Coverage info wanted for the Nikon ED T telephotos....

[sdean7855]

There appear to be two versions

A 360-500-720 version
a 500-800-1200 version


I may not have the focal lengths exactly right, but they are in that range. Can someone tell me what the image circles are for these lenses....and any other comments. Getting one of these sets is no small expenditure. I'm shooting 8x10 on a Sinar F. I was going to get this one (http://www.ebay.com/itm/131468851689), but there's a problem with the shutter.

[Steve Goldstein]

The 360/500/720 set just covers 5x7 with a 210mm image circle at f/22 according to Nikon's 2004 brochure. The 600/800/1200 set just covers 8x10 with a 310mm quoted image circle at f/22.

[fishbulb]

The 360/500/720 set just covers 5x7 with a 210mm image circle at f/22 according to Nikon's 2004 brochure. The 600/800/1200 set just covers 8x10 with a 310mm quoted image circle at f/22.

Yep. Everything you need to know is in this PDF file: http://www.kenleegallery.com/pdf/Nikkor_LargeFormatLenses.pdf

[Corran]

The 720mm will actually barely cover 8x10. Whether or not the image definition in the corners is up to par, I don't really know. Haven't tried it yet but I did look at the image on the GG and it looked pretty good.
The 500mm doesn't cover at infinity but does closer up.

The 600/800/1200 set though is designed for 8x10. Are you wanting these only for 8x10?

[Sal Santamaura]

It pays to visit this site's home page and explore the links on it, one of which is


http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/LF4x5in.html

[Drew Wiley]

You can get plenty of bellows extension with a Sinar. For that kind of money you could get several regular lenses which are far lighter, with bigger image circles
and better optics.

[Ed Richards]

Bellows extension and stability, even with the Sinar, gets to be a big pain at 500mm if you are outdoors. Also do not be too sure about the optics. I have the 500 and it is very good. If you are outdoors, it is sharper than you would likely get with a non-telephoto 500 on that stretched out bellows.

[sdean7855]

As always thanks to all for definitive, informative and expert commo...........
I got a 600-800

[EdSawyer]

Good choice, these lenses are classics, the best teles made by anyone, basically. They hold their value well.

[John Schneider]

Go to http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/FreeCatalog.jsp, download the Professional Photo Sourcebook, and look at the LF lens specs

[Steve Barber]

You can get plenty of bellows extension with a Sinar. For that kind of money you could get several regular lenses which are far lighter, with bigger image circles
and better optics.

If you can refer me to lenses that are of comparable focal lengths and optical quality, while being cheaper and lighter than the Nikkor T-ED 600, 800 and 1,200mm versions, I would be very interested in buying them.

[sdean7855]

I purchased a Nikon ED T 600-800 set.....which only has the aperture legend for those two focal lengths. If someday the gods smile and send the 1200mm rear cell my way at a reasonable price, I'd need to know how to set the aperture with it. If anyone has the 1200mm and/or a picture of the aperture marks on the shutter, would he or she be so kind as to send me a picture of those aperture marks on the shutter? I have scouted Google and links here, but all the images I can find are low-res and too blurry to make out.

Thanks in advance.

[fishbulb]

The apertures are one stop up for each rear cell. So f/16 on the 600mm is f/22 on the 800mm is f/32 on the 1200mm.

See the pictures here http://m.ebay.com/itm/131475230572

[sdean7855]

Thanks!!!

[sdean7855]

...and in poking around looking for this information, I found this auction from 2014 of a full set or all 3 focal lengths that went for $650. Moan.
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/31929872_nikon-nikkor-t-ed-6008001200mm-front-lens#

[Steve Barber]

...and in poking around looking for this information, I found this auction from 2014 of a full set or all 3 focal lengths that went for $650. Moan.
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/31929872_nikon-nikkor-t-ed-6008001200mm-front-lens#

Oh, well, here's another for just a bit more. :(

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-nikkor-T-for-ED-600mm-f9-800mm-f12-1200mm-f18-only-front-lens-large-636-/251869747424?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3aa49b58e0

[Nathan Potter]

Both of the previous posts were for the front element only - still a pretty good deal.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[Drew Wiley]

The whole point, Steve, is to think in terms of regular lenses, not telephotos. Remember, you can choose graphics barrel lenses too, like Artars and Apo Nikkors,
then get them mounted in shutter if necessary, or simply acquire a Sinar shutter for the whole batch. 600 Fujinon C's aren't exactly rare either, though finding a
bargain on one of those isn't likely to happen. Telephotos in this kind of focal length are going to be heavy and huge. With a Sinar your bellows are not limited.

[Steve Barber]

Actually, the only two lenses I have that are of comparable optical quality are a 600mm, f9 Apo-Ronar and an 800mm, f9 Apo-Ronar, neither of which are in a shutter, where the Nikkor T-ED lens is mounted in a modern Copal #3 shutter. Even the 600mm Ronar is heavier, by almost 300 grams, than the Nikkor in its 600mm configuration. This is its heaviest configuration, with the largest of the three rear elements, the complete lens being progressively lighter in the longer focal lengths. In its 600mm configuration, the Nikkor weighs just over 1,700 grams where the 600mm Ronar, with no shutter, weighs 1,980 grams in its barrel mount. As to the other focal lengths, the 800mm Ronar is ridiculously bulky and weighs about 4kg without the Packard shutter that S. K. Grimes adapted for it. For the 1,200mm, I do not have another 1,200mm lens to be able to compare it to the Nikkor and neither do I have a camera that I could focus such a long lens on. As far as a monorail is concerned, rigging up one of those for a 1,200mm non-telephoto and getting it adequately supported is not my idea of a fun day.

As to optical quality, I do think the Ronars may have a bit more contrast than the Nikkor when I compare them to it. Other than that, I cannot see any difference between them. While not having a 1,200mm lens to compare it to, the images produced by the 1,200mm configuration are comparable to those produced by the 600 and 800mm versions. Due to atmospheric effects, it becomes a challenge to find something small enough for it to resolve in order to get some idea of what it is capable of. It easily resolves the cable car suspension cables that are sky lighted approximately four and a half miles away. That is what I usually use when I am comparing longer focal length lenses. For the 1,200mm I have not been able to find another, more difficult, object to use; that is, one that is not so distorted by mirage that it can give a useful result.

So, Drew, as I said, if you can refer me to non-telephoto lenses of comparable focal length and optical quality that are lighter and cheaper than the Nikkor T-ED in its 600, 800 and 1,200mm versions, I’d be interested; but, you don’t seem to be able to do that.