100mm f6.3 Kodak Wide Field Ektar: After the 90mm Angulon, the 100mm Wide Field Ektar is probably the most frequently recommended of the classic 4x5 wide angles. Although not quite as common on the used market, it is still fairly easy to find. Like the WA Congo, the WF Ektar is a gauss wide field design (four elements in four groups). Like the others in this group, usable coverage is in the 80 - 85 degree range. However, since this one is a little longer in focal length than the others, the image circle is a little larger.
The last specs I've seen on the 100mm WF Ektar list the image circle as 183mm. Performance of the single sample we have tested, is on par with the others in this group (i.e. good sharpness center, tailing off near the corners).
As far as I know, all WF Ektars are single coated. You can determine the age of Kodak lenses using their CAMEROSITY key word (where C=1...Y=0). For example, a lens with serial number staring in RY was made in 1950 (obviously not Y2K compliant). As mentioned above, Kodak LF lenses have a great reputation for quality control. The designs they used were not terribly innovative (tessars, WF gauss, etc.), but in the period following WWII, Kodak made some of the best glass in the world. Based on personal experience, I have never used any Kodak LF lens that was a dud (that includes plain Ektars, Commercial Ektars and WF Ektars). So, when shopping for a WF Ektar, the main thing to look for is signs of physical damage. Evidently, early Kodak lens coatings tended to be a bit soft, which lead to problems with cleaning marks. Be sure to check, using a strong light, for such cleaning marks on the front and rear surfaces. A couple faint marks won't effect anything other than re-sale value, but I've seen some that looked like they were cleaned with sandpaper. Such severe cleaning marks will have a big negative impact on contrast, and if bad enough, on sharpness. I recommend avoiding such heavily scratched samples and holding out for something in better condition. Typical used selling prices for the 100mm WF Ektar seem to be in the $250 - $325 range.
One slight inconvenience with using the WF Ektar (and many other older lenses) is the lack of support for standard size screw in filters. Many of these older lenses used push on adapters that accepted series filters. If you want to use modern, threaded glass filters, you will most likely need to get a custom filter adapter made to fit. Steve Grimes is a very good source for such custom made adapters. The 100mm Wide Field Ektar does have a threaded front barrel, but the thread is an odd size (looks to be 39.5mm). So, if you can't find an off-the-shelf adapter, Steve could either make you a standard style set-up ring (say 39.5mm - 52mm), or one of his specially designed slip on filter adapters.
Table 3. 100mm Wide Field Ektar Test Results
100mm f/6.3 Kodak WF Ektar
f/16: 67 60 30
f/22: 60 60 30
f/32: 48 42 30
175g Supermatic RYxxxx 1950
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