Nikkor sw 120mm/super angulon 120mm

Anyone have any experience with either of these lenses? I currently have a 150mm 5.6 which is good for normal shots, but can't get me in to any tight places. The ridiculous amount of coverage that both the nikkor SW and SA offer is very intriguing to me as I had previously been considering a 90mm as a second lens which wont offer nearly as much. Im just not sure if there is a significant difference in wideness between 120mm and 150mm which would warrant buying one; and more importantly, packing in a camera bag. I could almost see myself keeping the 150mm at home a lot and using the 120mm 24/7 and then opting for a super wide (65-75mm) in the future. I was thinking of either doing that, or spending the extra money on a 90mm with plenty of coverage and only having 2 lenses, ever. any opinions?

The Nikkor 120 SW is my favorite lens. It is about the equivalent of a 35 on 35. So it is definitely a change from a "normal" 150. Do a search here for it. It has been discussed allot.

I'm going out on a limb and betting most of us who've bought Nikon 120SW did it for 5x7 and 8x10. If it was only 4x5 landscape I'd have leaned toward the 125mm Fuji lens. Why go with such a big and slow lens for 4x5?

The other thing would be a 105 Fuji SW wide. The thing covers almost 260mm. Should be ample for 4x5.

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Originally Posted by Nick_3536

I'm going out on a limb and betting most of us who've bought Nikon 120SW did it for 5x7 and 8x10. If it was only 4x5 landscape I'd have leaned toward the 125mm Fuji lens. Why go with such a big and slow lens for 4x5?

The other thing would be a 105 Fuji SW wide. The thing covers almost 260mm. Should be ample for 4x5.

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I use it on a 4x5. For architecture there is no substitute for coverage.

The Nikkor is great for 4x5 or 8x10. I usually don't use it for 4x5, but instead use my Fujinon 125 mm 'cause the Nikkor 120 mm is BIG! Great field of view on 8x10.

I use the SW 120 on 8x10 a lot. Love it. The image is a bit dark on the gg due to small opening but that is minor.

I just got a Nikkor 120mm SW to use with 8x10 and it's a lot of glass to carry around for a 4x5 unless you really need the coverage. I'd much rather carry around a 90/150 combination with my 4x5 than the 120mm. I also feel like the 120mm doesn't get you into tight spaces unless you hang an 8x10 on the back of it. I honestly think you'd be happier with nice Nikkor 90mm f/8 which is compact and has pretty good coverage. *Unless* you're planning on getting an 8x10 camera--in which case it's good to buy lenses that will cover both formats.

I can get the nikkor 120 for about 450 dollars from keh, whereas the 90mm goes for the 650-800 range which is way more than i have to spend. I figure its cheaper, has a lot more coverage, and can see using only that lens most the time. I had a 135 on my super graphic and i found that to be good focal length to get most things i was shooting. i dont' really do any landscape photography, most if it you could call architectural i suppose so being able to rise the front 3.5 inches and tilting the lens 35 degrees is really appealing to me. I could also achieve lifesize reproduction at 240mm, so i could shoot with the 11" rail and bag bellows almost all of the time. Right now i have a cambo sc with the 150mm that all fits in a lowepro backpack with spot meter, 6 film holders, polaroid back etc with bit of room to spare (hopefully enough to replace the leave the 150 at home and take the 120 nikkor). The only thing is i would probably be forced to shoot wide open a lot, so if that lens doesn't perform well at F8 there might be a problem. I don't really have plans to shoot 8x10, but having a lens that would cover one may open that world up for me someday.

Those prices don't sound like the same condition of lenses. If B&H still has any 90mm in stock you can get one brand new for the prices you quotes.

KEH seems to run a bit high on their 90mm lenses, for the most part the lenses are equal in cost--both around $500 in excellent condition. Since you're using a Cambo SC, weight isn't a big issue, so the 120mm may be just what you're looking for. I'd say the 120mm would be easier to handle on a 4x5 monorail as opposed to a lightweight field camera. I have a 3 pound and change Chamonix 4x5 and the 120mm just seems a little unwieldy. Why would you be shooting wide open?