Computar lens quality?

[norm the storm]

Hi

I'm interested to get a wide angle for 11 x 14 format. I want to know if somebody know or try a Computar 210 mm f9 lens?

What's about quality of Computar lenses?

[neil poulsen]

I doubt that it will cover. Kerry Thalmann reports the coverage of this lens to be 380mm. The diagonal of 11x14 is about 450mm.

See . . . http://reallybigcameras.com/Kerry/Thalmann_Lens_Sale.htm

If you could find a 240mm Computar f9, Kerry reports the diagonal coverage of this lens as 530mm.

Check the archives. (Discussions included both Kerry and Sandy King.) Much has been discussed about the excellent images this series of lenses can produce when contact printing.

[Regular Rod]

That 210 is similar to the one I use for 8x10, only it is in a shutter and marked up for using it converted as well as normally. If you got the 240 as suggested by Neil, if it is anything like as good as the 210 you will be delighted. My 210 is convertible to 370 and it seems to lose none of its sharpness at that focal length. The only downside is that you may have difficulty persuading anyone to part with theirs. It's the last lens I'd give up...

RR

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

My 210/9 Computar is a great 8x10 lens. I will just cover 11x14 if you remove the hood and the spacer ring, but there is no room for movement and it needs to be at f45 or beyond to be sharp in the corners. The 240mm or 300mm would be better for 11x14.

Here is a 5x7 triptych I made using rear shift and a 210/9 Computar, requiring about 380mm of image circle:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xk82Jd_vVI0/UzRcAnCY8yI/AAAAAAAACNA/URB86ND9-as/s800/Kamakura%2520Triptych.jpg

As I recall, I had to remove the lens hood to avoid vignetting.

[David Lobato]

As for quality, I had a 180mm Computar for a brief time that was much sharper than I expected. It had heavy cleaning marks but it would not give up producing sharp negatives. It was short of coverage for 8x10 and I sold it. Sort of wish I'd kept it now.

[Eric Leppanen]

I used my 210/9 Computar on my 8x10 camera, and while it could support extensive movements I noted quite a bit of light falloff toward the edge of the image circle.

I did not shoot my 210/9 Computar on 11x14, but according to my notes the usable image circle is in the neighborhood of 460mm, which is enough to cover 11x14 with virtually no movements. If the light falloff bothers you, you could always explore attaching a filter ring and fitting a center filter to the lens.

I agree that one of the high coverage 240/9 (or longer) lenses would be a better match for 11x14 if you can live with the narrower angle of view.

[Lachlan 717]

I've used a both Computar and Graphic Kowa 240mm f9s on 7x17 (bigger IC than 11x14). The Kowa is sharper, but both produce great images.

The GK doesn't come apart, though, whereas the Computar was mounted in a Copal 3s.

[norm the storm]

Thank you to you and every body. I'll wait to get a 240mm or something else like the Graphis Kowa.
I used my 210/9 Computar on my 8x10 camera, and while it could support extensive movements I noted quite a bit of light falloff toward the edge of the image circle.

I did not shoot my 210/9 Computar on 11x14, but according to my notes the usable image circle is in the neighborhood of 460mm, which is enough to cover 11x14 with virtually no movements. If the light falloff bothers you, you could always explore attaching a filter ring and fitting a center filter to the lens.

I agree that one of the high coverage 240/9 (or longer) lenses would be a better match for 11x14 if you can live with the narrower angle of view.

[StoneNYC]

I doubt that it will cover

Neil, would you clear your PM's or PM me? I have a question for you. Thanks.