Comparing small wide angle lenses

[Brian Schall]

I just bought a Busch Pressman D to get into large format photography. I do mainly B&W nature, printing up to 16x20. I'm needing a wide angle lens for my type of photography. I've read alot about the Angulon 90mm. It barely covers 4x5, no real movements, starts losing sharpness at the edges, but overall highly recommended for the price. I would like some ability to use front tilt to maintain perspective and increase DOF. I'm thinking of composing and shooting using the 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 lines on the ground glass if needed.

How do the Optar/Wollensack WA 90mm's, the Ektar WF 100mm (I figure the WF 80mm will have limited coverage) compare with the Angulon? Are their other alternatives?

Brian

[Mark Sampson]

The Wide-Field Ektars are real sweetheart lenses. I have no experience with the 100mm but if it's like the 135 and the 250 it should suit you very well. Usual caveats apply- clean glass, working shutter, etc. Many people don't care for the Flash Supermatic shutter the lens is mounted in, but mine has been trouble-free since a CLA 10+ years ago. (There is lots of lens comparison data on this site if you hunt around.)

[Jim Galli]

Brian, I think Chris Perez and Kerry Thalmann's lens test page is a fabulous tool for photographers. Lots of good info there regarding your question. Also Kerry talks at length about smaller WA choices in his home page which I don't have the link for just now. One other choice is the little Congo WF f6.3 90mm. I've got a 90 WA Optar going up on ebay later this eve. The resolution numbers for those are VERY acceptable. My keeper/user is the f6.8 Calumet WII (Grandagon). It's a bit larger and heavier, about 3 times the price, but wider.

[Nick Morris]

I have and use 100mm and 135mm WF Ektars for my 4x5 - Super Graphic. I love the WF Ektar. I have found that my 207 Ektar (a different design) is sharper, but the WFs are certainly sharp, and I really like the "look" of the prints from the WF. I will say that 100mm is a bit tight with 4x5, even with the Super Graphic, but does have room for movements. I found limits to the rise movement. I have heard mixed reports on the 80mm, some saying it will cover 8x10, others say no. I would guess that movements are out and one would need to stop down for coverage.

[Eric Woodbury]

I've heard the WF Ektars need to be refocused after stop-down.

[Dan Fromm]

Eric, my 80/6.3 WF Ektar does NOT need to be refocused after stopping down. You may be thinking of Dagors.

Cheers,

Dan

[Brian Schall]

Thanks all for the responses. The more I read up on these lenses, the more I think I'll look for a 100mm WF Ektar. The 178mm image circle is better than the 154mm on the Angulon. The reason I'm getting into 4x5 and the reason I got the Pressman was for the movements. If I can't have some movements, I'd might as well stay with my Bronica.

Brian

[Nick Morris]

Dan, does the 80mm WF Ektar cover 4x5?

[Eric Wagner]

Several years ago I was looking for a light wide-field lens for my backpack outfit and bought both a 90mm f6.8 Angulon and a 100mm WF Ektar, planning to test them both and sell the one I liked the least. The decision was easy. I kept the WF Ektar.

[Darin Cozine]

Brian, It all comes down to money. Prices may vary. The 90mm optars/raptars are the cheapest, $100-125. The Angulon runs around $150 or more. The only WF ektar ive seen sold on ebay right now went for $225. The Super Anguon f8 runs as cheap as $200-300.

If money is an issue, think about what you are going to use it for. If you are just doing landscapes, 1/2 inch rise and shift is fine, as is a small amount of tilt. I generally need only 10-15 degrees tilt. If you are doing arcetechure or product, you need alot more. So if you want movements, why not get the Super Angulon?