Decisions decisions

[esearing]

Evaluating the following 150mm lenses. Which would you choose and why?

Caltar 5.6
Nikkor 5.6
Schneider Symar-S 5.6

All are multicoated, come in a copal 0 shutter, price is within $75 of each other, used.

Thanks!

 

[Steve Hamley]

Eric,

There are many Caltars... Caltars of recent vintage are Rodenstocks, and of the recent ones there's a 72 degree lens and a 75 degree lens. The Schneider Symmar-S is a good lens, but probably 2 generations old. Nikkors are not that easy to date.

With no more information than I can get from the list, I'd probably choose the Schneider all things equal. If the Caltars are the late Caltar II-N or Caltar II-S, I'd choose that one because it's a later lens.

If they're all the same vintage and all in the same condition, there isn't a lot of difference, so if one was sunstantially cheaper than the others, I'd go for it.

Steve

 

[esearing]

Thanks, Went with the schneider. Everywhere I read reviews Schneider was always praised.
Nikkors and Rodenstocks had their proponets but there were occaisional mentions of separation and softness.

If anyone else is looking for a decent buy on these, KEH.com has plenty in various conditions.