long lens for Toyo A11 4x5

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I have a Toyo 4x5 model A11 and need advice on the purchase of a long lens.I was thinking about a Nikkor-M 300F-9 or a Fujinion T400mm F8 lens.All of my photography is usually landscapes and sometimes I need that extra "reach" I could use any advice offered.

thank y

-- jerry smithson (js98226@aol.com), February 24, 2000

Answers

Jerry, you may want to check past posts for this question I have seen it several times. Sometimes you can get information in the past post that people do not offer this go round... The 300M Nikor seems to be the lens of choice with most people in this situation, it receives mixed reviews, more good than bad. The teles by Nikor and Fuji are also used commonly. I have the 450M, and consider it good, but not the best of my lenses. Another option, if you are not aware of it already, is to buy an extension back for the AII. This will get you a 100mm additional extension and open up your lens choices. to more than what you are considering now. Also, you can add up to two of these extensions, for 200mm of total extension, also helpful if you plan to shoot anything less than infinity and the extension is necessary....

-- Bill Glickman (bglick@pclv.com), February 24, 2000.

The Nikon 300M is a great lens.However,I found that it really stretched out the bellows on my 45AII.The extension back is a not designed for field work (weight, dust,etc.).I do not recommend it in your case.The tele lenses are large, heavy, and pricey.I found my Nikon 210W to be the ideal long lens for that camera.If you need to get in closer,just move forward,or plan on enlarging the shot.I really enjoy shooting with my 45AII.I use the 90SW,150W,and the 210W Nikkors for both color and BW work.

-- Eugene (TIAGEM@AOL.COM), February 24, 2000.

A good range of lenses for the 12" field cameras seems to be 90 / 150 / 240 requiring no recessed nor extended lens boards. There are a few rather small 240 lenses around including the G-claron and Fuji-A.

-- Richard Ross (ross@hrl.com), February 24, 2000.

I have used both the 300M Nikkor and the 300C Fujinon on a Toyo 45A. Eugene is correct, they stretch the bellows all the way, but they can be focused down to about 15 feet. The Fujinon has slightly less flange-distance so it can focus a tad closer. The 240A Fujinon can focus very close. This said, some of my best images were shot with the 300M Nikkor on the 45A!

-- Glenn C. Kroeger (gkroeger@trinity.edu), February 24, 2000.

As Bill and Glenn have mentioned, the Nikkor 300M is the longest lens I use on my Toyo AII. When I need to focus closer than 10-15ft with this lens, I just use an inverted recessed board which gives me "just enough" to work with without stretching the bellows too much. It's also a cheaper alternative to the extenders and great for backpacking.

-- John Wiemer (Wiemerjo@slcc.edu), February 25, 2000.


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