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Thread: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

  1. #11
    Do or do not. There is no try.
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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    One small 125mm option with reasonably big coverage is the original single-coated f/5.6 Fujinon-W with so-called "inside" lettering, i.e. the writing is on the trim ring as you look into the lens rather than around the outside of the front lens barrel. Fuji states an image circle of 211mm at f/22, roughly 5x7 at inifinity and straight-on, so it should be ample for 4x5. Mine is in a Seiko shutter and comes in at 180 grams, less than a third of a 120mm Nikkor-SW. It takes 46mm filters.
    Last edited by Steve Goldstein; 25-Aug-2016 at 10:51.

  2. #12

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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    Count on needing a loupe for focus.

  3. #13

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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    Nikon SW 120 image circle covers 312mm, so it covers 8x10 without movements, ideal for 5x7

    When I can I'll buy one for 8x10, as this glass is the widest option I know for 8x10: http://www.largeformatphotography.in.../LF8x10in.html

    For 4x5" there are better options: cheaper, lighter, 5.6, and possibly with better performance as a lens designed for 4x5" usage can have an optimal design for the smaller circle, still the SW 120 it is very good in it's center.

    focussing with f8 ? just take another lens you have and stop it to f/8 and try to focus... you'll see it with your own eye! To me it depends on the scene, if you are in the shadow and you frame on a sunny subject it is easy, if sunlight hits your back and you are framing your subject in the shadow then you'll need a better light tight cloth...

    To me the SW 120 it is very interesting if you may move to 5x7 or 8x10 in the future, if not... then better to save some money for other gear you'll need.


    Here you have some 4x5 options: http://www.largeformatphotography.in...s/LF4x5in.html

    In general... a good advice is a lens should cover without movements the next format, so (in general) a suitable lens for 4x5 should cover 5x7 without movements, this is 208.7mm adviced.

    Size 4x5" needs 153.7mm image circle, without movements.

    This numbers is to focus at infinite, as you focus closer image circle of a LF lens becomes larger as bellows extends...

  4. #14
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    Back when I was building-up my lens kit for the 4x5 I purchased a new Nikkor 120 SW from B&H for $795. It turned out that I didn't need the lens as it had the same field of view as my150 Rodenstock Apo Sironar-S which is a much smaller and lighter lens and folds-up with my Toyo 45CF. So I rarely used it preferring the Rodenstock and long thought that I had wasted $800. But I never sold it and one day got an 8x10 camera and last fall a 5x7 reducing back. Now I'm always using the 120 which is a super-wide angle on the 8x10 and equivalent to a 90mm on a 4x5. I never had any problems focusing it (it's only one stop from the 150) and no complaints about the image quality which is superb. Contrary to the experience of others, I get some rise/fall with the 8x10 and movements galore with the 5x7 back. I remounted it on a 6” Toyo board and it resides with the 8x10 dedicated lens.

    Thomas

  5. #15

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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    Quote Originally Posted by tgtaylor View Post
    120 which is a super-wide angle on the 8x10 and equivalent to a 90mm on a 4x5.
    I agree all with you, but the 120 in 8x10 makes just the same frame than a 60mm in 4x5... this is just proportional 4/8 = 0.5 factor. 120 x 0.5 = 60mm

  6. #16
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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    Quote Originally Posted by Pere Casals View Post
    [focussing with f8 ? just take another lens you have and stop it to f/8 and try to focus... you'll see it with your own eye!
    This is not necessarily true. It depends on the focal length as well. It is much harder to focus a 58mm f/5.6 lens than a 120mm f/8 lens, and it would be easier to focus a 300mm f/8 lens than a 90mm f/8 lens. This is due to the angle of light (and also whether or not you have a fresnel, etc.).

    I find my 120mm f/8 noticeably brighter than my 90mm f/8, for example.
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  7. #17

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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    Thanks everyone for the comments. The comparison of the 8/90mm and 8/120mm brightness is very helpful, as well as the context with other combinations of focal length and f-stop.

  8. #18

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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Sampson View Post
    I have been using a Schneider 121/8 Super-Angulon for over twenty years.
    So do I. I have smaller 120mm lenses, but they keep running out of coverage easily. Brightness for focussing is just fine, but this is not the point for me. 90mm is just too wide, 150mm too long - I just love the angle of the 120/121mm. I use it for an estimated 95% of my images.

  9. #19

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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    Great to see another positive report of an 8/120-ish lens (121mm in the above case).

  10. #20
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    Re: Nikkor-SW 8/120mm viewing and focusing

    Here's an example where this lens excels - architecture. This is pretty much maximum rise that I could get from the camera, the lens still had some IC I think. This was a bright sunny morning and easy to focus:

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