360mm Apo-Ronar - Performance at Infinity

[John Powers]

Hello:

Although in a Copal 3 shutter, this lens looks to be one of the smaller 360mm lenses still on the market. Can anyone with first hand knowledge of the lens comment on its performance at infinity. I would also like to hear comments comparing the performance of this lens to modern telephoto (Schneider, Fujinon, Nikon) lenses of similar focal length.

Thanks to all,

John Powers

[Paul Schilliger]

John, I have one, 30 years old in Compur 3. The lens is bright and contrasty. Pr etty sharp too. Compared to lenses designed for distant subjects such as the Fujinon C series, the ApoRonar will start display some color fringing at high magnification, but is contrasty when not submitted to flare (it 's a single coating version). Telephoto lenses produce softer images and long lenses should be preferred IF yo u have the bellows for. But on cameras with narrow bellows, another factor is to take into consideration: th e light from long lenses is bouncing on the stretched bellows and can affect the image. I noticed this when I was using a Fujinon C450 on my Technika. I now use it on a Toyo monorail and the large bellows have taken ca re of the problem. In that case, a telephoto lens could have been a better choice. But with the 360, the be llows of the Technika was not stretched too much and I did not notice any fogging from glare. I have used the Nikkors T when a friend has let me try them and I have owned a Fuji T. The thing with telephoto lenses is that t hey are sharp and contrasty, until you compare them with long lenses. Then, they are no more. There is a trad e off. I wish the new Schneider 400 HM was an exception, but haven't heard anything on it.