lens choice 7 x 17

Dave Wooten · Nov 22, 2004

I am considering nikon m 450 9.0 and the compact fugi 450 12.5, will be used on 7 x 17.

Does anyone have experience with these lenses and opinions etc.

Thanks
Dave

Donald Miller · Nov 22, 2004

Dave Wooten said:
I am considering nikon m 450 9.0 and the compact fugi 450 12.5, will be used on 7 x 17.

Does anyone have experience with these lenses and opinions etc.

Thanks
Dave

I used a 450 Nikkor M on my 12X20. Sharp and should have tons of coverage for 7X17.

Deniz · Nov 22, 2004

I will be using my Apo-nikkor 480/9 on the 7x17 i am building right now. altough a little longer of a lens than i would like for the format, it will cover nicely. I also will try my eskefot-ultragon 210/8 on the 7x17 since i can't run out of image circle on the 8x10 with that bad boy.

Dave Wooten · Nov 22, 2004

7 x 17 lens

thanks for the responses, does anyone have any feedback on the brightness of the fugi lens (12.5) and its resolution compared to the nikkor?

image circle is reported at 486, it is about $200 less than the nikkor, Badger prices.
Thanks again
Dave Wooten

sanking · Nov 22, 2004

Dave Wooten said:
I am considering nikon m 450 9.0 and the compact fugi 450 12.5, will be used on 7 x 17.

Does anyone have experience with these lenses and opinions etc.

Thanks
Dave

Both the 450 f/9 Nikkor-M and the 450 f/12.5 Fujinon-C are outstanding lenses with more than adequate coverage for the 7X17" format, even with movements. I doubt that anyone would be able to tell a difference between the two in terms of image performance on this format in normal use.

They differ in the following ways.

1. The Fujinon-C is smaller slightly and more compact and is mounted in a smaller shutter, the Copal #1. The Nikkor is mounted in a Copal #3.

2. The Nikkor-M has a much larger circle of illumination, and when stopped down gives much better performance than the Fujinon-C at the corners of the image on 12X20 and larger formats.

3. The Nikkor-M has a slightly wider aperture and the view on the ground glass is therefore marginally brighter. But having compared the two lenses on the same camera in the same conditions the difference between the two lenses in this regard are in my opinion inconsequential.

BTW, the Nikkor-M is of Tessar design (Commercial Ektar, etc.), the Fujinon-C of dialyte design (Artar, etc.). Both designs are capable of outstanding performance in the center of the field, but tessar type lenses appear to improve more on the margins of the field on stopping down than dialyte type lenses.

Just for the record, Apo-Nikkors are process lenses of different design than the Nikkor-M.

Sandy

Emile de Leon · Nov 22, 2004

If you want a great wide angle lens you might want to consider the Nikkor 260mm WA f10 for your 7x17. They are always available it seems on Ebay for around $300-. If you can live with f32 this is a less expensive way to go. You can put in it a Copal 3 (SK Grimes) for a lot more dough which is what I plan to do with mine. It is really a sharp lens and just as sharp wide open and corner to corner.Unusually bright GG in the corners too. Comes with a metal shade and caps. The shade vinettes a tiny bit so I'm having it ground out on the sides. This lens cost several grand when new (20 yrs ago) and is a pleasure to use today for 7x17. Emile. www.deleon-ulf.com

Dave Wooten · Nov 22, 2004

Thanks to all for the info,

It seems the Nikkor M 450 has the edge-

Thanks again

Dave Wooten

Steve_7x · Nov 24, 2004

The Nikon 450 M is excellent. I haven't tried the 450 Fuji - though from a size perspective it is intriguing. I know the 450 M will cover my 12x20 - so that is the lens I would recommend.

Steve

jimgalli · Nov 30, 2004

Hi Dave. Just noticed you are in Las Vegas. Hello from up the road in Tonopah. Thought I was the only show in town. Hope you'll stop by if you're up this way shooting. 305 G-Claron, 355 G-Claron, are my 2 mainstays on 717. I have the 450 Fuji but haven't had time to play with it yet. Also a 10 3/4" Dagor that seems to cover but likewise, I hven't made any pics with it. The 305 is my favorite. Jim

Dave Wooten · Nov 30, 2004

Hello Jim

Thanks for the invite..,I'll take you up on that..I do get out in the desert quite a bit and also in your area...I now have 355 claron and a 300 nikkor m which actually does cover...I have not printed from it yet...am looking for the 450 claron...I wonder what the difference is between the 305 claron and the nikkor, as I have a line on the claron at a good price....I plan to use the small nikkor on 4x 5.....

