210mm Symmar S good for portrait?

[kryn_sporry1]

Guys,

 

I'm sure there has been a lot of discussion about portrait lenses

(though I can find only a couple). I can get hold of a 210mm Symmar

S fairly cheaply and I was wondering if this would make a good

portrait lens for my Shen Hao 4x5. I am willing to consider a

portait lens I can use for more general use as well. Would 210mm be

a good choice?

[armin_seeholzer]

Hi Kryn

 

It will work just fine and for older ladys take a Soft Focus filter in front of it.

[ronald_moravec1]

If you are coming from 35mm, it is about the same as a 55/60 mm lens. To me it`s a bit short. But I am trained to use the whole neg, but if you are willing to crop, there is lots of neg there. It is about right if you use a 6x7 roll film back.

 

My 180 covers the same width as a 50 ( horizontal angle )for my 35mm slr.

[simonpg]

Like Ronald said, if you are prepared to crop it will be very good. I use various backs like 6x7, 6x9, 6x12 as well on my 4x5 depending upon my purpose and effective focal length AOV I'm seeking to achieve.

 

Another aspect is that even though it has an AOV equivalent to about 60mm (depending upon how you calculate it) in 135 format; it remains a 210mm in terms of DOF etc, so it gives really good background blurr for portraits.

 

If you buy one, can I suggest a tip, buy the MC version - I have one and for the money it's great value - very very sharp (I recall that later versions simply used enviro friendly glass etc but I think the design was mostly unchanged) and resolves fine detail really nicely.

 

BUT, by the way if you plan to use the 210mm (especially the MC version - labled so on the lens barrel) more generally it is a lovely focal length in 4x5 and very popular. Quite a versatile focal length.

[christopher perez]

The 210 Symmar makes a great portrait lens.

 

Anything with a longer focal length makes depth of field into a

real problem.

 

I never shoot 4x5 the way I did 35mm. If I'm not close enough

with the 4x5, rather than switch to a different lens, I simply move

the tripod in closer. I have some really nice 8x10 contact prints

where I used a 300mm (150mm in 4x5) to good effect.

 

For me working in 4x5, 210mm is just about perfect for many

things.

[jtk]

IMO 240-300mm is great for 4X5 portraits. 210 is short, is especially weak with eyes and big noses :-)

 

35mm is for getting a camera close, LF is for setting the camera at a good distance and establishing the relationship between photographer and subject, not camera and subject.