Fujinon W

foveon_m · Dec 5, 2019

Hi,
Don´t know much about Fujinon W lenses, just that outside lettering means they are multi coated.
I´m looking for W 125 or 135 or 150 or 180, all f=5.6.
Is the image quality of one of these better or worse or are they on similar level.
Thanks
Martin

Vaughn · Dec 5, 2019

Inside lettering: single coated, increased coverage...generally speaking for those focal lengths. All great lenses.

Some good info: http://www.thalmann.com/largeformat/fujinon.htm

PS...I have the Fuji W 180mm (5x7), 250mm/6.7 (5x7 and 8x10), 300mm (8x10), and 360mm (8x10 and 11x14)

Dan Fromm · Dec 5, 2019

Better information here: http://www.subclub.org/fujinon/index.htm

foveon_m · Dec 5, 2019

Thank you for the interesting link,

foveon_m · Dec 5, 2019

subclub.org seems to be down

Vaughn · Dec 5, 2019

I have never been to log on to subclub site.

I am starting to think it is an urban myth.

ntenny · Dec 5, 2019

The Wayback Machine has a copy of the subclub.org page: http://web.archive.org/web/20190104/www.subclub.org/fujinon/index.htm

-NT

thornhill · Dec 5, 2019

ntenny said:
The Wayback Machine has a copy of the subclub.org page: http://web.archive.org/web/20190104/www.subclub.org/fujinon/index.htm

-NT

Nathan, thank-you! This is the first time I've ever been able to read The Sub Club.

Derek

Roger Thoms · Dec 5, 2019

Vaughn said:
I have never been to log on to subclub site.

I am starting to think it is an urban myth.

Never log on, but I can certainly access the sub club web pages that have the Fuji info. The links in the previous post worked fine for me. I’m on Safari on my iPad right now.

Roger

NortheastPhotographic · Dec 5, 2019

I have used a number of the Fuji LF lenses over the years. 150/6.3, 250/6.7, even the 250 Tessar at one point, 90/8, 90/4.5. I never had anything to complain about! I will say I think the 250/6.7 is a little over-rated. Yes it's coverage is great, and it's super compact which is really nice. However, I use a Caltar (Rodenstock) 250/5.6 now and within it's smaller coverage I find it a bit more pleasing. It just seems sharper and contrastier. That being said, if another Fuji lens came my way that I wanted I would not hesitate to go for it. In fact I'm thinking about adding a Fuji 360/6.5 to my kit now. The other makes seem over priced.

Dan Fromm · Dec 6, 2019

Vaughn said:
I have never been to log on to subclub site.

I am starting to think it is an urban myth.

It just worked for me.

Sal Santamaura · Dec 6, 2019

NortheastPhotographic said:
...I use a Caltar (Rodenstock) 250/5.6 now...

240mm?

NortheastPhotographic · Dec 6, 2019

Sal Santamaura said:
240mm?

My mistake, yes 240. Good catch.

braxus · Dec 7, 2019

The Fuji LF lenses are under-rated and often cheaper then other brands, yet they perform as good or better. I have 3 Fujis myself and will be getting a 4th next year. I currently have the 90mm, 180mm, 210, and plan on getting either a 300mm or 360mm. Those two are expensive, but needed for 8x10. I get all my Fujis from Japan via Ebay, as the sellers in Japan are more trustworthy to deal with and know what they have.

foveon_m · Dec 8, 2019

Thank you all, seems you are satisfied with your Fujinons, just looked at ebay, they seem to be very affordable from Japan indeed, and they are a lot to choose from.

foveon_m · Dec 8, 2019

Thank you all, seems you are satisfied with your Fujinons, just looked at ebay, they seem to be very affordable from Japan indeed, and they are a lot to choose from.^^

lantau · Dec 18, 2019

I'm thinking about spending too much money on two Fuji lenses as a first step in LF. They are only getting more expensive and once I have them I can wait in peace until I buy a camera.

I've never seen any LF gear in person and couldn't find any info anywhere on the actual weight of the W series lenses. Specifically the Fujinon-NW 5.6/180 and the SWD 5.6/90.

