Schneider 121mm Super Angulon - good for 8x10 ?

[nick mulder]

hi,

I have been offered a Schneider 121mm Super Angulon in a compur shutter for ~ $480US -

is this a good offer ?

I currently have built myself a 4x5 which can possibly be converted to 5x7 without much hassle - I know that this lens would be good for both these sizes but the cam was built as a prototype for a 8x10 -

Would this lens have ok coverage at infinity for some shift in an 8x10 ?

I love wide lenses - and long exposures also , so stopping down is not an issue

see the pic's (the rear is just as clear)

cheers!
nick

 

[jimgalli]

It covers but just barely. Best when in just a tad from infinity. A VERY wide lens for 8X10. I think the earlier ones like this may have just a tad more coverage than the later 120 SA.

This photo was done with the 121 with the twisted skewed effect being the desired end.

 

[Loose Gravel]

Yes it covers. So does the 110mm SSXL. For $480 it had better be very nice. I found that Compur shutter to be a little weird and I once broke off the little thing where the cable release screws in. It was expensive to take the lens apart to fix it. There is a bargain one at KEH for $310. YMMV.

 

[nick mulder]

"VERY wide"

its good tho in that I can use it for 4x5 and 5x7 with plenty of movements ... I like super wides for architecture/star-trails/landscape/weirdo shots - I think a short tele would come next, basically the same set-up as I have with my RZ (one wide and one short tele and 6x7 and 645 format equal 4 'looks')


"For $480 it had better be very nice"

... going from the attached pic's which are all I have also - what would you suggest is a good price ?

 

[Loose Gravel]

As a reference, there was one on ebay last week that looked perfect, was in a copal (which I'd prefer and newer) that started at $475 and no one bid. I bought one ages ago, when these were worth more and it was about $325. It was a 1959 issue. I gave it to a friend of mine a year ago and I figured it would bring about $250 without issues had I sold it.

There is one at KEH (which is pretty inconvenient for you) that is listed as "bargain" at the $310 mentioned. From the pictures, this one looks 'bargain' to me. That front element looks grungy (indicating less than fantastic care) and the lens looks to have seen some miles (kilometers). From the serial number chart, this one is pre Feb, 1957. If you are buying it from a private party, then $250 is my guess, but you should have the right to return and you should check the shutter speeds (have them checked before you buy if you can). If you have to have the shutter fixed, it's going to be $100 or more. I wouldn't expect the speeds to be perfect, but I would want them stable and the lower ones from 1/2 to 1/25 should be useable.

Buyer beware and lucky.

 

[Ole]

Mine has a serial number in the 11 millions, this one is 4.9 millions. That's quite a long time... I paid a lot less for mine due to a mismatched shutter (max opening on mine is about f:10), and if I paid for factory mounting in a new shutter it would not cost much more than yours. I wouldn't pay more than $350 for a 121 SA that old...

 

[Christopher Nisperos]

. . . . I wouldn't pay more than $350 for a 121 SA that old...

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Nick,

I agree with Ole. I have one also ... US$480.00 is way too much.

You can use it with 8x10. It barely covers at infinity, so better use it for close-ups, medium-distance landscapes which don't require too much movement, and weird portraits.

Also, you might find it to be a good normal lens on an 8x10 point'n'shoot.

 

[Kimberly Anderson]

I have a SA 120 f/8 that's for sale. It covers 8x10 with a little movement. Like others have said, not very much, but a little.

Here's a pic of it:

I do not know anything about the 121, but what I have heard is that it does have a bit more movement than the 120.

Does the lens board come with the lens? If you are shooting a Linhof (or Wista), then that would come into account a bit I would think on the final price.

Good luck.