Last edited by Sal Santamaura; 25-Aug-2016 at 16:34. Reason: To correct typo that resulted in Nikkor's angle of view at f/8 rather than f/22 being shown
True, specially in the corners: as wider is the lens it has more inclinated rays are there (in general...), brightness also depending on GG/fresnel. But in the center of the image circle the 90mm f/8 is as bright than the 120mm f/8, as rays are just perpendicular (if no swing) to the GG in both cases, and the amount of light depends basically on aperture.
Regarding the angle - with the 120mm f/8 covering such a larger image circle, I'm guessing that the "center" of the image would then describe much more of the 4x5 frame as well. Perhaps that is why it seems to me to be much easier to compose with the 120mm lens. Shooting with really wide angles such as the 47mm and 58mm XL lenses the "center" portion, which may be at f/5.6 brightness, seems incredibly dim and/or small.
Thanks everyone for the commentary. This has generated some good insights.
Several years back I took my Toyo 45AX with all the 4x5 lens to an open field next to the San Mateo Bridge's shoreline to compare the field of view of each as seen through a Blair 4x5 cardboard mount at infinity. The idea was to determine how many fingers extended from my nose were required to reproduce the field of view (what you see on the ground glass) as seen thru the lens at its widest aperture. I wanted to replace the Linhoff lens-finder which I carry with the cardboard Blair mount. I found the 120 Nikkor's FOV only insignificantly wider than the 150 Rodenstock and about the same as the 75mm Pentax 67 on the Pentax 67II which is my most used 6x7 MF lens.
Thomas
What do you want to photograph using LF?
How remote are the scenes that you want to photograph?
If you're not sure, I'd go for the 120mm f8 and downsize later if you don't need the large image circle. For example, the Fuji 125mm single-coated lens with inside lettering sounds interesting. Another possibility would be a Schneider, Super-Symmar 120mm HR, which has a larger image circle (211mm) than most non-super-wide lenses in this focal length.
For myself, my 121mm Schneider Super Angulon f8 was my second lens, and it's been a keeper. If needed, I definitely want to additional image circle. The 121mm Schneider SA is the single-coated version; the 120mm SA is the multi-coated version.
In other words, assuming a horizontal camera back orientation, you verified that any 120mm lens has a 51 degree horizontal angle of view on 4x5 and any 150mm lens has a 42 degree angle of view under the same conditions, as shown here:
According to the table, your Pentax 75mm's horizontal angle of view should be closer to that of the 120 than the 150.
How important different angles of view are depends on the flexibility one has when framing / positioning a camera as well as how critical one is about changes in the "look" when using different lenses. I find 120s to provide a significantly different "feel" than 150s. YMMV.
Hi all, I’ve started using the nikkor SW 120mm lens, has anyone else noted inherent light loss when using this lens? And how much E.g. 1 stop? Thanks
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