john_rogers8 Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 I really want a schneider 110mm xl, but used is about $1400. and that is too much to spend! I need something between 110mm and 135mm, prefer wider part of this spectrum. I have been hearing good things about the Schneider 135mm f/3.5 Xenotar, and the price is right. any coments on this lens? also see that the new schneider 120mm is really affordable, but it is only available in environmental glass. any one have any experience with that new lens? focal length would be a lot better for me than the 135mm, but I definatley dont want to spend $1400. too much for me at this point. your insights are most appreciated. please address this in terms of coverage of the various lenses. im open to any lens maker. thanks, john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas_vaehrmann Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 Hi John, if you like the lower end of normal lengths, any Symmar or Sironar 135mm wil do the job. The Xenotar is fast and sharp but will not allow much movements. It contains radioacive glass too (I dropped mine for that reason, but if you don't care about that...). Because I like the "little wider than normal" angle and want to shift and don't need a fast lens my choice is a 120mm Angulon. The post WWII version is coated, sharp and pretty small Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norris_lam Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 Find a 2nd hand and it will save you 30%. I share the same feeling with you before I decide to buy the Schnedier 110XL. If you can afford the best lens, got it, you will never be regret with the quality, image circule and the extraordinary lens sharpness ! it's awfully good in large format photography. If money, weight and size is an issue, got another one to start shooting. What distinguish a good photographer from the rest is his brain and eyes, good lens may help only a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_g Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 i have the 135 apo symmar, and i'm very please with it, very good quality, small, good color rendition, ...guess what, i'm ordering a 110 XL, for my type of shooting (architecture with a technikardanS 45), i was running out of coverage ! For landscape, with a folding camera (technika...) 135 mm lens (apo symmar, apo sironar S or N) are very good, because you can fold the camera with the lens on, ans anyway you can't use a lot of rise with that type of camera ! If you need good coverage, and money is an issue, i would look for a super angulon 120 MC. The best value for money, must be a second hand super symmar 120HM, but i've never seen one ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnanian Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 john: i have and use a 127 tominon in a copal press shutter and a 135 linhof. both lenses are sharp enough for me ( i make a living shooting habs/haer photographs). the lenses are pretty inexpensive. - not sure about the tominon, but the linhof is sold on the used market very often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean-louis llech Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 "I would look for a super angulon 120 MC"<br> I suppose you refer to the Apo-Symmar "L" 5.6/120mm, or Apo-Symmar 5.6/120mm because Super Angulons stop at 90mm.<p> I'm looking for the same type of lens, because I have Super Angulons XL 5.6/90 and 5.6/72, and a Super-Symmar XL Aspheric 5.6/150mm.<br> All three are great lenses, but I would like to buy a moderate wide angle like a 120 or 135,and to be able to fold the camera with the lens on.<br> This lens would be used as 127mm are used on Speed Graphics, for street photography.<p> The 110 XL is IMO too close from the 90 XL. Before buying my lenses, I considered to buy a 80 and a 110. But the 72-90-150 covers all my needs.<br> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j._salty Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 Hi, Badger carries the 110XL new for less than the amount you mentioned. I thought for months about spending the $$$ to get the 110XL and finally decided because of all the positive feedback on the lens. Because this lens is going to be one of my most used lens for many years, the price was justified. (IMHO) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt miller cambridge, ia Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 Badger carries the Fujinon CMW 125 f5.6 for $635. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_galli4 Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 Hi John. I had a 135 Fujinon EBC and the earlier 125 W single coated Fujinon both at the same time and opted to keep the older wider lens over the 135. Seemed like too many times I just needed that extra width of the 125W. I'm posting a 120 Super Angulon on Feebay later this evening and will send you a link. Hope that's OK. It is a GREAT lens but bulky for 4X5. Almost covers 8X10 and very sharp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_karp Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 The Fujinon CMW listed above gets good reviews (except for filter size) from Kerry Thalman (www.thalman.com/largeformat). I have the older EBC multicoated 125mm Fujinon W and it is an excellent lens. I picked up used at a very reasonable price from Midwest Photo Exchange. Looks like it was hardly ever used. I think it has an image circle of about 198mm. You can check out the specs for the CMW and older discontinued Fujinon W at http://www.thefstop.com/equipment/new/fuji.html. