New Large Format Lenses for 8x10 and 11x14
by Michael K. Davis

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New Large Format Lenses Covering 8x10 312.5mm Diagonal Sorted by Focal Length, Image Circle Michael K. Davis
    Focal Max. Min. Image Coverage Excess Max. Max. Angle Shtr Wt. Wt. Filt. 35mm 11x14 Street Center
Maker Model Lngth Apert. Apert. Circle Exceeding Covrg Lndscp Portrt of Size (g) (lb) Size Equiv. Equiv. Price Filter
    (mm)     (mm) 312.5mm as % Rise Rise View       (mm) F.L. 35mm Jun-98 Price
Schneider Super-Symmar XL 150 f/5.6 f/64 386 73.5 19.04 52.14 44.35 105 1 740 1.63 62 19   $2,879.00 $1,039.00
Nikkor SW 150 f/8 f/64 400 87.5 21.88 61.09 52.40 106 1 1050 2.31 95 19   $2,199.95  
Rodenstock Grandagon-N 155 f/6.8 f/45 382 69.5 18.19 49.54 42.04 102 1 1460 3.22 105 19   $3,300.00 $1,039.00
Schneider Super-Angulon 165 f/8 f/64 395 82.5 20.89 57.92 49.54 100 3 1605 3.54 110 20   $3,234.00 $1,079.95
Rodenstock Grandagon-N 200 f/6.8 f/64 495 182.5 36.87 118.06 105.20 102 3 ? ? 135 25 17 $4,500.00 $1,269.00
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-W 210 f/5.6 f/64 352 39.5 11.22 29.37 24.36 80 3 950 2.09 100 26   $1,799.00  
Schneider Super-Symmar HM 210 f/5.6 f/64 356 43.5 12.22 32.14 26.75 80 3 1510 3.33 100 26   $2,656.00  
Schneider Super-Angulon 210 f/8 f/90 500 187.5 37.50 120.93 107.91 100 3 3065 6.76 127 26 18 $5,195.00 $1,139.95
Fuji A 240 f/9 f/90 336 23.5 6.99 17.97 14.67 70 0 225 0.50 52 30   $655.00  
Nikkor W 240 f/5.6 f/64 336 23.5 6.99 17.97 14.67 70 3 820 1.81 82 30   $1,999.95  
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-N 240 f/5.6 f/64 350 37.5 10.71 27.97 23.16 72 3 439 0.97 77 30   $1,349.00  
Schneider APO-Symmar 240 f/5.6 f/64 352 39.5 11.22 29.37 24.36 72 3 820 1.81 77 30   $1,559.00  
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-S 240 f/5.6 f/64 372 59.5 15.99 42.96 36.20 75 3 981 2.16 86 30   $1,729.00  
Fuji CM-W 250 f/6.3 f/90 320 7.5 2.34 5.93 4.74 65 1 510 1.12 67 31   $810.00  
Schneider G-Claron 270 f/9 f/90 335 22.5 6.72 17.24 14.05 64 1 375 0.83 58 33   $954.00  
Nikkor M 300 f/9 f/128 325 12.5 3.85 9.77 7.87 57 1 290 0.64 52 37   $689.95  
Fuji C 300 f/8.5 f/64 380 67.5 17.76 48.24 40.87 66 1 250 0.55 52 37   $625.00  
Fuji CM-W 300 f/5.6 f/90 412 99.5 24.15 68.62 59.23 69 3 965 2.13 77 37   $1,375.00  
Nikkor W 300 f/5.6 f/64 420 107.5 25.60 73.57 63.76 70 3 1250 2.76 95 37   $1,559.95  
Schneider APO-Symmar 300 f/5.6 f/64 425 112.5 26.47 76.64 66.57 72 3 1155 2.55 105 37   $2,069.00  
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-N 300 f/5.6 f/64 425 112.5 26.47 76.64 66.57 72 3 1040 2.29 86 37   $1,849.00  
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-S 300 f/5.6 f/64 448 135.5 30.25 90.54 79.41 75 3 1211 2.67 100 37 26 $2,389.00  
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-W 300 f/5.6 f/64 490 177.5 36.22 115.18 102.48 80 3 1610 3.55 127 37 26 $3,499.00  
Schneider G-Claron 305 f/9 f/90 381 68.5 17.98 48.89 41.46 64 1 460 1.01 67 38   $954.00  
Schneider G-Claron 355 f/9 f/90 444 131.5 29.62 88.14 77.19 64 3 855 1.88 77 44   $1,499.00  
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-N 360 f/6.8 f/64 435 122.5 28.16 82.72 72.17 64 3 1559 3.44 105 45   $2,195.00  
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-S 360 f/6.8 f/64 468 155.5 33.23 102.37 90.45 68 3 1559 3.44 112 45 31 $3,094.50  
Fuji CM-W 360 f/6.5 f/90 485 172.5 35.57 112.28 99.75 68 3 1175 2.59 86 45 31 $1,690.00  
Schneider APO-Symmar 360 f/6.8 f/64 491 178.5 36.35 115.75 103.02 70 3 1410 3.11 112 45 31 $2,299.00  
Nikkor W 360 f/6.5 f/64 494 181.5 36.74 117.48 104.66 69 3 1420 3.13 95 45 31 $1,659.95  
Nikkor M 450 f/9 f/128 440 127.5 28.98 85.74 74.96 52 3 640 1.41 67 56   $1,199.95  
Fuji C 450 f/12.5 f/64 486 173.5 35.70 112.86 100.30 57 1 270 0.60 52 56 39 $860.00  
Fuji CM-W 450 f/8 f/90 520 207.5 39.90 132.33 118.73 60 3 1140 2.51 86 56 39 $1,860.00  
Rodenstock Apo-Ronar 480 f/9 f/90 396 83.5 21.09 58.56 50.11 46 3 ? ? 67 59   $2,236.50  
Schneider APO-Symmar 480 f/8.4 f/64 500 187.5 37.50 120.93 107.91 56 3 1680 3.70 105 59 41 $2,889.00  
Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-N 480 f/8.4 f/90 500 187.5 37.50 120.93 107.91 56 3 2299 5.07 112 59 41 $3,164.50  
Fuji C 600 f/11.5 f/90 620 307.5 49.60 187.77 171.93 55 3 575 1.27 67 74 52 $1,385.00  
Nikkor T 800 f/12 f/64 310 -2.5 -0.81 -2.03 -1.60 22 3 1600 3.53 95 99   $2,929.95  
Schneider APO-Tele Xenar HM 800 f/12 f/128 500 187.5 37.50 120.93 107.91 35 3 2500 5.51 135 99 69 $7,590.00  
Nikkor T 1200 f/18 f/64 310 -2.5 -0.81 -2.03 -1.60 15 3 1480 3.26 95 149   $3,099.95  

