240mm Graphic Kowa on ULF - images from the corner (a.k.a. coverage).

[Lachlan 717]

Lachlan, a question of fact. Are the ferns in image #2 (tree trunk and ferns) the same type as in image #3? I ask because #2's ferns have fronds leaflets that are somewhat resolved and that show what I think is motion blur while #3's have fronds with no leaflets discernible.

I suspect different. The bigger (distant) ones are a species of Dicksonia, I believe.

[Lachlan 717]

Is the 240mm f/9 Graphic Kowa and the 240mm f/9 Computar the same lens but just labeled differently?

Some say yes; some say no.

I say that I think there are some that are, and some that aren't!!!

[Michael Jones]

Some say yes; some say no.

I say that I think there are some that are, and some that aren't!!!

Try this from Gordon Hutchings: Many years ago,
Burleigh-Brooks introduced a line of lenses under the name of Computar; the
Kowa Lens Company of Japan made them. These lenses were a remarkable value
as they were a wide-angle plasmat, excellent quality and quite inexpensive.

After Burleigh Brooks folded, the lenses were briefly carried by Kyvyx and
were called Kyvytar and then independently offered by Kowa a Kowa Graphic
lenses, in both shutter and barrel. These lenses were offered in 150, 210,
and 300 mm length and are excellent buys, if you can find them. These lenses
are hard to find, especially in 210 mm length. The cell of 150 and 310 mm
barrel mounts will screw directly into a Copal # 1 shutter, with no adapters
required. Some times the barrel lens will come with thin spacers. The trick
is this, for center image use, the more spacers between the rear cell and
the shutter the better. For the corners of the image, no spacer is best.


This is why, in a shutter mount, we often see one spacer as the best overall
compromise. For comparison, the 150 mm Kowa has an image circle of 290 mm or
about 1degree inches of movement for a 5 x 7. The 210 mm Kowa has an image
circle of 460 mm of about 2 degree inches of movement for the 8 x 10. This
is why we love these lenses so much"

and go here:

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...d-ULF-coverage


Mike

[EdC]

So, to sum up for those of us not as well versed in the history of these lenses, there will be some 240mm Kowa lenses that will adequately cover 7x17, but others that will not. Given that, it seems that it is up to the buyer to exercise a good deal of caution if ULF coverage is needed. I see that a near new Graphic Kowa 240mm is available now on another site, but I'm concerned about whether that lens will be one that actually will properly cover 7x17.

If I've overlooked anything, please fill me in.

Thanks,

Ed