Grandagon-N 90mm 4.5 vs. Grandagon 90 4.5

[Mac Carter]

I hate to flog a dead horse with another thread but I have a question about the differences and/or lineage of the Grandagon lenses that I cannot seem to get a clear answer on.

My question is this: I have in my possession a used Grandagon 90mm 4.5 MC and I want to know if this is the same thing, albeit an older version, of the Grandagon-N 90mm 4.5 that is available today with the green ring, even though it does NOT have the "N" designation on the barrel?

From what I'm seeing the Caltar-II is the same thing as an "N". The reason I'm asking is b/c I'm contemplating using the lens on a Fotoman 617 and on the lens compatibility chart from Fotoman it lists the "Grandagon-N 90mm 4.5". So, I was wondering if the Grandagon 90mm 4.5 that I have is the same thing or not. The dealers have told me that my non-N is basically the same thing, it's just not designated that way, so it is compatible with the Fotoman 617.

Can anyone please clear the air for me on this issue?

Thanks.

[Oren Grad]

It's basically the same thing. In principle there should be no problem using the non-N with the Fotoman 617. The only issue I can think of is whether the flange-to-film specification changed in later production, and if so, whether the change was enough so that you'd need a different cone, or shims for the focus mount. Probably not, but without the specifications for both lenses on hand I can't say for sure.

The flange-to-film specification for the 90/4.5 Grandagon-N is 98mm. Perhaps someone here has a spec sheet for the plain Grandagons.

[devtank]

Id like to concentrate on the first part of the question myself, and ask, what specifically are the differences between the N and the older non N MC versions?

[Frank Petronio]

The coating, which is a plus but probably isn't worth a large price differential, depending on the amount of flare-y situations you photograph. (Then again the price differences are all over the place these days.)

I think the only way you'll ever be sure of having the correct cone depth is to actually try it and shim accordingly, even a lens you have specs for may be slightly different in that regard so you will always have to check with a loupe and your own eyes.

[Oren Grad]

The coating

Lots of non-N Grandagons are MC and labeled as such; I don't know if the 90/4.5 in particular was ever offered non-MC.

[Frank Petronio]

Yeah I think they are all multi-coated lenses but the multi-coating formula has changed over the years, at least that is how Bob S. described it in an older thread.

[Oren Grad]

Yeah I think they are all multi-coated lenses but the multi-coating formula has changed over the years, at least that is how Bob S. described it in an older thread.

Yup. Could be...

[Frank Petronio]

Well at least the green ring gets you a higher resale value ;-) I suspect that even the first generation 90/4.5 Grandagon is still a very excellent lens, several photographers have mentioned that it is at least as good as the 75mm Zeiss Biogon.