Review of the Schneider APO-Tele-Xenar 300mm f4 HFT PQ Lens for Rollei

[peter brown - www.peterbro]

<blockquote>Hi all,

<p>

I have just added a review of the Schneider APO-Tele-Xenar 300mm f4 HFT

PQ Lens

for Rollei owners or anyone interested.

<p>

<br />

This is the link: <a

href="http://www.peter-brown-photographer.com/equipment%20page/xenar

%20PQ%20300mm%20review.html">Schneider Tele-Xenar lens review</a>.

<p>

[scott_fleming1]

You're not the only reviewer to complain of the balance point problem. But what's the price of this lens? Over 5k or so right? (just guessing) so what's a couple (3?) hundred more for a custom plate? =))

<P>

Thanks for your reviews. You do a good job on them. I'm waiting for your Pntx 67 II review as one little corner of my mind is still not made up regarding this camera. I've convinced myself I'll never go the RF route but a lot of me longs for the 6x7 format. As I've stated on this formum I'll probably go with the Contax 645 because I want a fully modern camera but I fear I'll miss the extra image I gave up.

<P>

Which brings me back to your review here. I wish somebody would make a 67 or better, a 6x8 ... like the Rollei. The Integral Rollei just seems like the perfect camera ... but for it's, to me, superflous square.<b> To me. To me. </b> Square is ok for shooting people, animals, and things but it's just not the ideal landscape format. Someday I hope to hang huge prints ... and they are not going to be square. ("but you can crop them") I will. By shooting with a 645. Or I won't. by shooting in 6 x 7, 8, 9, etc.

<P>

But the Rollei is such an alluring camera. ..... Oh well.

[felipe_sangines2]

the 4/300 is indeed a great lens, although I must disagree with

you in one

aspect : it is not fast at focusing... regarding the balance : for

hand held use

I am using a Rollei Hand Grip with quick release adapter that fits

to the

tripod mount of the lens, this way focusing is a little bit more

comfortable

but you need some time to get used to it. the best is to use a

tripod or a

monopod.

[wim_van_velzen]

Scott,

<p>

There are people who like square compositions of the landscape! It is a very flexible format, showing both the width of a landscape and the foreground.

<p>

I love it, especially in projection. If you decide to go 6x7 or even larger, think about the price and availability of projection.

<p>

<a href="http://www.fotografiewimvanvelzen.nl">Wim</a>

[peter brown - www.peterbro]

<h4>Hi Scott,</h4>

<blockquote>Thanks for your comments. I agree that the cost of getting a

custom plate is probably not that much, but when you buy an expensive lens,

although I only paid US$1990 for my new 300mm, you really don't expect to

have this problem, even if it is minor. It is a hassle though to have to design

your own plate when a company with Schneider/Rollei's reputation should

have thought things out a bit better and done a proper job.

<P>

The P67II review should be ready to post by the end of this month. It is a

great camera too, but quite different in use to the Rollei. Check back to my

site in December and I hope I can help with some of my comments.

<P>

The only SLR camera that currently seems to me to come close to what you

are after, is the Fuji GX680 III. I have looked carefully at this camera and

apart from the slight drawbacks of weight and bulk (although it's not a worry

for me) this camera offers formats from 6x4.5 through to 6x8cm along with

the benefits of tilt and shift capabilities. I will be buyng into the Fuji GX680

system next year and will post my review of the camera then.

<P>

For some examples of excellent use of the square format for landscape <br/>

<p>

try here: <a href="http://www.f45.com">website</a>.

<p>

and here: <a href="http://www.michaelkenna.net">web site</a>.

<br /><p>

The beautiful work of these two talented photographers may change your

way of looking at the square format for landscape. ;-)

<br>

<h4>Hi Felipe,</h4>

<blockquote>Thanks for your comments also. <p>

I agree that the best way of using the 300mm is on a tripod (which I state in

my review) and I'm not sure why you find the focusing slow, even when

handholding the lens it snaps into focus quickly and easily for me and unless I

happen to be focusing over a broad focusing range (not very often) then it is

just as fast for me as most of my other lenses. <p>I did qualify my statement;

"Focusing the 300mm is smooth and quick for such a large lens" - as you see

I did say "for such a large lens". I don't find it as fast as perhaps the 60mm

but for a telephoto it is fine. I suppose it comes down to different focusing

techniques and what you are used too. I appreciate your point of view -

thankyou.

<br /><br>

<h4>Hi Wim,</h4>

<blockquote>Thanks for your comments also. You make a valid point and for

projection it is certainly easier and cheaper to find a projector for 6x6 than

6x7. It's much the same for presentation mounts as well - at least here in

Australia anyway.

<br /><p><p>

Thanks everyone, for all the above comments - much appreciated.

<p>

 

Kind regards<p>

<h4>Peter Brown - Cairns /Australia</h4>

</blockquote>

[scott_fleming1]

Simply, blown ..... away. I bookmarked this man's site under three separate categories. An artist in his own right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[scott_fleming1]

Now I've gone to Michael Kenna's site and I see that Mr. Horn is the student and Mr. Kenna the master. Thanks again.