Trying to decide on a 90mm Lens for 4x5

[Bob Salomon]

I personally found that the CF for the Grandagon - N Green stripe f/4.5 lens wasn't necessary, the Schneider SS XL's are a different story.

I'm told by many that Nikon's lens design is such that there isn't any lens falloff, but I'm not a lens designer so I wouldn't know for sure.

Nikon wide angles have similar fall off the difference is Nikon ignored it. As far as fall off goes lenses like Apo Sironar N, S, W and Schneider, Nikon and Fuji's similar designs also all have fall off. Just not enough to need center filters for correction. They fall off from edge to edge by about ⅓ rd stop.

[scott.probst64@gmail.com]

Does anyone have a manual etc for the Grandagon 90mm 6.8 (not the N)?

thanks,

Scott

[hiend61]

I personally found that the CF for the Grandagon - N Green stripe f/4.5 lens wasn't necessary, the Schneider SS XL's are a different story.

I'm told by many that Nikon's lens design is such that there isn't any lens falloff, but I'm not a lens designer so I wouldn't know for sure.

Try to use both Nikkor 90 mm with color slide film and you´ll notice the fall off from 3cm shift in landscape format. Then, you decide if you need a center filter or not. Nikon and Fuji never made a center filter, that doesn´t mean the excellent wide angles made by Nikon and Fuji do not need a center filter, because they have the same fall off as the ones made by Rodenstock or Schneider. I own a Nikkor SW 75/4,5 and a Grandagon-N 75/4,5, and they have the same fall off, and they improve tremendously when I use a Rodenstock Center Filter with them.

[hiend61]

I have a Sinaron W 90/4,5 , (Same lens that Rodenstock Grandagon N 90/4,5), and I´m extremely happy with it. I purchased it in 1991, and since then has served me flawlessly.
I mostly use color slide film.

[linhofbiker]

Make sure you need one before you buy one. I had a beautiful Schneider 6.8 but I sold it in a moment of need years ago and haven't missed it once since. That's not to say I would have sold it if I hadn't needed money, I just don't miss it for 99% of what I like to do.

I thought I "needed" a 90mm for 4x5 but it was hard to use on my old Technika. I had a 90mm f/5.6 Super Angulon that was big and heavy. Now I prefer a slightly longer lens such as the 105mm f/8 Fuji SW that will just cover 5x7. Also the 120mm f/6.8 Angulon is good and compact, whereas the 121/120mm f/8 Super Angulon version is large and heavy. I guess it depends on what type of camera you are using. If it is a simple field camera why not go with the 75mm f/5.6 Super Angulon that will give a larger field of view on 4x5.

[Doremus Scudder]

For me, a Nikkor f/8 90mm is the right compromise between lightweight and coverage. If I need really light, I'll grab my 100mm WF Ektar.

Doremus

[rfesk]

I have the same combo. I use the Nikkor f/8 90mm most of the time though.

For me, a Nikkor f/8 90mm is the right compromise between lightweight and coverage. If I need really light, I'll grab my 100mm WF Ektar.

Doremus

[John Layton]

Love my 90mm f/6.8 Grandagon N. A real sweet spot in terms of brightness, sharpness, coverage, cost, and portability. Coverage? Here's an image from this lens on 5x7: