Hi folks,
I'm planning on getting a Fujinon 125mm W lens for my 4x5 camera and wanted to see if there is anyone on the forum who has specific experience with the various versions of this lens. I know, this may be a tall ask, but if there is someone, I'd appreciate the feedback.
Basically, some of you certainly know that Fujinon made 6 known different versions of the 125mm W lens over the years. Let's disregard the single coated version, so I think there may be 4 versions remaining. From the info I have seen (found here ad other locations):
... the information indicates that the three MC versions right before the CM/W version have a comparable optical design, but of course they may be been tweaked over the versions slightly, but they are all plasmat based designs, with 6/6 elements and groups. Changes in the filter ring and the weight are really the only distinguishing difference in the specs in these, but as I said, there could be very subtle changes in the optics that my not even be noticeable.
The last one, the CM/W version, changes the optical design by going to a 6/5 configuration with a cemented pair in the stack. It also gains a few degrees of coverage, and they increased the filter size to 67mm to make it consistent with most of the other CM/W lenses at the time (not sure when they came out, but in the 90's through to the end). Because of these changes, it gains two degrees of coverage and that equates to about 6mm of additional image circle. OK, enough of the background...
What I'm interested in is whether there are improvements in the edge of the image circle performance that would result in a meaningful improvement in the image quality in the final 20mm or so in the corner in a full rise situation? How good are the additional 6mm and how good are the next 15mm or so with the CM/W compared to the final 15mm in a third-generation W version?
The CM/W lenses aren't too common, are larger, more expensive, and use larger filters, so there are potential compromises to using them. Putting together an ultra light field kit, the added weight isn't huge, but this all adds up. I'm willing to choose a CM/W version if the edge performance is markedly better than the earlier W versions, but if it is functionally the same, I'll go with the lighter/smaller/cheaper one, thank you very much.
Many thanks,
---Michael
I'm planning on getting a Fujinon 125mm W lens for my 4x5 camera and wanted to see if there is anyone on the forum who has specific experience with the various versions of this lens. I know, this may be a tall ask, but if there is someone, I'd appreciate the feedback.
Basically, some of you certainly know that Fujinon made 6 known different versions of the 125mm W lens over the years. Let's disregard the single coated version, so I think there may be 4 versions remaining. From the info I have seen (found here ad other locations):
... the information indicates that the three MC versions right before the CM/W version have a comparable optical design, but of course they may be been tweaked over the versions slightly, but they are all plasmat based designs, with 6/6 elements and groups. Changes in the filter ring and the weight are really the only distinguishing difference in the specs in these, but as I said, there could be very subtle changes in the optics that my not even be noticeable.
The last one, the CM/W version, changes the optical design by going to a 6/5 configuration with a cemented pair in the stack. It also gains a few degrees of coverage, and they increased the filter size to 67mm to make it consistent with most of the other CM/W lenses at the time (not sure when they came out, but in the 90's through to the end). Because of these changes, it gains two degrees of coverage and that equates to about 6mm of additional image circle. OK, enough of the background...
What I'm interested in is whether there are improvements in the edge of the image circle performance that would result in a meaningful improvement in the image quality in the final 20mm or so in the corner in a full rise situation? How good are the additional 6mm and how good are the next 15mm or so with the CM/W compared to the final 15mm in a third-generation W version?
The CM/W lenses aren't too common, are larger, more expensive, and use larger filters, so there are potential compromises to using them. Putting together an ultra light field kit, the added weight isn't huge, but this all adds up. I'm willing to choose a CM/W version if the edge performance is markedly better than the earlier W versions, but if it is functionally the same, I'll go with the lighter/smaller/cheaper one, thank you very much.
Many thanks,
---Michael