Thanks for the call back

Dave Wooten-Las Vegas

lee · Nov 30, 2004

Dave,
i may be wrong but as I know it there is not a 450 claron. The G-Clarons are single coated and I would bet that the nikkor is multi coated. In my opinion, the difference between an uncoated lens and a single coated lens is greater than a single and a multi coated lens.

lee\c

Dave Wooten · Dec 1, 2004

Thanks Lee

You are absolutely right...I meant to say I'm looking for the 450 nikkor M f/9.

Sandy King posted quite a bit of useful info on this thread (thanks Sandy) and others on this thread seem to favor that lens,

Dave Wooten-Las Vegas

sanking · Dec 1, 2004

Dave Wooten said:
Hello Jim

Thanks for the invite..,I'll take you up on that..I do get out in the desert quite a bit and also in your area...I now have 355 claron and a 300 nikkor m which actually does cover...I have not printed from it yet...am looking for the 450 claron...I wonder what the difference is between the 305 claron and the nikkor, as I have a line on the claron at a good price....I plan to use the small nikkor on 4x 5.....

Thanks for the call back

Dave Wooten-Las Vegas

BTW, I also have a 300mm Nikkor M (primarily for 5X7" use) that I tested on 7X17. I determined that the circle of illumination covers the format but you have to stop it down a great deal for a useful image, and it offers virtually no movements. The 305 G-Claron covers much better and even though it is only single-coated I think overall it is a much better choice for 7X17 than the 300mm Nikkor M.

You might also look for a 240mm Computar or a Kowa Graphic of the same focal length. These lenses covers 7X17 with some movement and offer really nice wide angle performance in a small package.

Sandy

cperez · Dec 1, 2004

I used a 450 Fuji C f/12.5 on 12x20. Yes, it just barely covered at f/45. But it produced some rather remarkable images given the required image circle. So covering 7x17 could be done with ease.

If you're serious about a 450mm lens, you might consider the Fuji C for its small size (#1 Copal, 52mm filter) and light weight.

Deckled Edge · Dec 2, 2004

Dave,
We seem to have strayed from your original question of Nikon vs. Fuji in the 450mm persuasion, so I'll chime in with my favorite lenses for 7x17:
3) Schneider 210 Angulon -- very crisp and the Copal 3 is handy.
2) Kodak 250 Wide Field Ektar--also nice and sharp, though an older "classic" lens, usually found in a balky Universal #5 shutter. Anyone drooling on your contact prints will never know they came from a 50 year old lens.
1) My favorite lens of all time, which I shift from camera to camera, is the Schneider Gold Dot Dagor. Incredibly sharp, great coverage, contrasty, and even luscious with color trannies (if you could afford 7x17 tranny film). They only come used (ca. 1988) and 14 in. which does not address your 17-3/4 in. request.
That was my 3 cents worth. Good luck sorting all this free advice out.

Michael Mutmansky · Dec 2, 2004

I agree with Cperez about the viability of the Fujinon 450C lens.

I don't believe there is any real performance improvement to using the Nikkor M for 7x17, other than a slight increase in the useable IC. I've not run out of IC with the lens yet, so I figure this is somewhat of a moot point.

I would rather use a lens with a smaller shutter all things created equal, and the Fujinon is everything I need in a 7x17 lens. I've used it on 12x20, a bit, but I think that is the point where the difference between the IC makes the Nikkor M the more attractive choice.

If I were purchasing for the 7x17 and smaller (and maybe even for 8x20), I'd get the Fujinon. If you think that 12x20 is in the future, the Nikkor M may be the better choice, as long as you dont mind the extra weight and bulk of the larger lens.

---Michael

Dave Wooten · Dec 2, 2004

7 x 17 lens choice

Thanks Michael and Glenn and Sandy et all for the great info,

I will check into the added focal length info...also if fugi will cover nicely for the format it will certainly be a consideration as it is a bit cheaper new from Badger.

Michael where can I get 7 x 17 trannies?

Thanks again Dave Wooten-Las Vegas

lens choice 7 x 17

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