Technikardan 4X5 and Schneider Super-Angulon XL Lenses

Wondering which of the following can fit on a Technikardan 4X5 and

still have at least a little movement:<P>

 

Super-Angulon XL 5.6/38mm <br>

Super-Angulon XL 5.6/47mm <br>

Super-Angulon XL 5.6/58mm <br>

Super-Angulon XL 5.6/72mm <br>

Super-Angulon XL 5.6/90mm <P>

 

I plan to do a lot more 6X12 than 4X5. Although I've listed all the

XL lenses, and am curious about the first three, I guess I'm mostly

interested in the 72/90. <P>

 

I've heard the 72 XL is a gigantic lense and doesn't fit into

several LF cameras - that seems from what I've read like the one I'd

want to use.

<P>

Thanks!

I use the 72 mm Super-Angulon-XL on my Technikardan 45S. It works very well and gives an amazing amount of movement capability. It's a pleasure to use in photographing tall buildings. You do need the bag bellows.

 

If you think the 72 SA-XL is large, wait to you see the 90 SA-XL. At least some versions of the 90 SA-XL don't fit the Technikardan because the rear cell is too large to fit through the hole in the front standard. The hole is a bit larger than 80 mm in diameter. My understanding is that a revised version of the 90 SA-XL has a protective ring that can be removed from the rear cell that allows this lens lens to be used on the Technikdardan -- search the archives for more information or consult Schneider.

 

But my opinion is that the 90 SA-XL isn't the best choice for 4x5. I expect that very few 4x5 photographers will need the extended coverage (compared to other 90 mm wide-angle lenses), so the extra cost, weight and filter size are incurred for little reason. To me, it seems that the 90 SA-XL makes more sense for larger formats such as 5x7. For 4x5 photographers, the extended coverage of the SA-XL series becomes very useful in the 72 mm and shorter focal lengths.

Thanks for the info, that is good to know. Can I ask, what is your personal solution for metering for this setup? Also, do you use a center filter?

I don't do anything special in metering when using the 72 mm Super-Angulon XL. Mostly I use a spot meter. I typically use a center filter for 4x5. I use slightly more exposure compensation than recommended by Schneider -- I found that the recommendation exposure factor leads to underexposure -- perhaps there are manufacturing variations in making center filters.

 

The current datasheet for the 90 mm SA-XL (pdf file from http://www.schneideroptics.com/photography/large_format_lenses/super-angulon/) shows the rear cell to have a protective ring ("Linsenschutzring") with a diameter of 86 mm that removes to reduce the diameter to 76 mm. From the drawing, it looks like this leaves the rear element very exposed.

I use the 58mm/5.6 SAXL on my Technikardan. I do not have a recessed lensboard but do use the bag bellows. The image circle is not much larger than the minimum for 4x5 so there is not much movement possible but the combination works just fine.

 

Ron Gratz

Both the 47 and 38mm XL work on the TK, with a recessed board. Optically, a few mm of movement with the 47mm, the 38mm is made for MF backs. Mechanically, no problem with the flexible TK WA bellows even though the standards are really crunched together. Note that you can't get the standards to their closest position when the front standard is at its foremost position (this applies for the TK 45, I don't know if the newer TK 45S, having a different front standard, is different)