Congo 400mm f8 sharpness on a budget?

[scott.thorp.photography]

Hi there, First time posting here from way down under in NZ.
I've just gotten into large format photography and am looking at a few lenses (on a budget), with a Sinar Alpina 4x5. For long lenses I'm keen to get something in the 300-400 range, and a congo 400mm f8 has just come up for pretty jolly cheap on a certain website.
I have tried searching but can't find anything particularly valuable on it.
Does anyone own one; or can anyone vouch for them?
Are there any other lenses out there that you guys would recommend for second hand under $300US? - Is the Fuji 400 going to be significantly better?

[B.S.Kumar]

Congo, Osaka and Komura lenses perform much better than their low prices suggest. They are not in the same league as the best from the big four, but they are very decent performers, and in most situations, you will not find a difference.

Kumar

[scott.thorp.photography]

Thanks very much Kumar, I'll give it a shot

[Don Dudenbostel]

I owned one and a Nikkor 360 f8. The Congo was amazingly close in performance and would take a large print to see any difference.

[Steve Goldstein]

I compared Osaka (=Congo) and Fujinon-T 400mm lenses a while back and my simple test negatives showed no substantive difference on 4x5. At 5x7 the Osaka was slightly softer in the corners.

The Osaka was 150gm lighter than the Fujinon (482gm vs 632gm, both measured on my kitchen scale with caps and mounting ring).

[Randy]

I have had three Congo's - 180mm, 250mm, and now a 360mm f/? - and all have been wonderful performers...very sharp. But, just a bit of unsolicited advice from experience...sharpness isn't everything.

[Luis-F-S]

Most lenses are better than most photographers

[B.S.Kumar]

Most lenses are better than most photographers

True. If I can reach half the potential of my beat-up Fujinon 150mm f/6.3, I will be very happy.

Kumar

[Barrie B.]

I use a congo 400mm for landscapes on a Wisner 4 x 5 usually at f 22 or f 32 and the results are very good.
Cheers Barrir B. Melbourne Australia.
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[orgraph]

Bravo!