Fujinon 300mm A vs. W vs. C

[spacegoose]

Any impressions on the differences between these? I've read the A was made for reproductions and the C is optimized for infinity (and light weight for the field) - what about the W? Do any of these lend themselves more to portraiture vs. landscape.

Also, if buying a Fujinon A 300mm multi-coated used today, what's a fair price / range to pay? How will I know if the rear element is original. Would a dealer ever try to substitute a non-original rear element? I have seen on Kerry Thalmann's website the original Copal #1 shutter for this lens should have the non-serrated chrome edge.

Thanks,
sg

[Mike1234]

What size film? This is exclusively for landscapes and portraits?

[John Schneider]

Midwest had (the last time I checked) two EBC 300A's

[Gem Singer]

You can compare these Fujinon lenses at:

www.subclub.org/fujinon/index.htm

[Ken Lee]

Consider size/weight/max aperture/coverage/filter size/number of blades in diaphragm/price/availability

According to this table, Fujinon made more than just those three, in 300mm length: A, W, C, L , SW, T, CM-W.

I have a 300mm Fujinon A, and love it. It has a 7-bladed diaphragm, and works well for portraits, close shots, and landscape. I've used it on 4x5 through 8x10. It's small, light, and takes comparatively small filters: 55mm.

[Drew Wiley]

The 300 A will perform superbly anywhere from very close range all the way to infinity.
The 300 C is not as good at very close ranges, but is a much lighter lens. If you are
thinking of using these on 8x10, the A is going to allow significantly more movement.
Both are very sharp and contrasty. Can't go wrong with either for 4x5 or 5x7.

[spacegoose]

I plan to use it for 8x10 but also have both a Speed and Crown Graphic I could use it on (I guess that would be some lens on 4x5). I'm mainly interested in portraiture. Do you think Midwest's price ($895) is fair for 9+ (whatever that means)? Still interested in any A C W comparisons, and the likelihood of a dealer not supplying original rear element - just being paranoid

Thanks!

[Drew Wiley]

Midwest is a very reputable source, and that is a very fair price for this lens.

[Ken Lee]

That's a great price. "9+" means it's in pretty close to perfect condition.

For 8x10 portraits, you can find many other lenses that will be larger and brighter, and probably more affordable. They will be larger and heavier. Some will be barrel-mounted only: no shutter.

For portraits, I'd rather use a Tessar or a Heliar, which open wider, have heavenly blur rendition, and smoother rendition in general. Unless you have something like a Sinar Shutter, getting them in a shutter makes them harder to find, and more expensive - but there are plenty of vintage lenses around in that length or longer, left over from the days when 8x10 and larger, was how good portraits were made.

Where the A shines, is as an all-purpose sharp lens: portable, compact, with superb performance at all distances.

[Robert Fisher]

SpaceGoose, Ben Syverson on this board uses a 300A for his portrait work - he does some great work. You will see his images in "Portrait" threads here and also Flickr.