Ilex 90mm F8 Acugon

[Joseph O'Neil]

Hi everyone;
I just picked up one of these little gems the other day in fine shape. Something of a "sleeper" IMO. The one I have is not a Caltar, but the actual Ilex Acugon. It's the one that looks a bit like a super angulon, or a clone thereoff, but it has no filter threads (which is why God invented electrical tape ).

Anyhow, while i am ready and anxious to try it out, does anybody have any hard data on this lens, specifically circle of coverage? It appears I can push my little Tachihara to the limits with this lens in terms of movements, so I suppose it does not really matter, but just curious.

.....and yes, I have done a Google for it, but man, all I seem to turn up is endless Ebay listings (mostly expired).

thanks
joe

[Ole Tjugen]

I've got it's "little brother" - 65mm f:8. It just barely covers 4x5". That's why I bought it, since I tend to switch to 5x7" when 90mm on 4x5" isn't wide enough. Saves me carrying an extra camera...

[Dan Fromm]

Joe, try Google Groups. I searched hard after I got my 65/8, found a thread in which someone quoted a claim in a B&J catalog to the effect that it covers 6.1". I also found but didn't put in my notes coverage claims etc. for the 47/8 and 90/8.

Practically speaking, although they were designed and made in Rochester (designer Manuel Kiner), f/8 Acugons are the same as f/8 Super Angulons. Same coverage to within a couple of mm.

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

[Andy Eads]

I've owned one of these for about 30 years. Mine is in a Seikosha shutter which needed repair once in its career. I tested it against a contemporary Super Angulon (f/8) and they were nearly identical in performance.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Ilex made a few variations of that lens. I have a 90mm f8 "Ilex Acu-Veriwide" which I was told (perhaps wrongly) was a later issue. In any case, my lens covers about 105 degrees (~235mm) and is sharper, has more coverage, although is slightly less contrasty than the single-coated 90mm f8 Super Angulon I previously owned.

Attached is a scan of a 5x7 transparency made with my Ilex 90/8 Acu-Veriwide with about an inch of front drop.

[John Schneider]

On a somewhat related topic, I have a 65mm f8 Caltar-II in a Copal 0 that looks like a shrunken 90 Super Angulon (unlike the Schneider 65 f8 S-A in a 00 shutter). Is this a version of the Acugon, or merely a 65 f8 S-A redesigned to fit in a 0 shutter? It has far more coverage that one would expect, enough for at least 20 mm of shift.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Your lens is a rebadged 65mm Super Angulon; later models of the SA were designed to fit into a Copal 0 shutter after the 00 size was discontinued.

[Joseph O'Neil]

Hi guys;
Thanks much everyone. I am really looking forward to this lens, as the coverage and movements I can get out of my camera are pretty darned good.

Now my only issue is I think I need a larger backpack for everything.

joe

[cdholden]

Do any of you find this lens needs a center filter?
My sample of this lens doesn't have filter threads. It should make for a nice wide angle on my 5x7. Currently my widest is 120mm.

[lenser]

More data may be available at Cameraeccentric.com.