RODENSTOCK

Rodenstock large format lenses are some of the best I have owned and used. The two enlarger lenses I had for medium format and 135 films were excellent performers in the darkroom. I continue to use Rodenstock lens filters today. Still, the only Rodenstock large format lenses in my kit now are the lovely 65/4.5 Grandagon-N with center filter and the Sironar N 210mm f/5.6 MC Sinar DB Lens for studio product work.

I sold off most of my large format 4×5 gear when medium format digital tech cameras appeared on the scene. After seven years of missing a 4×5 field camera for film work, I decided to rebuild a 4×5 kit. This time my preference would go to Nikon for large-format lenses. I chose Nikon for a couple of reasons, (1) they are just as good as the German lens makers: Schneider and Rodenstock; (2) since giving up Nikon DSLR cameras, I want to show some love to Nikon (I still shoot an F3), and (3) a few favorite landscape photographers shoot Nikon large format lenses, so I know they are great lenses.

Because Copal shutters are no longer manufactured, buying certain large format lenses can be harder to find and a bit pricy. Lenses from the top four large format lens producers: Rodenstock, Schneider, Nikon, and Fujifilm, will suffice when building a 4×5 or larger format kit. I plan on keeping the excellent 65/4.5 Grandagon-N and center filter in my kit as I enjoy using it when shooting the 6×12 panoramic format with my 4×5 field camera.