Fujinon W 180

[Andrew O'Neill]

Finally picked up one of these older Fujinon W lenses, and tested it to see how well it covers 8x10.

 

[ic-racer]

I always wondered why so many 90mm lenses for 4x5 but very few 180 lenses for 8x10. Mine is listed as 305mm image circle which even offers some small movements.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I alwasy wondered why so many 90mm lenses for 4x5 but very vew 180 lenses for 8x10. Mine is listed as 305mm image circle which even offers some small movements.

I felt the same way about the lack of equivalents for 8x10. For many years, I had always heard that this particular lens will cover 8x10, but only just. Because of that, I was weary of purchasing one. But... I couldn't take it anymore, so the first one that popped up, it would be mine!

 

[ic-racer]

Always good to check. The way I print, I overlap the image on the easel blades. So around 295-300mm diagonal of the film will get printed.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Always good to check. The way I print, I overlap the image on the easel blades. So around 295-300mm diagonal of the film will get printed.

I agree. Especially for those who contact print their negatives! From testing, I know that I must use this lens stopped down to at least f/22.

 

[Ian C]

A useful video. It nicely demonstrates the difference between the results of a wide-open f/5.6 aperture and that of the aperture stopped down to f/22. At f/5.6 there is considerable radial falloff in both light intensity and resolution. Closed to f/22, the falloff is significantly reduced to a practical value.

My 8” x 10” Lisco holders have openings of 195.5 mm x 245.5 mm which gives a computed diagonal of 313.8 mm. A properly centered lens that produces an infinity-focus image circle of 305 mm is usable (without off-axis movements) on the 8” x 10” format, provided that you intend to increase the magnification in enlarging to crop out the corners (as cited in post #4).

Certainly, it can be used. But a longer focal length with a manufacturer’s stated infinity-focus image circle greater than the 313.8 mm diagonal is a more practical choice for the 8” x 10” format as it allows a useful amount of movement and doesn’t require increased magnification in enlarging to omit corner falloff.

We need to keep in mind the difference between “coverage” in the colloquial sense, which usually only takes into account that the projected Circle of Illumination covers the corners of the format, and proper coverage in which the Circle of Good Definition fully covers the format with some minimal standard of evenness of illumination and resolution into the corners.

The standards for these two qualities are determined by the lens maker and are not generally specified on data sheets. Nonetheless, the lens maker’s published infinity-focus image circle sizes, both wide open and stopped down to a standard value (usually f/22, but f/16 for some lenses), is a good guide in choosing an appropriate lens for your format.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

If your subject is closer than infinity, I.E. studio work , 180 W is fantastic. Make sure you get the inner writing W, cause that lens covers 80 degrees. Not 72 degrees.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I've been waiting for your review, Andy, and now it seems the old Fuji 180mm W has a green light. I sure like the size of that little guy. Thanks!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

My pleasure, John! No need to post those doughnuts to me. The last time someone did that, they arrived a tad on the stale side...One even had a bite taken out of it!

 

[John Wiegerink]

My pleasure, John! No need to post those doughnuts to me. The last time someone did that, they arrived a tad on the stale side...One even had a bite taken out of it!

You just can't trust those darn postal workers.

 

[MTGseattle]

I just scanned through that awesome Fujinon database at subclub. It looks like all versions with a 58mm filter thread have 80-degree coverage angle and a 305mm image circle.
It gets weird with the 2 later ebc versions; both are 76 degrees coverage angle and 280mm image circle. 1 version is 62mm filters and the other is 67mm. so strange.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

I just scanned through that awesome Fujinon database at subclub. It looks like all versions with a 58mm filter thread have 80-degree coverage angle and a 305mm image circle.
It gets weird with the 2 later ebc versions; both are 76 degrees coverage angle and 280mm image circle. 1 version is 62mm filters and the other is 67mm. so strange.

You are right, I goobered on the angle , (76, not 72 as I stated earlier) . Agreed the later ones do not not have the same coverage.

