These are the sharpest most contrasty lenses ever made for large format. No contest! Apochromatic means that all three primary colors are focused on the same plane. Very important for B&W as well as color photography. They use ED (extra dispersion) glass to eliminate color fringing. The 75 degree angle of view is wider than usual. These lenses are distortion free. They are mounted in Copal shutters. The 100, 135, and 150 use a no.0; the 180 and 210 a #1; the 240, 300 and 360 a no. 3. Apertures are from f5.6 to f64. They may normally be used at 1 stop wider apertures than other high quality lenses. Flare is reduced. Below is a table showing manufacturer's recommended maximum format for each focal length:

100mm ..................4x5

135mm...................4x5

150mm...................4x5

180mm...................5x7

210mm...................5x7 may be used for 8x10 with little movement

240mm...................5x7may be used for 8x10 with less than normal but adequate movement.

300mm..................8x10

360mm..................8x10may be used for 11x14 with less than normal but adequate movement.

I personally use these lenses in all lengths except 100 and 150. I love them for all work, but appreciate them most for platinum palladium printing, which tends to reduce the contrast and sharpness of the finished prints. When using Rollei R3, a lower contrast film with some infrared sensitivity, these lenses retain the sharpness while letting the contrast be less, resulting in a print which is more subtle. With lesser lenses, sharpness is often faked in printing by making a higher contrast print.

The 135mm is my recommended lens as the best all purpose for 4x5. It may even be used for portraits, as long as you keep at least 42 inches from the subject. It fits the Linhof Master Technika with the camera closed, being very light and compact. The 240mm is a wonderful all purpose lens for 8x10, and the 360mm for 11x14. At Bruce's Field Camera Store we try to keep these in stock at all times.