Worth getting a Super Topcor 90mm F/5.6?

[Christianganko]

Hello all

Trying to get my first LF gear together and save some money in the process.

I am looking for a 90mm. I see a lot of the Schneider Kreuzach Super Angulon 90mm f/5.6 & F8 but also found the Topcor

My understanding is that the SUPER version will cover 4x5?

Is it worth the money or should i hold out and get an Angulon?

Thank you for your help and any opinions

[Jody_S]

I had one, it did cover, but I never got a good image from it. So I sold it and bought a Super Angulon 90/5.6, and I can't get a good image out of that one either. Now I'm looking to buy back the SA 90/8 I sold a couple of years ago, because I got excellent results with that one.

There's more difference between individual copies of the lens than between different makers. Mine was a dud, You might find an excellent one. But there's no guarantee of excellence if you go with Schneider, Rodenstock or Nikor instead, because any of those can be duds too. That's the joy of buying used, obsolete lenses.

[Dan Fromm]

Coverage claims:

90/5.6 SA, 235 mm @ f/22
90/8 SA, 216 mm @ f/22

90/5.6 Topcor Super ER, 150 mm @f/22 This is a plasmat type lens for 6x9 Horseman cameras, should be marginal on 4x5.
90/5.6 Topcor LF, 235 mm @ f/22 This is an f/5.6 SA type for 4x5 cameras.
See https://www.cameraeccentric.com/static/img/pdfs/horseman_2.pdf

[Christianganko]

Coverage claims:

90/5.6 SA, 235 mm @ f/22
90/8 SA, 216 mm @ f/22

90/5.6 Topcor Super ER, 150 mm @f/22 This is a plasmat type lens for 6x9 Horseman cameras, should be marginal on 4x5.
90/5.6 Topcor LF, 235 mm @ f/22 This is an f/5.6 SA type for 4x5 cameras.
See https://www.cameraeccentric.com/static/img/pdfs/horseman_2.pdf

I see

So i was looking at the standard basically. Topcor that is.

But worth getting the LF for sure. Would you say? I presume its an older lens?

Thank you Dan

[Bernice Loui]

What are your expectations for this lens, how will it be used? What kind of image goals are intended?

Basic run down on 90mm lenses for 4x5. Any modern 90mm from Fujinon, Schneider, Nikkor, Rodenstock is more similar than different. Yes, full aperture can be from f4.5 (Grandagon) to f8 (Nikkor, Schneider, Fujinon). Most are six or eight element designs, the significant difference will be image circle at f22.

First of these view camera wide angles appeared about the 1960's and not that much has changed since then. Newer is not better in the world of LF lenses.

Topcor were essentially press camera lenses different than the common 90mm specific to view camera lenses. Topcor lenses have good performance but with very real limitations.


Bernice







I see

So i was looking at the standard basically. Topcor that is.

But worth getting the LF for sure. Would you say? I presume its an older lens?

Thank you Dan

[Dan Fromm]

Topcor were essentially press camera lenses different than the common 90mm specific to view camera lenses. Topcor lenses have good performance but with very real limitations.

Not so. I gave a link to a catalog in post #3 above. Download it and look at pp. 21-22.

[Tin Can]

Oh my

I should not have read Dan's entire link

While I have a few things not in Link, I see way too many I want:)




Coverage claims:

90/5.6 SA, 235 mm @ f/22
90/8 SA, 216 mm @ f/22

90/5.6 Topcor Super ER, 150 mm @f/22 This is a plasmat type lens for 6x9 Horseman cameras, should be marginal on 4x5.
90/5.6 Topcor LF, 235 mm @ f/22 This is an f/5.6 SA type for 4x5 cameras.
See https://www.cameraeccentric.com/static/img/pdfs/horseman_2.pdf