14" Commercial Ektar vs Rodenstock 360 f:6.8 Apo Sironar-N

[Steve Hamley]

Anybody that have used both these on 8x10, any comments on usability/shutter, coverage, image quality, etc? Which one do you like and why?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I use a 14" Commercial Ektar as one of my primary studio lenses for products..that I shoot on 4x5 Ektachrome, with my Sinar-P Expert system camera. This lens will cover 8x10 with some room for movements. It is big and heavy and "old school". It produces a very nice, sharp image. It is in an old shutter, with a top speed of 1/50th sec., but it has flash sync, which is all I need.

As additional information, I have 8, 10, 12, 14 Commercial Ektars. I think the 8 is the softest of the bunch, the others are very very sharp.

 

[ineffablething]

I used to own a 14" Commercial Ektar. I've also used the 360 Sironar-N and I own and use a 360mm Nikkor-W. The Ektar is not as sharp as either of these lenses until you stop down about 2-3 stops. It's also more prone to flare than either of the modern lenses. It's heavier than both modern lenses as well. When shooting transparencies, I noticed that the Ektar produced a softer color palette than the modern lenses. Having said that,the Commercial Ektar was the first lens in a shutter than I ever owned. The first large format lens I ever had was the one that came with my first camera, a Pinkham and Smith Synthetic. The Ektar was very easy to use after working with the P&S. It was plenty sharp and I made several nice photographs with it.

W.

 

[Steve Hamley]

Thanks folks!

Steve

 

[Colin Graham]

A great sleeper lens is the Commercial Congo 360mm. Wonderful contrast, tessar design so it's much lighter than a plasmat and I can't imagine anything sharper. Plenty of coverage on 8x10 too.

 

[John Kasaian]

Steve,

I use a 14" Commercial Ektar. Wide open it makes nice portraits, stopped down it is sharp It has what seems to be acres of sharp coverage. If you're into vintage glass it is a great lens. If what you want a modern lens, then---well you get the idea.