Calumet 210mm f/5.6 Caltar II-N MC Lens (301mm Image Circle) in Copal 1 BT Shutter (42MT)

210mm f/5.6 Large Format Lens With 301mm Image Circle

The Caltar II-N 210mm f/5.6 is a multi-coated large format lens built for view camera work, mounted in a Copal 1 BT shutter for reliable timing across your exposure range. At 210mm, it sits in the normal-to-short-telephoto range on 4x5, making it a natural choice for portrait and product work on the front standard.

The standout figure here is the 301mm image circle. That's a substantial amount of coverage for a 210mm lens, giving you real room to work with front rise, fall, and swing on architectural and studio setups without vignetting at the edges of the frame. Multi-coating on the glass helps control flare and maintain contrast when shooting into mixed lighting, which matters when you're metering for large format sheet film and can't afford surprises in the shadows.

The Copal 1 BT shutter housing is the standard mechanical interface for this class of lens, and it's what lets you drop this glass onto any view camera that accepts a Copal 1 board. This is a lens built to be used, adjusted, and moved around a studio or field setup, not a lens that asks you to compromise on movements to get the shot.

Who It's For

Large format portrait photographers get real benefit from the 301mm image circle, which allows generous front rise and fall when working close on a subject without losing coverage at the corners. Architectural and product photographers working with view cameras will lean on that same coverage for perspective control movements like swing and tilt. Studio shooters using 4x5 monorail systems get a normal-range focal length in a Copal 1 BT shutter, keeping the lens compatible with standard large format bodies and lens boards already in their kit. Anyone building out a large format kit around multi-coated glass will find the f/5.6 maximum aperture workable for ground glass focusing and composing before stopping down for the exposure.

Key Features

• 210mm focal length, normal-to-short-telephoto on 4x5 format
• 301mm image circle for generous view camera movements
• Multi-coated glass reduces flare and maintains contrast
• Copal 1 BT shutter with mechanical leaf shutter timing
• f/5.6 maximum aperture
• Large format compatible with standard lensboards

FAQ

What format is this 210mm lens designed for?

It's built for 4x5 large format cameras. At 210mm, it functions as a normal-to-short-telephoto lens on that format, ideal for portraits and product work on the front standard.

How much coverage does the 301mm image circle provide?

The 301mm circle gives you substantial room for view camera movements like rise, fall, and swing on 4x5 without hitting vignetting. That's real working clearance for architectural and studio setups.

What's the benefit of the multi-coating?

MC (multi-coating) cuts flare and maintains contrast when you're shooting into mixed lighting. On large format where you're metering for sheet film, that consistency matters.

Can I use this lens on different view cameras?

Yes, as long as your camera accepts a Copal 1 lensboard. The Copal 1 BT shutter is the standard mechanical interface for this class of lens.

What kind of shutter does this lens use?

It's housed in a Copal 1 BT shutter, a mechanical leaf shutter that provides reliable timing across your exposure range and is standard for large format lenses.

Is this lens suitable for field work?

Yes. The Copal 1 mounting system is designed to be practical for studio and field use - you can move it between cameras, adjust it in the field, and not compromise on movements to get the shot.