Hello all, I just got around to joining up after spending a few days reading the archives. What finally got me posting was a question about soft-focus portrait lens for 8x10. While I don't have anything larger than 5x7, my suggestion is: Half a Symmar 300/f4.5. This will give an "Asymmar" 530/f12; nicely soft. Schneider even put double f-scales on these! Ole Tjugen beginner