From: "Michael K. Davis" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Table of new lenses for 8x10,11x14
Date: 19 Jun 1998

Shopping for a new 8x10 covering lens from Fuji, Nikkor, Rodenstock or Schneider? Here they are, nicely summarized.

I got tired of flipping from catalog, to brochure, to web page, comparing specs on large format lenses from the big four makers, so I put it all together on an Excel 5.0+ spreadsheet. I believe this table contains specs for all of the currently available lenses with image circles equal to or exceeding 312.5mm (the diagonal of the 8x10 format's image area.)

Thanks to the following people for providing the specs I couldn't come up with on my own: Roger Hein, Mike ([email protected]), John Sparks, and Bob Salomon. Michael Briggs provided formulae for calculating the maximum rise for portrait and landscape. A couple of the lenses are no longer offered by the manufacturer but are still available in retailer inventories.

The lenses are sorted by focal length, then by image circle diameter. Specs also include max. and min. aperture, coverage exceeding 312.5 mm, angle of view, shutter size, weight in grams, filter size, June 1998 street prices (I did my best to find representative prices, but I'd rather not name the sources), and center filter prices for those lenses that use them. I have also provided calculated values for coverage exceeding 312.5 mm, excess coverage expressed as %, Michael Brigg's maximum rise figures, weight in lbs., the equivalent 35mm focal length (for those of us not ashamed to admit we still like to equate focal lengths to our 35 experience), and lastly, for those lenses which also cover 11x14, I calculate the 35mm equivalent focal length.

For interested parties that can read Excel 5.0+ spreadsheets AND decode a uuencoded zip file, it follows, below. If you would like it MIME-attached to e-mail, just let me know -- I'll send it to you (and in a different format if you prefer.)

Mike Davis

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