Nikon 120mm F 8 wide

[Ed Richards]

This lens is availble new for under $900, and it does not use a extreme filter size (77mm). I have been looking for a moderate wide angle for 4x5, and was thinking about an old Angulon 120. (I want plenty of movements, so the modern The angulon would be a little brighter, with a smaller filter size, but an old, usually compur shutter with those old, odd compur shutter timings that also hard to read. Pros and cons? Do angulons fit in modern shutters?

[Nick_3536]

They haven't made new Nikon LF lenses in I think over a year. So if you find it in the shop don't expect it to be there next year.

Pros? Covers 8x10 when stopped down.

Cons? Pretty big for a 4x5 IMHO. Relatively expensive for a that focal length on a 4x5.

Why not considered a Fuji 125mm W? $645 brand new from Badger. Or even cheaper if you can find a used copy at KEH.

http://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=165

Of course if you intend to shoot 8x10 ever then the Nikon wins.

[Ed Richards]

> Why not considered a Fuji 125mm W? $645 brand new from Badger. Or even cheaper if you can find a used copy at KEH.

The Fuji only covers a little more than 200mm, which does not give a lot in the way of movements.

[Nick_3536]

If you can handle a little wider the Fuji 105mm SW [not the W] would be my choice then. Coverage is I think 250. Can be pretty cheap on the used market mine was under $300 IIRC. But more expensive new then the Nikon.

I only bought the 120mm Nikon for 5x7 and 8x10. Personally I can't see using it that much on 4x5.

[Brian Ellis]

Following the usual practice in this group, I'll make a suggestion that you didn't ask for. : - ) What about a 100mm Kodak Wide Field Ektar? It's more "moderate wide angle" than 120mm, it's tiny, light, decent image circle, sharp, inexpensive, what more could you want except a modern shutter? But the shutters they come in are o.k. if they're working properly, you just have to get used to them. And if you want to use a filter the glass is so small it's easy to hold a filter in front of it by hand so you don't need to worry with step-up rings or buying new filters.

[Capocheny]

Ed,

Or, there's the Fujinon 125 SW f8 on Copal 0 that Dagor77 is selling on the bay at the moment... :)

Item #180042132893

It'll cover 5x7 with plenty of movement (IC 280 @ f22.)

Far, far lighter and smaller than the Nikkor 120. :)

Cheers

[Stephen Willard]

I have this lens, and it is an amazing lens. It is razor sharp from edge to edge with tons of movement and little light fall off. Quite often, when I am in a wide angle situation things are tight, and I need all the movement I can squeeze out of a lens. For a 4x5 this lens has it and more.

For sure it is big, but its design has been perfect for many of the tight applications I find myself in. For $600 I would hesitate to buy it.

[Walter Calahan]

I own the Nikon 120 mm f/8.0 for my 8x10 system. Great lens.

I also own the Fujinon 125 mm for my 4x5 field camera. Great lens, but a lot smaller than the Nikon.

Don't think you'll go wrong with either. All depends on how you plan to use one or the other.

[Ole Tjugen]

Do angulons fit in modern shutters?

Angulon 120's are a drop-in in #1 shutters. Assuming the 120 is as great on 4x5" as the 165mm is on 5x7", it's a really great lens. I'm using 90, 165 and 210mm Angulons, and I'm intending to get a 120mm to replace the 121mm Leitmeyr Weitwinkel-Anastigmat which has fractionally less coverage.

[Ed Richards]

Brian - I have a great 90mm, so 100/105 is too close. I also a 150, so a 120 would be a good fit between them.

Capocheny - according to the info that Badger has for the Fuji 125 SW, it is larger than the Nikon, with an 82mm filter.

[Andre Noble]

Ed, I highly recommend this Nikkor. I have a razor sharp Apo Sironar 150 S and a cherry picked Nikkor 90 f4.5. So I know what real sharpness is. And The Nikkor f8 120 is an A in sharpness while the 150 Apo Sironar-s is an A+.

I bought the 120 new from B&H this summer. It was a pleasant suprise. It's very versatile. I use it for 4x5, though I hear it's also good for 5x7.

I wouldn't trade this lens for a 110 Symmar XL if you offered it to me. I highly recommend it. It's not too big either - for me at least, and the f8 plenty bright enough for the outdoors, where you'll likely use it.

As Kerry Thalmann told me, I'll say the same to you: Go for it!

[Capocheny]

Brian - I have a great 90mm, so 100/105 is too close. I also a 150, so a 120 would be a good fit between them.

Capocheny - according to the info that Badger has for the Fuji 125 SW, it is larger than the Nikon, with an 82mm filter.

Hi Ed,

Thanks for the correction... for some reason, I thought I'd read somewhere that it was smaller than the 120.

Perhaps, I was reading it while I was asleep. :)

Cheers

[Ed Richards]

I suspect that the author of what you read probably confused the specs of the Fuji 125 regular lens and the wide version. The regular lens is tiny.

[Gary Smith]

I have been using one on 8x10 and 4x5 for a few weeks now, its very very sharp. It covers my 8x10 with very minimal movments, but its sharp across the entire image. I think you would be very pleased.

Hope it helps.

Gary

[sanking]

Capocheny - according to the info that Badger has for the Fuji 125 SW, it is larger than the Nikon, with an 82mm filter.

Curious. I have a Fuji 125 SW and it definitely takes a 77mm filter, not the 82mm. However, I see that the lens specification sheet on the LF home page also gives the filter size as 82mm. If these soruces are correct Fuji must have changed the filter thread at some point in production.

I use the Fuji 125 SW on 5X7 and it covers with plenty of movements.

Sandy King

[Nick_3536]

I think the older SW lenses used smaller filters. My 105mm uses 67mm versus the current 77mm.