Comparison: 450mm f12.5 Fuji versus 450mm f9 Nikon M

[neil poulsen]

I just saw a 450mm f12.5 Fiji lens today. I was struck to see that it's mounted in a Copal 1 shutter. So, I'm wondering how the Fuji lens and the Nikon 450mm f9 M Nikkor lenses compare? I know that the Fuji has a modestly large image circle. But, the Nikon is faster.

[Carsten Wolff]

I liked either when I had them. I did like the Fuji a bit better, probably mostly because of the smaller shutter and me traveling a fair bit with LF. These two lenses have been compared a lot; I don't really have anything else to add, other than I also used the Fuji as a small 765mm lens with a teleconverter with good results. I ended up selling both as I don't use long lenses much. [I still have a fairly cheap, but stellar 15" Wolly tele (favoured even over the great 14" Commercial-Ektar), which I use e.g. for 5x7" sessions when not abroad.]

[gregmo]

I can't comment specifically on the 450's, but I do own a Nikon 300 M and Fuji 600 T F12. With the Fuji shutter, I don't care for the fact that I need to open the copal's dark slide each time to cock it and then close it before taking the shot. It adds one more step and no other lens I own requires me to do that.

[Kevin Crisp]

I've been really impessed with the Fuji, but have never compared it head to head with the Nikon. I once forgot to shut down the aperture on the Fuji and was amazed to find the overexposed negative sharp edge to edge at infinity when wide open.

[Jim Becia]

I just saw a 450mm f12.5 Fiji lens today. I was struck to see that it's mounted in a Copal 1 shutter. So, I'm wondering how the Fuji lens and the Nikon 450mm f9 M Nikkor lenses compare? I know that the Fuji has a modestly large image circle. But, the Nikon is faster.

Neil,

I have and use both lenses. However, the Nikkor is in my 8x10 pack and the Fuji is with my 4x5/5x7 pack. I find both of them to be sharp as a tack. I went with the Nikkor for the 8x10 because I wanted a brighter image on the ground glass. With the Fuji on the 4x5/5x7, the slower lens does not seem to equate to a darker image because the light seems to hit the ground glass straight on but it certainly is a little darker on the 8x10. I picked the Nikkor up at KEH as "bargain" and the price was right so I did not hesitate to get it. The Nikkor is certainly bigger. Both are great lenses.

[Drew Wiley]

My 450 Fuji is one of my most used lenses for 8x10. Never had a problem with the small max aperture with regard to either composition or focus. I use it quite a bit
on my 4x5 Norma too, since that has plenty of rail and bellows extension. I'l like to own a 450M too, since it's the only one of the M series I don't have, but due to
its bigger shutter and wt, would probably use it only on 8x10. I imagine the Fuji's are going to steepen in price, since they have just recently been discontinued from
mfg and do comprise a unique niche in terms of compactness for this kind of focal length. The Nikkors seem a lot more common at the moment.

[David Karp]

I have had both. I used the Nikkor on 4x5 and got some nice images with it. It is small for a 450mm, but the Fuji is so much smaller and easier to handle. I sold the Nikkor and replaced it with the Fuji. I use it way more than I ever thought I would on 4x5, and also use it for 5x7 and Whole Plate. The Fuji is sharp. So was the Nikkor. I never had a problem focusing either lens on 4x5. I don't have a problem with the Fuji in the larger sizes. I highly recommend that little Fujinon. I really like it.

And by the way, Carsten's great tip on using a Fuji teleconverter screwed on to the front filter threads of the Fuji works great. I saw a post he made on this trick years ago and bought one of them from KEH. It was cheap, the optical performance is good, and I got some really nice WP negs made with the combo. Thanks Carsten!

[David Karp]

I made a mistake. It is an Olympus teleconverter.

[Steve Hamley]

Never had the Nikkor, but you cannot go wrong with the Fuji. Incredibly sharp, small shutter, and just a wonderful lens. One of my faves on every format.

Cheers, Steve

[Carsten Wolff]

I have had both. I highly recommend that little Fujinon. I really like it.
And by the way, Carsten's great tip on using a Fuji teleconverter screwed on to the front filter threads of the Fuji works great. I saw a post he made on this trick years ago and bought one of them from KEH. It was cheap, the optical performance is good, and I got some really nice WP negs made with the combo. Thanks Carsten!

Thanks, David, I'm glad you got some good results as well.
I now do miss the Fuji a bit actually; its more than just a smidgen smaller than my current glass, too. Nothing wrong with the Nikkor of course: Either works.