Using a copy lens for non copy work

[lharby]

Hi

I have a nice Schneider-Kreuznach G Claron 210mm. Most of my stuff is studio based and when I have used it I have been very happy with the results.

Does anyone know what happens when you use one of these lenses for landscape work? Is it one of those things where it's horrible (I am imagining it being blurry), or is it a case of being more or less the same to a layman.

TIA

 

[Dave_P]

They are great for landscape/infinity work, absolutely no issue with using them for this sort of stuff. No distinguishable difference in performance compared to other 'normal' lenses in my opinion.

 

[Ian Grant]

When Schneider had a clear out around 2000 G-Clarons in Copal shutters as well as Xenars. and Centre filters were sold of through Robert White in the UK, & Badger Graphics in the US, and at bargain prices. Essentially it was stocks of lens cells and shutters that had stopped selling with the professional switch to digital. Schneider just paired them up and sold them off.

With G Clarons the spacing in a barrel is optimised for close up to 1:1, but in a Copal shutter they are spaced to give good results up to Infinity. There's a rare long CZJ Process Tessar 800 or 900mm lens, might be longer 1200mm, that has a spacer nearly 10mm thick for use to Infinity.

The spacing is critical in terms of spherical aberrations and field curvature at normal to Infinity focus. Nikon 35mm.DSLR Macro lenses use CRC (Close Range Correction).

Ian

 

[Reginald S.]

Decades ago my first LF camera came with an old 305 G-Claron out of the hands of a professional photographer. No problems so far.
Two decades ago I probably have made my most sharp image with a more "modern" Apo Ronar 480mm, sitting on a 5x7" Plaubel with bellows extended to excess. Both lenses barrel-less, without shims between the cells.