It's not that I'm very sensitive regarding weight. Time is more precious to me and so I have done day hikes with my large bagpack holding medium format slr, 35mm gear and my tiny mft digital gear. And a tripod strapped to it all. To make sure I get as much use as possible.

But since the Intrepid fits my needs such as price, the possibility to use it as a LF enlarger (mine does 6x7 max), etc, I wonder if those lenses would stress the camera too much.

Otherwise the Fujis seem perfect. Optically great, from what I read, not as overpriced as the German ones, large image circle (why bother with LF and not play with movements) and fairly bright.

DREW WILEY · Dec 18, 2019

Price has a lot to do with exchange rates, supply and demands on used optics, etc. A lot of used Fuji lenses are available at very tempting prices from Japanese dealers at the moment. Specifications including wts can be found on Thalmann's Fuji site. Link the brochures section.

Dan Fromm · Dec 18, 2019

Look here too: http://www.subclub.org/fujinon/index.htm

lantau · Dec 18, 2019

I spend a lot of time on these pages and didn't find the brochures. Even after Drew pointing me back it took me a while...

So the 90mm is quite the beast at 600g. I'm normally a Tele guy, but with movements it's possible to distort architecture and other tall objects, like trees in a forest. That makes wide angles much more useful.

Should I try to find a 75mm? Fits more into the frame, but the image circle has less excess coverage for movements. I can't judge yet if it's enough.

The 180 is almost double the weight of the 150. Quite amazing. I just happened to find those 90+180 lenses at an online dealer which is located close to me. They seem to be okay, had a good experience ordering some accessories some time ago.

Im loath to order from Japan. Got burned on my first attempt. Additionally the camera smelled of mildew, despite 'fungus free'. Ordered mf slide mounts from Korea (I know, not Japan at all, link was posted by someone here) and the stuff has mildew smell.

DREW WILEY · Dec 18, 2019

If you want a superb super-light 180, get the Fuji A version rather than W. As far as ordering from Japanese dealers, I've always gotten very good service from them.

lantau · Dec 18, 2019

Actually I just realised that Intrepid has an image of their 4x5 camera with a W 180 mounted. I take it that the front standard won't be overloaded by this lens then. Personally I like a lens that feels substantial. I remembered that B.S.Kumar is active on Photrio. I would trust his judgement if I asked him what I want. Perhaps I will soon be using a holy trinity of film formats.

Thanks for all the comments!

5x7shooter · Dec 21, 2019

foveon_m said:
Hi,
Don´t know much about Fujinon W lenses, just that outside lettering means they are multi coated.
I´m looking for W 125 or 135 or 150 or 180, all f=5.6.
Is the image quality of one of these better or worse or are they on similar level.
Thanks
Martin

I have a fair number of Fujinon W lenses, both the earlier single-coated series and the later NW multicoated series. Although the later multicoated versions with the outside lettering seem ever so slightly better, all of them are very fine lenses, with good sharpness and image quality. This was true across focal lengths from 125mm to 210mm. I have two copies of both the 125mm and 150mm Ws and the quality seems to be consistently high, without much variation. Given their low prices on the used market, the Ws are excellent bargains. It's hard to go wrong with them.

foveon_m · Dec 21, 2019

Reading a lot about Fujinon lenses I found the statement that Fuji as first optimized the lenses to micro contrast for edgesharpness, so they look sharp but are not that good in resolution.

5x7shooter · Dec 21, 2019

foveon_m said:
Reading a lot about Fujinon lenses I found the statement that Fuji as first optimized the lenses to micro contrast for edge sharpness, so they look sharp but are not that good in resolution.

My post was the resulting of testing and using 7 Fujinon W lenses of varying series from 125 mm through 250 mm My prior post erred in stating that these were through 210 mm.

I have compared the Fujinons generally against similar lenses and the Fujinons had comparable image quality, although generally less expensive when purchased from Japan. All were more than good enough. I would buy any of the multicoated versions, with a decision based mostly upon condition and price. I have no opinion beyond my own experience.

Fujifilm did not have an official US distributor for much of the time that they made LF lenses, and so they were not as well-known.

Fujinon W

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