Want to Buy Nikkor W 150mm f/5.6

I have a Schneider Super Angulon 90mm f/8 and for the life of me I can't compose anything before or after sunset because it's just so dark. So I'm going to try the Nikkor SW 90mm f/4.5. Ideally I'd like the SIC version, but this isn't a big deal as long as it's a multicoated lens.

If you have one in excellent (near mint) condition on a Linhof / Wista style board, please let me know.

I'm also looking for the Nikkor W 150mm f/5.6 also on a Linhof / Wista style board.

I have one on mint condition that I can put on a Linhof Board.

Michael Kadillak said:

I have one on mint condition that I can put on a Linhof Board.

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pm-ing you

bump

Great lens. I have one, but I’m not selling it.

I have owned the 90mm f8 since 1974, one of my favorite lenses.
I am now 82, and I can frame my shots with it even in low-light situations.
I think what you should do is get a Fresnel lens before you get rid of the lens, it might be all you need.
Just saying.
Gaston

Gaston 012 said:

I have owned the 90mm f8 since 1974, one of my favorite lenses.
I am now 82, and I can frame my shots with it even in low-light situations.
I think what you should do is get a Fresnel lens before you get rid of the lens, it might be all you need.
Just saying.
Gaston

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hi gaston. i have the chamonix 45f-2 which has a fresnel. i'm content to try a faster lens.

bump

I have a 90mm f5.6 Super Angulon I'm willing to part with.

mfohl said:

I have a 90mm f5.6 Super Angulon I'm willing to part with.

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hi mfohl. thanks for the offer but i'm set on the nikkors!

Christopherjs said:

I have a Schneider Super Angulon 90mm f/8 and for the life of me I can't compose anything before or after sunset because it's just so dark. So I'm going to try the Nikkor SW 90mm f/4.5. Ideally I'd like the SIC version, but this isn't a big deal as long as it's a multicoated lens.

If you have one in excellent (near mint) condition on a Linhof / Wista style board, please let me know.

I'm also looking for the Nikkor W 150mm f/5.6 also on a Linhof / Wista style board.

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sorry only got thesame lens, but with a fresnel screen I have little trouble focusing. are you using a hood or a dark cloth?

RalphLambrecht said:

sorry only got thesame lens, but with a fresnel screen I have little trouble focusing. are you using a hood or a dark cloth?

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hi ralph,

i'm using a dark cloth, yes.

are you composing your image before light or after dark with the f/8? i find i can only see a source of light at that time, but not ambient (which is admittedly very, very dim).

example, i was shooting a diner in the blue hour after sunset (it was not that blue, cloudy, and snowing). the light was coming from the diner signs and diner itself. it was very hard to tell if anything was level let alone what was in the outside edges of my image as it seemed pure black. i could focus just fine on the diner itself. it's composition i'm worried about. feels like a adding over an extra stop of light would only help.

and unless i'm backpacking i'm failing to see why the lens weight is a big deal. lots of guys are suggesting i consider the weight, and while i appreciate the heads up on that weight change between lenses, if i can carry a 70-200 because i want what it does, i certainly can carry an .7 pounds for the f/4.5 if it does what i want.

thanks!

There’s also the Rodenstock Apo-Grandagon 90mm f4.5, and a Calumet branded version. And a Sinar branded version too. But the Rodenstock at least, goes for serious money - it has a reputation. And there’s a cheaper Rodenstock f6.8 version too which I’ve used - excellent, but slower obviously.

Last summer I was looking all over the auction site for a Nikkor SW 75mm or 65mm for 6x9 follfilm use, likewise specifically because of the f4.5 focussing aperture. I recall coming across a fair few SW 90mm lenses in the $5-600 region. The wider versions were about $400 give or take.

Ironically I think the Nikkor 90mm f.8 is the variant with the ‘legendary’ reputation - compact / light / optically excellent etc. I always felt my clunky f4.5 model was a tractor in comparison.

Anyway all this hunting for an SW 90mm is making me value my one a little more. It’s taken a back seat in recent months, since I picked up a 72XL. But over the last nearly 20 years of ownership the SW90 f4.5 has been more often used then the illustrious Apo -Symmar 110xl it sits next to in the bag. I think the Nikkor images have more ‘snap’ which often suited my subject matter, plus it’s easy to focus and has plenty of coverage.

if japan didn't have that darn 15% tariff i would happily pull the trigger on any of the many SW 90's on there. but i might just have to do that anyway as i want this lens for a trip at the end of the month and time is ticking!

i have the 75mm 4.5 but i think 90mm is actually going to be used a lot more than 75mm for my shooting.

thanks for your thoughts on the subject!

I think you’re right that the 90mm is generally a more useful focal length. I always felt with 4x5 having a relatively ‘squat’ aspect ratio compared to 35mm or 6x9, that the 90mm didn’t look too wide even though it’s pretty wide. The additional height somehow masked the width. But a 75mm always looks wide.

A final thought - the difference between f4.5 and f5.6 is half a stop. It's not nothing, but in practice it's not very significant. You can get a Fuji SWD 90mm f5.6 very affordably from Japan - 25% cheaper then Nikon from my earlier research. So if you need to pull the trigger soon, that's a practical compromise.

If you've any doubt about its optical calibre, just think of the other Fuji optics - the GX680, the Texas Leica, the fancy GFX 100 lenses etc. They're pretty much as good as anything out there.

Ardpatrick said:

A final thought - the difference between f4.5 and f5.6 is half a stop. It's not nothing, but in practice it's not very significant. You can get a Fuji SWD 90mm f5.6 very affordably from Japan - 25% cheaper then Nikon from my earlier research. So if you need to pull the trigger soon, that's a practical compromise.

If you've any doubt about its optical calibre, just think of the other Fuji optics - the GX680, the Texas Leica, the fancy GFX 100 lenses etc. They're pretty much as good as anything out there.

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that's great and appreciated advice! i love fuji for my digital. was pining for a gx680 but went the 4x5 route instead. will search eBay!

What are you willing to spend for the lens?

for a mint condition already mounted to a linhof / wista board i'd spend $650-750. if i need to spend more because importing is my only option, i'll spend more.