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ole_tjugen Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 "I suppose you refer to the Apo-Symmar "L" 5.6/120mm, or Apo-Symmar 5.6/120mm because Super Angulons stop at 90mm." They do now, but they went all the way to 165mm some years ago. I have a 121mm/f:8 Super-Angulon (big, heavy, wonderful), a 120mm/f:6.8 Angulon (small, light, very sharp) and a 135mm/f:3.5 Zeiss Planar (ultra bright and ultra sharp) in this range. All bought second (or third) hand. I use the 121mm on my 5x7" camera, and all the rest on the 4x5" where I don't need that tremendous coverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_sampson Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 For a big image circle, look for the Schneider 121/8 Super-Angulon, or the newer, multicoated 120/8. For small physical size, try the Kodak 135/6.3 Wide Field Ektar. Both are very sharp with fine color rendition and not outrageously expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_rogers8 Posted December 10, 2003 Author Share Posted December 10, 2003 wow, thanks for the immediate and immense responses! I own the 72mm XL, 150 SA, and the 210 apo at present time, just to add more info. with the 72, i thought the 110 would be perfect, but 121mm or around there might be workable?? The 121mm mentioned sounds good, but i would like to focus with a 5.6 in general, but have heard that some f9 lenses for some reason are super easy to focus. I live in hawaii, and it is bright out, so it is hard for me to focus my friends SA 90 f8. would the 121mm be ok to focus, do i need a center filter for it to work with 4x5? thanks again for the advice. BTW, that 11o xl went on ebay for $1250 approx, i bid to $1150 or so. ebay is a pain, i would rather buy from someone on photo.net directly instead of ebay, i have had pretty good experiences so far. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ole_tjugen Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 I would not recommend a 121mm/f:8 Super Angulon for 4x5". It is simply unnecessarily big and heavy! The massive over-coverage (it barely covers 8x10") may lead to extra flare through reflections inside the camera. How often do you think you may even wish to use four inches of shift? Besides, the f:9's which are easy to focus are long focal length lenses, 400mm and up. A wide-angle is not easy. When I need this focal length on 4x5", I use my (plain) Angulon 120mm/f:6.8, unless I can get away with the 135mm Zeiss Planar which is nearly two stops brighter (but less movements). Planars have aquired a "cult following" and tend to be very expensive, but the 120mm Angulons are quite reasonable. The Xenotar you mentioned is the Schneider equivalent of the Planar, at far more reasonable prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_rogers8 Posted December 11, 2003 Author Share Posted December 11, 2003 If i need movement for architectural work, and dont care about the weight, but am concerned about flare issues and overall good performance and image quality, would the 120mm f5.6 Super symmar HM be a good lens? or fuji 125mm 5.6 CM-W, or kodak ecktar 100mm f6.3? what would be the best for the money considering these needs, and considering any make and model of lens? there seem to be a lot of choices. i am considering springing for the 110 xl, does that have excellent coverage for 4x5 in architectural work? I like the focal length, 100mm - 110mm would be best, but 120mm would probably work. I need to shoot hotel lobies and the like, my 72 xl is too wide at times, the foreground shows too big, and that is not to my liking with this wide of a focal length, and i dont have a lot of movement with that 72 xl, not enouogh normally, but depending on the situation it can work well. every situation is totally different. it seems that 100-110mm would be a wonderful focal range. maybe a 90mm would work well and offer less distoriton as far as foreground issues, any comments on that? help! tthanks, john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_rogers8 Posted December 11, 2003 Author Share Posted December 11, 2003 just called badger graphics, man are they an awesome outfit! Just so happened they got in a 110xl, and i picked it up for only $800. plus shipping! turns out they could have saved me $3-400 on my 72xl, jeff said that lens with center filter would go for about $900 used, but he did say they rarely get those in. well, thanks for everyones advice, cant wait to shoot with the new lens. jeff said i dont need center filter as coverage is very large on that lens, so i will see firsthand what this lens is all about. thanks again, i think this focal range of 90-125mm deserves a lot of discussion IMHO. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_kasaian1 Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Have you considered a 135mm WF Ektar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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