusing wiht f8 lenses, i shot with a schneider 90mm f8 which

gave outstanding results, but was a pain to focus in hawaii

where the outside light is so incrdibly bright that it reflects off the

ground and makes focusing painful with an f8 lens IMHO. I have

heard nothiong but great about both lenses, but am wondering

what ahnyone thinks about these focal lengths. I agonize over

getting a 90mm f5.6 as I constantly hear how perfected the

90mm schniders are, but i need wider for scenics no doubt, and

so if i get hte 72mm XL, would the 110mm be too tight of a focal

length to use for my work i listed above? should i also own a

90?? that is my delemma. also, how is the 75mm f5.6 compared

to the 72mm XL? I want to own the very best optics as it is

competitive here, and dont want subjects with colored edges, ie

chromatic abberations? and i hace heard the XL and apo series

is best at minimizing that kind of problem, which i do not want in

my images, i want the best optics, but dont want to pay for top

optics if they dont deliver what i want. i have heard some say for

example that the 75mm SA is as good as the 72mm XL in every

way, that the XL series is smoke and mirrors, but they were

selling the 75mm, so there opinion may have been tainted. any

help is appreciated. Aloha, john rogers Honolulu

Both of these are excellent lenses and make a good combination. Unless you want to buy and carry a lot of lenses, a 90 mm is too close in focal length to either of them for it to make sense to have either 72 and 90, or 90 and 110 mm. The 110 mm is an excellent focal length for use as a moderate wide-angle. A 72 or 75 mm feels much wider and are more difficult to use.

 

All of the current Super-Angulons (and Rodenstock Apo-Grandagons and Grandagon-Ns and Nikkor-SWs) will deliver excellent image quality. The main difference between the 72 mm SA-XL and the 75 mm f5.6 plain Super-Angulon is the coverage: 105 degrees / 198 mm diameter for the plain SA, 115 degrees / 226 mm diameter for the SA-XL. The coverage of the 72 SA-XL is amazing. But if you tend not to use extensive movements such as front rise, then you don't need the more expensive SA-XL.

 

Don't agonize too much: pick a lens and use it to take photos.

This sounds like lens in the lens line (72*1.5=108) - probably you will want to have both at some point of time.<br>

Do not forget issue of center filters - you are unlikely to need one with 110XL, but quite likely you'll need one with 72mm, especially using a bit of movements.<br>

For interriors wider means better usually. For nature - I see I often, but not always prefer to use my 75/4.5 Grandagon over 110XL also - but that's me. If you feel, you could go tad wider over 90mm - get the 72, if you prefer narrower view, get the 110.

I tihnk you'll lvoe the 110LX. i use oen and it's graet.

Don't forget the 80mm Schneider, good coverage, useful focal length and its a good fit with the 110. I might pick a 72, 90, 110 combination over the 80 and 110 if it was vitally important to frame every photo exactly. (as might be the case if you are delivering original transparecies to your client) I shoot neg film and I crop as needed when I print so my 58, 80, 110 set works well for me.

One more thing to consider, John - the physical dimensions of the lenses you are thinking about. I bought the 90mm/f5.6 SA XL after fussing with the older f8, and before the Super Symmars came out. The rear element is quite large, and is a little tight in the opening of the bellows on my Toyo 4x5 field camera. The 72mm SA XL you're looking at is almost the same physical size. I later purchased the 110mm Super Symmar, and the 90mm has seen almost no use since. I don't think you'd need the 90mm if you get both the 110mm SS XL and the 72mm SA XL.

John,

I own both the 72 and 110. If you get either or both, you won't be disappointed! I also standardized on one filter size with the wide angle B+Ws-- the w.a. 95mm designed for the 72xl. Hence you'd need a step-up ring for the 110: 67-95. If you're format is 4x5, I'd agree with an earlier posting that suggests the 80mm as an alternative to the 72; if nothing else, it would reduce the filter size, and the focal length spread is enough to justify both. Of course, in 5x7, you'd have to go w/ the 72xl....

Happy shooting!

BILL

Wm Mitchell

When planning such a purchase don't forget to factor center filters into your decision. One advantage of the 80mm XL/110mm XL combination is that they both use the same center filter.

 

Just one of many criteria...

And the 58 uses the same center filter as the 80 and 110, and they all are 67mm up front. The CF is 86 so buy your filters/filter system big enough for that size and use step-ups when you're not using the CF. A little less stuff to carry.

outstanding replys, thanks! The center filter for the 72 xl is

severely expensive, and i have heard that for anything beyond

scenics, it is needed so the image at the edges is uniform in

light intensity. Will the 72 XL even fit on my toyo 45AX? i keep

hearing it is so close to hitting the rear element to the film plane,

what is the actual truth on that? I am willing to buy a rear

extension for the toyo, i like the camera alot for hiking, quick

setting up etc. I think the 80 XL might be workable focal length

(24mm in 35mm terms) but i think the 72 XL would be much

better....ouch, that blloody center filter!! $800? anyone know

where to get one for a little less? hard to find used i am sure. I

am sold on the 110 XL, I have heard only the best about that

lens, and same with 72. I think i like the coverage of the 72,

might try it on scenics wihtout center filter and see what gives.

thanks for the support and excellent advice. Its a lot of dough, but

I am glad i am not facing what people in CAlifornia are facing, my

prayers go out to them....john

<p>Badger Graphic Sales (<a href="http://www.badgergraphic.com/">http://www.badgergraphic.com/</a> lists the center filter IVb for the 72 mm SA-XL for $360. This is probably grey market rather than an "official" import.</p>

 

<p>The 72 mm SA-XL is amazing and indeed in use the rear element is quite close to the film. But so what? Just don't unthinking slam the standards together. Actually, that applies to any lens....</p>

 

<p>I agree with your thinking of first trying the lens without the center filter. Only buy the center filter if you don't like the results without it.</p>

Here's a shot taken on a 72XL without a filter - I don't find the vignetting offensive but some probably will, and for some purposes the filter would be necessary.

 

For my money the 80XL is a more modern, more compact and better bet, but if you need the extra "width" the 72 is an awesome lens.

thanks for the tip on where to buy the center filter, I can see i

need to get it because if the need arises due to lots of

movement, I cant sit there wishing i had it. I might consider the

80mm as I am zeroing in on a 110mm, and that center filter

works for both the 80 and 110. I appreciate the logic on the

90mm, so many people own one, it is an awesome piece, and

focal length. I do think the 72 is going to be the best, but am

considereing the 80, might do the trick most of the time. for those

really wide scenics, maybe i can overlap and stitch together?

client pays for the hi res scans, but one transparency would be

better. any thoughts on overlapping with the 90 and stitching in

photoshop??...john