jack_chase2

If you are only doing portraits, from a tripod go with the 150 or the 180. The 180 is great for tight head-shots, but you may find it too sharp! I use a 150, but have lusted over the 180 for years. I find the 120 to be a great compromise. I originally bought it for the macro facility, but have lately found it very handy at wedding receptions. I use it for a close-up of the cake, then leave it on for the candids. With the 150, even with flash, camera shake can be a problem hand-holding, this is lessened with the 120. (You don't want to use too fast a shutter speed, or the background goes too dark).

Definitely the 50mm. The second lens choice would depend on what you want to do with it. The 120 is not so good for long shots, but it is incredibly good for close-ups. I use it often to take shots of leaves, flowers, etc., so if you ever have a bent for getting the close view, go with that for the second.

The 150 is a good portrait lens. It does not give much of the telephoto effect of a longer lens, so I would not recommend it for landscapes. I do not own, but have used a 250. I would go with that if you want one wide and one telephoto lens.

About 8, with a Brownie. Was re-introduced to MF in my 20s with a Rollieflex. Fell in love with those beautiful negatives! Now shoot with Hassy system and a Fuji rangefinder.

The longer the lens, the greater the draw required to close-focus.

I have had good results using the CombiPlan tanks. I do not use a

"fill and dump" method, but, rather a "dip and dunk" method. That

is, I load the hanger in the dark (holds 6 4x5 sheets) and move the

hanger assembly from tank to tank. Agitation by lifting and jiggling

the assembly.

I recently acquired a 1270. Immediately after the purchase, while

waiting for delivery, I read the article in "Shutterbug". I was

skeptical. When I made my first print on the thing, I was amazed, to

say the least. I had previously scanned a B&W 4x5 neg on the older

generation Epson Expression Pro, sepia-toned the positive in

Photoshop, and colored a small portion, to simulate hand oil

coloring. The print was phenomenal. I then scanned a sheet of 120

transparency film and printed on glossy paper. It looked like a

standard proof sheet. I'm impressed!