[4x5] Lenses for 4x5 cameras - landscape

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses4x5.html

John Sparks' pick

90mm -  Nikkor SW f/8, this is lens has the most coverage of any f/8 90mm.
 The f/8 is important because it keeps the size/weight of the lens
 down.

120mm   Schneider Super Symmar f/5.6.  Again this is the smallest 120mm
 lens that has enough coverage for moderate movements.  It is
 much smaller and lighter than the true wide angles like the
 Super Angulon or the Nikkor SW.  Those are only really
 appropriate for studio work or architecture or larger formats
 where the larger coverage is really important or the size/weight
 doesn't matter.

 Alternately, I might choose a Rodenstock 135mm Sironar-S.  This
 isn't all that different in angle of view from a 120, but is
 even smaller than the Super Symmar and probably eliminates the
 need for having both 120mm and 150mm.  The Sironar-S is because
 it has the largest coverage of any current 135mm and all the
 current 135mm's are a bit short on coverage.

150mm   Any one of Nikkor-W, Fuji-NWS, Schneider Apo-Symmar or
 Rodenstock Sironar-N or -S.  These don't vary much in size or
 weight and the performance is all pretty much the same.  I might
 choose the Sironar-S again because a little more coverage at
 this focal length might help and it doesn't cost too much in
 size or dollars.  Rodenstock says that the Sironar-S lenses are
 the sharpest ones they sell and are at least the equal if not
 better than anything else out there (though the differences will
 be pretty small compared to the others in this list expecially
 at the f/22 & f/32 I usually use with 4x5 for landscapes).
 However, any of the lenses listed will be the sharpest lens you
 own (unless you get a 135mm version and a 120mm Super Symmar
 would be a pretty close call).  For the same basic design,
 shorter lenses will always be slightly sharper than longer
 lenses and 135mm/150mm is the shortest "normal" lens design
 usable on 4x5.  Wide angle lenses trade off sharpness for more
 coverage so will be slightly less sharp than longer lenses.

210mm   Same list as for 150mm except I probably wouldn't choose the
 Sironar-S here because it starts to make a real difference in
 size and weight and any of these 210mm's will have plenty of
 coverage.  I'd probably choose which ever of these weighs the
 least (I think it's the Nikkor), but it won't make much
 difference.

 As an alternative, I might choose a 210mm Schneider G-Claron or
 200mm Nikkor M instead.  These are light, tiny lenses that
 probably have enough coverage for 4x5 landscapes.  The Nikkor is
 smaller and may be slightly sharper and contrastier because it's
 multicoated and optimized for distant subjects (the G-Claron is
 single coated and designed for use at 1:1).  The G-Claron does
 have more coverage which might be useful.  I'd chose one of these
 if I planned on backpacking with the camera and probably one of
 the others if I rarely carried the camera more than a couple of 
 miles.

300mm The best choice here is the Nikkor M.  It is very sharp, optimized
 for distant subjects, plenty of coverage for most uses and quite
 small.  I might choose a G-Claron if I planned to switch to 8x10
 at some point because of its greater coverage, but I'm using a 
 Nikkor M 300mm on 8x10 now with little trouble.  Any other 300mm
 is way too huge and heavy for almost all 4x5 needs.

Kerry Thalmann's Future Classics

90mm f8 Nikkor SW
The lightest of all modern (Biogon derivative) multi-coated 90mm wide
angle lenses.  It is an excellent performer, with great coatings (NIC).
It's relatively compact size and lightweight (lighter than the 90mm
Super Angulon and 90mm f6.8 Grandagon-N) making it a favorite for 4x5
field photography.  It also has substantially greater coverage (235mm)
than the other compact (slow) modern 90mm wide angles.

120mm f5.6 Schneider Super Symmar HM
Another lens I feel is destined to be a classic for 4x5 field
photographers.  It is really the only modern lens in the desirable 120mm
focal length that is best suited for this application (the 120mm APO
Symmar is lacking in coverage at 179mm, the 115mm Grandagon-N, 120mm
Nikkor SW and 120mm Super Angulon are really 5x7 wide angles and
therefore much larger and heavier).  It is not a tiny lens, but it
weighs about 1/2 the 115mm Grandagon-N.  This one could be shoved aside
by the new 110mm Super Symmar XL (which again is more of a 5x7 wide
angle, but small enough to be favored by 4x5 shooters as well).  BTW,
personally, I love this lens for 6x17cm and it is currently mounted on
my home made 6x17 point and shoot.

150mm f5.6 Rodenstock APO Sironar-S
This is a wonderful little lens.  Compact, lightweight and more coverage
(231mm) than the other 150mm 4x5 lenses (I consider the larger 150mm APO
Sironar-W and 150mm Super Symmar HM to be overkill for 4x5 landscapes
and better suited for the 5x7 format in that application).  It uses ED
glass and is incredibly sharp all the way to edges, and even at large
stops (I have found it to be incredibly sharp even wide open, and have
read at least one test report that showed it to achieve maximum LPM at
f5.6 - which is where it should be sharpest in theory, but in practice
is rarely true).  I don't know what it is about this lens, but images
made with it just scream SHARP! and have an incredible sense of
"depth".  I've used a lot 4x5 "normal" lenses, both modern and classic,
and this one beats them all IMHO.  Out of all the lenses I own, this is
the last one I would ever part with (you'll have to pry it from my cold,
dead hands).

300mm f9 Nikkor M
Another tiny gem of a lens.  Small, sharp, contrasty.  What else could
you ask for in a long focal length field lens for 4x5.  Variation of the
classic Tessar design, but with modern multi-coatings and a modern Copal
shutter.

360mm f8/500mm f11 Nikkor T-ED
Two great long focal lengths in one and a half lenses.  ED glass, true
telephoto design.  Extremely sharp for a telephoto (as good or better
than most "standard designs for distant subjects).  360mm focal length
useable with short bellows (~12") field cameras.  500mm length useable
with about 16" of bellows.  720mm option also available if you want a
really long 4x5 lens and have a long bellows monorail or field camera
(Wisner or Canham).  This baby is already in hot demand on the used
market.  Imagine what it will be like when they haven't been made for 20
or 30 years.