The Apo-Germinar 1000 19,5 that Andrew suggested could be the answer. If it is mounted in a Copal #3, it must be of decent size. However, considering the price, you have to be very serious about it!
The Apo-Germinar 1000 19,5 that Andrew suggested could be the answer. If it is mounted in a Copal #3, it must be of decent size. However, considering the price, you have to be very serious about it!
Paul, the Docter Apo-Germinars in Copal 3 are:
750mm: 1925g 1000mm: 2185g
The barrel versions are much heavier, at
750mm: 3900g 1000mm: 4500g
Both the 900 and 1200mm were part of an earlier Apo-Germinar line from the 1960's and are very rare. I do not know their weight, but probably similar to the 1000mm.
I also own the Fuji 600T and, yes, also for me it is my weakest modern lens. Useable, but not great. Since its my only telephoto and the other Fujis I have are excellent, I thought thats just the way LF telephotos are. Maybe I'll give the Nikkor a chance now.
At two kilos, it's a heavy piece, but with shutter included, it would probably pass the weight test. This isn't a lens that I would use without a second tripod anyway. But let's wait.
I think the Fujinon T600 is not an apo corrected lens. Tele lenses must be apo corrected, the Nikkors are. However, plain focal lenses are crisper than the 360-500 Nikkors.
No offense meant to 600T owners--it may just be mine that's crummy! As to the Nikkor teles, I should add that in the last couple of years I've gone to Fuji 300C and Fuji 450C instead of the Nikkor 360mm/500mm combo. This was in part a quest for improved image quality, but also a matter of weight, the fact that I use them for 8x10 (plus the Fuji 600C), and because I got an Arca that could handle them. I do think the image quality is better--but I was recently looking back through some images I've shot both ways and was surprised to see the Nikkors holding up well.
Schneider has a new 8x10 telephoto series out, but I haven't seen them--don't know how they compare to the Nikkor 600-800-1200. Like the Nikkors, they look really big and heavy.
I saw the new Schneider telephotos at photokina last year - the front cell had nearly the diameter of the Copal 3 they came in. Big lenses, and overkill for 4x5. I had hoped they would come out with something like the smaller Nikkor series, in size 1 shutters. Oh well... I use and love the 450C Fuji and its in a different class compared to the Fuji 600T. I do like the 600mm focal length, though, since it fits my lens line quite well (...150-210-300-450-600mm), but with my Technikardan I need a telephoto in that focal length. Since I have the 450C, the Nikkor 500mm is too close and the 720mm would be the only alternative.
Arne, how long can you extend the Technikardan? I use with the folding Technika 5x7 a Wista extension tube made of 3 rings that has fittings for the standard Linhof boards on both ends. It is light and makes for another 10 cm extension. Allows me to mount the 600C on the Technika.
I have a Nikkor 720T, which I love and use constantly on 4x5. Quality is terrific; maybe it varies from one sample to another, but I've also used a Nikkor 500T and don't see a difference in quality. I'm very much a long lens person; I lust after the 1200T, but would have to get an 8x10 with 4x5 reducing back to shoot 4x5 with it. Which I've been thinking about doing for over a year now
Paul, the TK extends to 520mm or 510mm, somewhere in that range. So that would be another 120mm or so for the 600C. That may be tough for extension tubes, and might vignette, too. Also, do extension tubes for a size 3 shutter go on regular Technika boards? The Technika 5x7 has larger boards, right?
Arne,
I use the regular boards with an adapter. The Wista tube has a normal lensboard on one side and takes a normal lensboard on the other side. Additional rings of 2,5 and 3cm can be ordered. It has a wide diameter and would not vignette easily with the 600, I have used it with some rise without a problem even on 5x7. But yes, it slightly stresses the front standard. I had it on the smaller 4x5 Technika with the 1Kg Fujinon T600 some years ago and that was a bit too weak, but stiffer than if I extended the bed fully to take the lens straight. But no problem on the 5x7 or on the monorail with the lighter 600C (575g). I don't really know how the Technikardan would handle that extension having never used one. What you could get in the worst case is a slight lens tilt.
BTW, the Fujinon C600 has a shorter Ff of 573mm! The standard tube could be enough.
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