Small dilemma

[campy51]

I have a Crown Graphic that came with a Xenar 135mm lens, cam and infinity stops all set up. I also have a Nikon-W 135mm that the infinity stops need to be a little in front of the Xenar at infinity and I also have a Kodak Ektar 152mm and cam and just purchased another set of infinity stops. What I wanted to do was to use one of the infinity stops for the Xenar and the other for the Nikon and the new infinity stops for the 152mm. The problem is the 152 stops will only fit if I use the infinity stop of the Xenar. If I use the Nikon the the infinity spot is wrong for the 152mm. So do I keep the Xenar and sell the Nikon or should I just scribe a line on the rail for infinity on the Nikon? I hate to sell the Nikon because of the modern shutter but will there be much of a difference in picture quality between the Nikon and Xenar?

 

[Sirius Glass]

As you have discovered, two lenses of the same focal length may have different infinity focal distances. Without going into why other than to mention that sometimes the focal length is rounded off or approximate, to avoid problems you may want or need to install multiple infinity stops. The other choices come down to not using one of the lenses or [my favorite] buying another camera for that lens.

 

[Paul Howell]

I would scribe a focus line for the Nikon. 80% of the time I use the ground glass when shooting with my Crown.

 

[campy51]

As you have discovered, two lenses of the same focal length may have different infinity focal distances. Without going into why other than to mention that sometimes the focal length is rounded off or approximate, to avoid problems you may want or need to install multiple infinity stops. The other choices come down to not using one of the lenses or [my favorite] buying another camera for that lens.

I etched a mark on the rail for the Nikon and will use that with the rangefinder and see how it works. I don't think a mm or 2 will yield an out of focus image if I am stopped down.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Re scribing an index mark, one of the bed stops' functions is to ensure that the standard is parallel to the film plane. Setting the standard at scribed marks risks a little unintended swing.

 

[shutterfinger]

Don't forget that you can fold infinity stops down, slide the standard past them, fold the stops up, slide the standard up to them.
I have a infinity stop with the rear screw cut off at the fold pin.

 

[138S]

I hate to sell the Nikon because of the modern shutter but will there be much of a difference in picture quality between the Nikon and Xenar?

It depends... in some situations you'll get a very similar image, but there are important nuances.

The Nikon and the xenar are quite different lenses. One is not "artistically better" than the other.

Regarding optical performance we also have a variability between the lenses of the same model...

The Nikon is a superb Plasmat design (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasmat_lens), very well corrected even in the edges at relatively large apertures, (probably) low flare multicoated and a top performer. John Sexton moved to the Nikon W series and many of his prominent works have been shot with the W series, still (reportedly) he owned several units until he gathered top performer samples, but perhaps not many would see the difference between the samples he discarted and those he kept, probably only an artist of his kind may see some difference. Personally I use the W 210 and 360 with great satisfaction, but I can't tell if they are much better or worse than the Sironar N I have.

The Xenar is a superb Tessar design (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessar) it has less elements and less groups than a plasmat and it can't be as well corrected, at least at large apertures. With the Xenar corners won't be as sharp until we stop it a lot, by f/22 and beyond the Tessar has the spheric aberration better corrected and then diffraction happening in both the Xenar and the W is starting to limit both, so mostly you will find that as both are stopped difference will be lower.

Still... many times the peak performance won't be obtained because you have other limiting factors, like focus accuracy, DOF or vibrations. For example if you shot handheld then motion blur is to be totally dominant. Also check what are the image circle sizes and if that makes a difference for your camera movements.

This Xenar could be the original lens of this camera, so it can be a total sin selling it . Also the Xenar is superb for portraits as it delivers a great bokeh and, depending on situation, less costrasty textures that are good for skin.

 

[Alan Gales]

I used to own a Crown Graphic with the Schneider 135 lens and a Caltar 210 lens. I bought an extra set of infinity stops from a Seller on eBay. I'd just fold down the front stops when using the 210mm lens.