Nikon Nikkor SW 90mm f/8 vs. 90mm f/4.5?

[Drew Wiley]

Stephen - this might not have much to do with size. The smaller optic has a smaller
max aperture. It is more difficult and expensive to design the same kind of lens with
a larger aperture, but if the larger lens is used at the smaller max aperture of the smaller lens, the performance might be equal, perhaps even better than the smaller
version. Have you ever seen many copy lenses with large apertures? But the bigger aperture certainly helps with focus in wide-angle; and the 4.5 Nikkor is a very good lens in general. In terms of potential resolution, I think we're splitting hairs here.

[Nick_3536]

Where to buy a 85mm UV filter for 90 f4.5? Is 85mm a normal size for UV filters?

82mm not 85. Unless your Nikon is different then mine. I can't imagine an 85 being used.

[Andre Noble]

Take the 90 F8!

Have have tested a total of 5 of these lenses (two Nikon SW 90 F8's and three Nikon SW 90 F4.5's)

One of the 90 F8's was far and away sharper than any of the other 4 samples.

The other Nikon 90 F8 sample was about as sharp as the sharpest 90 F4.5 sample.

The Nikon 90 F8 has 8 elements. It is a better corrected optic than the 7 element Nikon 90 4.5



No lens I have ever owned, aside from Nikon's own 300 f2.8 AFS was as impressive as that Nikon SW 90 f8.

Oops, I forgot about my amazing Rodenstock 150mm f5.6 Sironar-S lens.

[Armin Seeholzer]

The SW F 8 lenses are totaly distorsion free, stated Nikon in the brochure, but I prefer the f 4,5 which is also a very fine lens in all terms!

Cheers Armin

[dh003i]

Take the 90 F8!

Have have tested a total of 5 of these lenses (two Nikon SW 90 F8's and three Nikon SW 90 F4.5's)

One of the 90 F8's was far and away sharper than any of the other 4 samples.

The other Nikon 90 F8 sample was about as sharp as the sharpest 90 F4.5 sample.

The Nikon 90 F8 has 8 elements. It is a better corrected optic than the 7 element Nikon 90 4.5.

No lens I have ever owned, aside from Nikon's own 300 f2.8 AFS was as impressive as that Nikon SW 90 f8.

Oops, I forgot about my amazing Rodenstock 150mm f5.6 Sironar-S lens.

Depending on the source -- bhphoto, kenrockwell, photographyreview -- I've seen the 90/4.5 listed as having 7, 8, or 6 elements, respectively; although I trust BH the most.

In any respect, I've already went with the 90/4.5, figuring that at similar apertures, performance wouldn't be substantially different, based on many telling me that all the 90mm LF lenses are great.

Probably the easier focusing due to more brightness & narrower DOF is a more important factor. But I'll have to do some comparisons and see if it is substantially more difficult for me to focus the 90/4.5 @ f/8 vs. wide open.

Do you have any numbers on how much better you think the 90/8 is in terms of sharpness?

[dh003i]

The SW F 8 lenses are totaly distorsion free, stated Nikon in the brochure, but I prefer the f 4,5 which is also a very fine lens in all terms!

Cheers Armin

Where do you see these brochures online?

[Nick_3536]

IIRC the 4.5 image circle is listed at F/16. The F/8 at F/22. That implies to me NIkon thinks the F/8 should be stopped down more then the F/4.5.

[BarryS]

IIRC the 4.5 image circle is listed at F/16. The F/8 at F/22. That implies to me NIkon thinks the F/8 should be stopped down more then the F/4.5.

I don't think that assumption is correct. The performance of the 90mm f/8 is outstanding at f/11 (as in better than every other lens I own) and I can't see any sharpness difference at f/16 or f/22.

[timberline12k]

The Caltar 90mm f/4.5 (private label by Rodenstock) is also comparable to the Grandagon or Nikkor SW.

Just put mine up for sale.

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ad.php?t=53485

[Bob Salomon]

IIRC the 4.5 image circle is listed at F/16. The F/8 at F/22. That implies to me NIkon thinks the F/8 should be stopped down more then the F/4.5.

Depends on which Nikon brochure you are looking in. Nikon lens brochure 12481-100-5/82 lists them as you state. That one was printed in the USA.

Nikon brochure (8807/B) code 8CE60100 was printed 6 years later and lists the image circles at f8 for the 90 f8 as 154mm and the 4.5 as 200mm and lists both at f22 as 235mm (f8 version) and 312mm (4.5 version).

As a former employee of EPOI at the time that the Nikkor lenses were introduced I would strongly suggest that you follow the specs in the brochure printed in Japan rather then the USA printed brochure.