8x10 use of Nikkor 600/800/1200 tele lens

[Dan Smith]

I am looking at the Nikkor Telephoto combination 600/800/1200 lens. The one with the interchangeable rear elements. I know the Nikon brochure says the image cir cle is 310mm at infinity focus at f/22, which is just able to cover the 8x10 for mat. Anybody have any real world experience with these lenses to see if they have mor e coverage? I have heard the 1200 will cover 12x20, but per Nikon it won't. I ha ve another Nikkor that give more coverage than the brochure says & wonder if the se big guns do also.

[Bill Glickman]

Dan....I use the 800 and 1200 and have had no problems with coverage on 8x10....I normally am stoped down to 32 or 45...which of course makes the image circle grow even larger, how much larger, I don't know...but there is a formula our there somewhere that can inform you how much larger the image circle grows at each smaller f stop. I was very skeptical about these lenses when I bought them, but have been very happy so far with the image quality.

[Paul Schilliger]

I might be wrong, if so correct me, but I think I have read somewhere that unlik e traditional design lenses, tele lenses do not have a much greater image circle when they are stopped down...?