narsuitus
Well-known
Fujinon 90mm f/5.6 SWD in #0 shutter (82mm filter)
90mm f/5.6 Fuji Large Format Lens by Narsuitus, on Flickr
GarageBoy
Well-known
Zeiss 75/135/250
x-ray
Veteran
There are so many excellent view lenses it's almost impossible to name them. In real world use, depending on how you'll use them, schneider, Nikkor, Fujinon and Rodenstock are hard to beat. Throw in Goerz Dagors, Trigors and Red Dot Artars to name a few. Within a brand there are some lenses with more image circle and some with less. You'll justvhave to research which works best for your needs.
My dad gave my my first 4x5 in 1964 which had a Schneider xenar 135mm on it. Still have it to this day and have shot many thousands of sheets through it.
Much of my career before digital was advertising and catalog photography. Much of it on 4x5, 8x10 and 11x14. I shot with new state of the art Schneider glass and vintage Goerz. My 12" Dagor was an uncoated series III that the glass was forming it's own bloom ( coating). The 8x10 chromes were beautiful and plenty good to satisfy my clients like Philips Electronics. I foolishly traded my old Dagor for a new Symmar S and couldn't see any difference. Wish I had my Dagor back.
I also used a 14", 16-1/2" and 19" Red Dot Artars and a 24" Apo Ronar on 8x10. Also used a Ross Express extra wide angle (seem to remember) 8-1/4 and 6-1/2" wide angle Dagor.
I used mainly Symmar S and Super Angulon F5.6 series on 4x5.
I even used a triple convertible B&L Protar on my 8x10 that was one of my all time favorite lenses. It wasn't because it was convertible, but because it had great coverage and made beautiful images.
I've owned many lenses, too many to count from all makers including Zeiss Planars. I'm back into shooting LF again and have a really great mix of glass. I have several Fujinons which are superb, Rodenstock, Nikkor and Schneider. They're all great by any standard.
Best to research based on your needs and look for the best price. A the major brands are pretty much equal plus there are some great classics like the Commercial Ektars. Unfortunately Dagors can command a higher price than they're worth. It's the myth around the lens and enthusiasts that have driven the price up. In reality they're good but no better than the major names if as good. There's just so much myth and magic around them.
My dad gave my my first 4x5 in 1964 which had a Schneider xenar 135mm on it. Still have it to this day and have shot many thousands of sheets through it.
Much of my career before digital was advertising and catalog photography. Much of it on 4x5, 8x10 and 11x14. I shot with new state of the art Schneider glass and vintage Goerz. My 12" Dagor was an uncoated series III that the glass was forming it's own bloom ( coating). The 8x10 chromes were beautiful and plenty good to satisfy my clients like Philips Electronics. I foolishly traded my old Dagor for a new Symmar S and couldn't see any difference. Wish I had my Dagor back.
I also used a 14", 16-1/2" and 19" Red Dot Artars and a 24" Apo Ronar on 8x10. Also used a Ross Express extra wide angle (seem to remember) 8-1/4 and 6-1/2" wide angle Dagor.
I used mainly Symmar S and Super Angulon F5.6 series on 4x5.
I even used a triple convertible B&L Protar on my 8x10 that was one of my all time favorite lenses. It wasn't because it was convertible, but because it had great coverage and made beautiful images.
I've owned many lenses, too many to count from all makers including Zeiss Planars. I'm back into shooting LF again and have a really great mix of glass. I have several Fujinons which are superb, Rodenstock, Nikkor and Schneider. They're all great by any standard.
Best to research based on your needs and look for the best price. A the major brands are pretty much equal plus there are some great classics like the Commercial Ektars. Unfortunately Dagors can command a higher price than they're worth. It's the myth around the lens and enthusiasts that have driven the price up. In reality they're good but no better than the major names if as good. There's just so much myth and magic around them.
Jay Decker
Meat Robot
My personal favorite lenses for 8x10...
Cooke IIE 15-inch knuckler
Voigtländer 42cm Universal-Heliar
Voigtländer 16" Petzval Portrait
Dallmeyer 4D
Cooke IIE 15-inch knuckler
Voigtländer 42cm Universal-Heliar
Voigtländer 16" Petzval Portrait
Dallmeyer 4D