benrains
7-May-2009, 20:16
This is aimed at those of you who currently own this lens and use it for 8x10 work.
Recently I was fortunate enough to pick up a clean example of this lens, but its sharpness isn't quite up to my expectations and experience with other Fujinon lenses. For a few years I've had and used a newer 250/6.3 variant of the same lens for my 4x5 work, and I've even shot successfully with it on my 8x10 as long as I don't use any movements. Given the favorable reputation of the 250/6.7, with it's larger image circle, it seemed like a no-brainer to go that route.
But when I compare the image on the ground glass of the 250/6.7 with that of the 250/6.3, the 6.3 is much much sharper than that of the 6.7 lens with the aperture opened wide. And though the 6.7 is improves when I stop down to f/22, toward the outer edges of the ground glass the image still looks a slightly "mushy" when I compare it to my 6.3 lens at the same aperture. I'm not sure if this is normal--because it is a slightly early design of the lens--or whether I've just got a not so great example of the lens. Physically the lens is in very good condition; there's no separation or any sort of damage to the glass or metal element casings.
Still, I've got sort of a nagging uneasy feeling about the rear element that I can't quite shake. All the single coated Fujinon lenses have seen have a sort of warm bronze color to their coating. The front element of this 250/6.7 is that way, but the coating on the rear element of this lens is blue in color in some of the reflections. (Which I know is common in other manufacturers single coated lenses, I just haven't seen it myself in Fujinons) I'm wondering whether those of you with the same lens can let me know the color of the rear element coatings on your 250/6.7. I'm also curious to know the outer diameter of the rear element on your lens--mine is 56mm. I'm trying to rule out the possibility of the rear element being mismatched. (See the attached image for reference.)
Thanks for any help or suggestions you can offer.
Recently I was fortunate enough to pick up a clean example of this lens, but its sharpness isn't quite up to my expectations and experience with other Fujinon lenses. For a few years I've had and used a newer 250/6.3 variant of the same lens for my 4x5 work, and I've even shot successfully with it on my 8x10 as long as I don't use any movements. Given the favorable reputation of the 250/6.7, with it's larger image circle, it seemed like a no-brainer to go that route.
But when I compare the image on the ground glass of the 250/6.7 with that of the 250/6.3, the 6.3 is much much sharper than that of the 6.7 lens with the aperture opened wide. And though the 6.7 is improves when I stop down to f/22, toward the outer edges of the ground glass the image still looks a slightly "mushy" when I compare it to my 6.3 lens at the same aperture. I'm not sure if this is normal--because it is a slightly early design of the lens--or whether I've just got a not so great example of the lens. Physically the lens is in very good condition; there's no separation or any sort of damage to the glass or metal element casings.
Still, I've got sort of a nagging uneasy feeling about the rear element that I can't quite shake. All the single coated Fujinon lenses have seen have a sort of warm bronze color to their coating. The front element of this 250/6.7 is that way, but the coating on the rear element of this lens is blue in color in some of the reflections. (Which I know is common in other manufacturers single coated lenses, I just haven't seen it myself in Fujinons) I'm wondering whether those of you with the same lens can let me know the color of the rear element coatings on your 250/6.7. I'm also curious to know the outer diameter of the rear element on your lens--mine is 56mm. I'm trying to rule out the possibility of the rear element being mismatched. (See the attached image for reference.)
Thanks for any help or suggestions you can offer.