Is a 240mm a good choice for a general purpose 4x5" studio lens?

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I am being offered a LF kit consisting of the following items: Cambo Legend 2 with Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-N 240mm, Manfrotto TriAut tripod with Super Pro head, 545 polaroid holder and 10 Fidelity holders. All this,in mint condition, for only 875 US $.

My question: is the 240 a good choice for general studio photography? I guess the standard choice is a 210, but a 240 doesn't seem to be that much different.

-- Stefan Geysen (stefan_geysen@hotmail.com), April 01, 2001

Answers

I can't speak for the Cambo, but the Apo-Sironar N 240 is considered as the studio photographer's workhorse, with an image circle exceeding 8x10. I don't think the Copal #3 it uses is a drawback for studio photography. As you said, there is not that much difference with a 210 and if you have the space to work, a narrower angle makes background integration easier. Price seems good!

-- Paul Schilliger (pschilliger@smile.ch), April 01, 2001.

The LF kit sounds like a super deal at the price. A lens of 240 mm focal length will work well as long as your studio isn't very small.

-- Michael Briggs (michaelbriggs@earthlink.net), April 01, 2001.

"...If your studio is too small..." and if you have enough bellows draw for close up work. The lens should be terrific.

-- Ellis Vener (evphoto@insync.net), April 02, 2001.

Just buy the thing before someone else gets it. Or send me the guys number and I'll buy it.....

-- Jim Colburn (timepixdc@aol.com), April 02, 2001.

I would say that the 240mm is the ideal 5"x4" studio lens, given sufficient working space.

-- Garry Edwards (bestsnapper@aol.com), April 03, 2001.


Thanks everyone for contributing an answer. I've come across a couple of books about studio photography that recommend the 240mm too. Today, I bought the camera, and it seems I've scored an amazing deal: the camera and all that came with it looks and functions like new, but I only paid 1/4 of what it would cost new!

-- Stefan Geysen (stefan_geysen@hotmail.com), April 07, 2001.

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