compact 210

Seasons greetings to all the great photo guys and gals.I am putting together a kit for serious travel.I do mostly landscape,and about 75% b/w.I plan on getting a sironar s 135,And am vexed on a compact 210.Will I be happy with a caltar compact,or would something else be better(sironar n ?) I print up to 16 x 20 b/w and chromes.I want to have the lenses as small as possible,but not at a compromise to image quality.Thanks in advance for your responses.

Hi,

 

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If you can live with something a LITTLE shorter, and can get by with

modest movements, I recommend the little 200mm f8 Nikkor M. It is BY

FAR the lightest lens in this focal length range. And, within its

modest 210mm image circle, an excellent performer. It is multicoated

and available both new and used. Unlike all the other 210s, it's in a

Copal #0 shutter, which helps keep the size and weight down (52mm

filters, 180g). For more info on this lens, see:

 

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http://largeformat.homepage.com/mid-rang.htm

 

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For more info on lightweight lenses in general, see:

 

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http://largeformat.homepage.com/lightwei.htm

 

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and follow the links to the various focal length ranges.

 

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I do a fair amount of backpacking so I tend to be a bit anal about

keeping the weight down. On my most recent backpacking trips, I've

been carrying a four lens set consisting of: 90mm f6.3 Congo Wide

Angle, 135mm f5.6 APO Sironar-N, 200mm f8 Nikkor M and 300mm f9 Nikkor

M. These lenses are all very compact and lightweight. When I want to

go REALLY, REALLY light, I take a three lens set consisting of: 90mm

Congo WA, 150mm f6.3 Fujinon W and 240mm f9 Fujinon A. Eventually, I

will probably replace the 90mm Congo with my new 80mm Super Symmar XL.

The 80mm SS XL will be bigger and heavier, but still a very compact,

light weight lens. It will also have a bigger image circle and most

likely better performance.

 

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Anyway, there's a lot more detains, specs and pictures at the links

above.

 

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Kerry

I don't think you can get any better or more complete advice than

what Kerry has provided you. Do check out his web site. I am quite

pleased with the two Nikkor lenses in my kit, the 90mm SW f/8 in a

Copal 0 and the 210mm W f/5.6 in a Copal 1, and find them quite

compact and light. The 210mm is nice and bright on the ground glass.

The Fujinon lenses are of very good quality and tend to be lighter --

you couldn't go wrong there.

Very compact and light is the Copal#1 Schneider Xenar 6.1/210. Very sharp for general landscape and inexpensive.

A bit warm though.

I second the Nikkor 200mm idea. Another good compact lens if you can

find a good one used is the Kodak Ektar 203mm f7.7. Look for one in a

Flash Supramatic shutter. It out-performs the Nikkor at wide

apertures. You can probably pick up one for a couple hundred dollars

used. Regards, ;^D)

The first good lens I ever bought for 4x5 was the 210 Calumet IIE. It

is actually a Rodenstock Geronar under their name. It is very nice

after you close down about one stop. Wide open it is sharp, but gets

a little weird flare sometimes. Then again, who uses a 210 at wide

open? I have made great images with that lens, and even though I have

Nikkors for the other lengths, I rate the 210 right in there with

them. And yes, it is great to have a 210 that folds within my

Graphic. In fact, that is why I almost never carry the 90mm, it is a

pain to carry the separate bag for it.

Thanks for all the great input.KEH has a new geronar demo for 325

which sounds too good to pass up,and if I ever get lucky enough to

find a nikon 200 i can replace it.Have a great holiday,and thanks for

the help.

The Rodenstock 210 Geronar is a rather compact design. It is very

compact compared to any of the Apo Sironars from Rodenstock.