 

[MTGseattle]

I look through those tables once a month or so hoping that the image circle for my "A" 180mm will magically change.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I look through those tables once a month or so hoping that the image circle for my "A" 180mm will magically change.

 

[diawjddnr1]

as a person who preparing for 8x10, seems like there is not many budget options for wide angle lens..

 

[xkaes]

You are right, I goobered on the angle , (76, not 72 as I stated earlier) . Agreed the later ones do not not have the same coverage.

Fuji made lots of changes to their Fujinon LF lenses when they moved from the W & W S series to the NW series. Most of the NW lenses had a 76° angle of coverage, instead of the 80° of most W & WS lenses. The good news is that they added EBC coating.

And Fuji did the same thing with their final CM-W series. Two of the lenses actually had slightly larger image circles than the NW versions, but most of the lenses had less coverage -- all the way down to 60°. But what the CM-W lenses cover has even better resolution.

 

[Kino]

as a person who preparing for 8x10, seems like there is not many budget options for wide angle lens..

@diawjddnr1

I have not shot with it yet, in fact I just managed to 3D print a lens board an hour ago, but I have a Fuji WS 250mm f6.7 lens that was less than $200 + shipping from Japan.

I just took it into the back yard and was fooling around with the Calumet C1 to see if I could see the claimed 398mm image circle and it's clearly evident even wide open.

The image on the GG was shockingly clear.

Might try to find one of these. The equivalent 35mm focal length (so I am told) is 33mm. That's plenty wide for me...

 

[Vaughn]

Developed some negs from Yosemite last night -- some taken with my Fuji W 180 (inside writing) on the 5x7 camera. A nice lens for that. Sharp and no worries about running out of IC. If I put it on a lensboard for the 8x10, I probably could get some good use with the 180mm with 4x10 images. For now the Fuji W 250mm.6.7 works well for that.

There are a few 210mm lenses that cover 8x10 -- I have a Wollensak Graphic-Raptar (barrel) that does, but the older Fuji W 210mm would be nice to get just to have that focal length in a shutter.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

My Nikkor W 210 does a great job covering 8x10.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I've been watching a few of these on the big auction site, but the ones I can afford are from Japan. I know what the humidity is like in that part of the world and worry about fungus. I think I'll watch for for a while longer since I'm just starting to put my 8X10 back together.

 

[awty]

I've been watching a few of these on the big auction site, but the ones I can afford are from Japan. I know what the humidity is like in that part of the world and worry about fungus. I think I'll watch for for a while longer since I'm just starting to put my 8X10 back together.

Most Japanese sellers will tell you if there is fungus or you get your money back.
Ive always manage to just wipe any dirt or fungus away. Stay clear of bad haze as that is a 50/50 shot on whether you can clean it or not. Minor separation usually doesnt effect the picture.

 

[awty]

I have a W180 Fuji outy, use it for 5x8, haven't even tried it on 8x10 to see if it will cover at all.

 

[Kino]

I've been watching a few of these on the big auction site, but the ones I can afford are from Japan. I know what the humidity is like in that part of the world and worry about fungus. I think I'll watch for for a while longer since I'm just starting to put my 8X10 back together.

Never had a problem buying from Japan and if there's fungus, it has always been disclosed. Check the pictures and contact the seller if you have any doubts. They have been super fast, friendly and accurate in ever instance where I bought something...

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have bought several things from Japan and have usually been very happy except for one Mamiya Press lens. I even sent an email before I bought the lens to make sure it was in the condition the seller described. Also, the seller seemed to have good feedback on items he had already sold. Well, to make a long story and long wait for a partial refund short, the lens was loaded with fungus that had etched the coating and glass. It was certainly not as described. It was a lot of back and fourth to get things straightened out. Now, just to let you know I'm not a rookie at eBay I have over 2,100 sales and purchases on the site. All my sales have received 100% positive feedback also. Just makes me a little gun shy, but I'll probably end up buying a Fujinon 180mm W from Japan since those folks seem to have very reasonable prices.