I've decided to buy a 210mm lens for tabletop photography. I want a new lens for this and would like to hear suggestions about what to buy and if possible keep it under $1000.00.

-- Ron Stroope (rgs@shreve.net), December 16, 2000

Answers

Forget the new lens. Get yourself a really clean coated 203mm Ektar f:7.7, or a coated Artar.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), December 16, 2000.

Well, if you REALL want a new lens, the Apo-Sironar-S is the one to beat. It is optimized for this type of work. If most of your work is 1:1 or larger, then you should consider one of the macro or process lenses. The G-Claron is great for close work if you avoid high-flare situations since it is not multi-coated.

-- Glenn Kroeger (gkroeger@trinity.edu), December 16, 2000.

REALLY!

-- Glenn Kroeger (gkroeger@trinity.edu), December 16, 2000.

A good choice for tabletop photography is the 180 mm Apo-Macro-Sironar. I find that the 180 mm focal length is long enough to give a good perspective but not so long as to require excessive camera-to-object distances. The advantages of the Apo-Macro-Sironar are that it is designed for tabletop photography and is optimized for 1:5 to 2:1. It fills in the intermediate reproduction range between lenses optimized for distant subjects and those optimized for 1:1.

If you really want the 210 mm focal length, then of the choices are the lenses optimized for 1:1 or lenses optimized for distant subjects. Designed for 1:1 and officially distributed in the US in this focal length are the Nikon AM-ED and the Schneider G-Claron. Schneider's Macro-Symmar is also optimized for 1:1.

-- Michael Briggs (michaelbriggs@earthlink.net), December 16, 2000.

I recently bought the 210mm Super-Symar XL for my 8x10 camera. This lens is big but if we talking movements, this lens will give you more than enough! I mainly use it as a wide angle lens with the 8x10 camera, But I did a fashion shoot with this lens on a Linhof Technica which was a little difficult because the lens is as heave as the Technica camera, but the results blew me away. I truely believe that this lens is one of the best in the market. Price wise, as you know this lens is not cheap, in fact the price is 3X your budget, but when you see one you will know why and once you use it, there will be no regret. Look at it as an investment.

-- oseph (oseph10@hotmail.com), June 12, 2002.