Schneider Tele-Xenar 5.5/240-any good?

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I have the opportunity to buy a Schneider Kreuznach Tele-Xenar 5.5 240mm in a Linhof Press-Compur mount for $200. The lens appears to be in 9+ condition. I would like to use this lens for portraits (not tight head shots) with a Super Graphic camera. Does anyone have any experience and/or opinions concerning the quality and usability this lens? Should it be avoided? Thank you for any information you may provide.

-- Bill Eadie (wae@slip.net), October 30, 1998

Answers

Buy it. $200 is cheap to death. It is a nice lens.

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), November 01, 1998.

well, it's a nice tele for 200, you'll find that other than back movements, which would be what you'd use for portraits, it's pretty much worthless. It is unsharp and uncontrasty at f8, so it kinda works as a soft lens, but don't try any front moves at infinity it barely covers.

-- Triblett Lunger-Thurd (666@HELL.com), December 04, 1998.

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