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Test Results - Large Format photographic lenses
Review of these tests Specification Comparisons Suggestions for what to carry into the field

last updated: 04/19/04
with latest changes in red
personal favorites in green

Test Results - Large Format photographic lenses

Kerry Thalmann and I tested the lenses found in the table below.  The emphasis is on compact portable lenses for use in the field.  Comments regarding these tests follow the table.  More information can be found at the links provided above and below.  This has been a long project and I hope people find merit in being able to review this information on-line.

You can use the following to 'jump' to the desired section of this test page.


65mm thru 90mm

100mm thru 163mm

180mm thru 270mm

300mm and longer

Comments on my finding can be found here.

Please note: Take care in comparing lenses. Some were tested from f/11 to f/22, while others were tested from f/16 to f/32, and still others from f/18 to f/32.

65mm thru 90mm
 

Manufacturer Model Length Fstop/cnt/mdl/edge Weight Shutter Serial number Age
Rodenstock APO Grandigon 55mm f/11 54  38  48
f/16 76  48  42
f/22 54  54  42		 355g Copal 0 115292xx 2000's
Schneider Super Angulon f/8 65mm f/11 26  23  21 
f/16 42  30  26 
f/22 37  37  30		 . Compur00 . 1950's
Schneider Super Angulon f/5.6 65mm f/11 67  60  38
f/16 67  60  42
f/22 48  48  42		 325g Copal 0 14,379,xxx 1990's
Horseman Super ER f/5.6 75mm f/11 64 54 34 
f/16 60 54 34 
f/22 54 60 38		 150g Seiko-SLV 12xxxx 1980's
Nikon SW  f/4.5 75mm f/11 42  30  18 
f/16 60  54  19 
f/22 60  48  30		 435g Copal 0 661xxx 1980's
Rodenstock Grandagon-N f/6.8 75mm f/11 67  60  42
f/16 60  60  24
f/22 54  54  38		 . Copal 0 1133xxxx 1990's
Schneider Super Angulon f/8 75mm f/11 67  54  24
f/16 60  54  38
f/22 54  48  38		 415g Compur 0 985xxxx 1966
Ziess Dagor f/9 7.5cm f/11 60  34  17 
f/16 54  42  19
f/22 48  42  21		 65g (true!) . 265xxxx ?
Schneider Super Symmar XL f/4.5 80mm f/11 76  42  34
f/16 76  42  42
f/22 60  48  42		 270g Copal 0 1477xxxx 2000
Schneider Super Symmar XL f/4.5 80mm f/11 48  54  38
f/16 67  54  48
f/22 60  54  54		 270g Copal 0 1479xxxx 2000
Schneider
- too soft to focus
- returned to factory		 Super Symmar XL f/4.5 80mm f/11 42  30  18 
f/16 60  60  42
f/22 60  60  48		 270g Copal 0 147xxxxx 2000
Congo WideField f/6.3 90mm f/16 67  38  24 
f/22 60  42  24 
f/32 48  42  38 

f/11 42  30  22 
f/16 60  54  38 
f/22 54  54  33

 145g Copal 0 301xx5 1990's
Congo WideField f/6.3 90mm f/11 60  32  18 
f/16 60  42  19 
f/22 60  54  21		 145g Copal 0 302xx4 1990's
Congo WideField f/6.3 90mm f/11 42  38  38 
f/16 60  67  54 
f/22 60  54  42		 145g Copal 0 301xx9 1990's
Komura 
- elements beginning
to separate		 f/6.3 90mm f/11 26 26 24 
f/16 33 30 26 
f/22 54 42 26		 ??? Copal 0 ??? ???
Nikon SW f/8 90mm f/11 80  80  60 
f/16 67  67  60 
f/22 60  54  54		 355g Copal 0 693xxx 1980's
Schneider Angulon f/6.8 90mm f/11 60 54 19 
f/16 60 60 21 
f/22 54 54 42		 150g Synchro-Compur #0 9733xxx 1966
Schneider Angulon f/6.8 90mm f/11 48 54 48 
f/16 60/54/48 
f/22 42 48 48		 . Copal 0 768xxx7 1960's
Schneider Angulon f/6.8 90mm f/16 67  60  21 
f/22 60  54  38 
f/32 42  42  27		 120g . 419xxxx 1950's
Schneider Angulon f/6.8 90mm f/16 67  54  48 
f/22 67  67  42 
f/32 42  38  30		 125g . 246xxxx 1950's
Schneider Angulon f/6.8 90mm f/11 54  42  32 
f/16 60  54  32 
f/22 60  60  42		 125g . 537xxxx 1950's
Schneider Angulon f/6.8 90mm f/11 76  35  38 
f/16 61  38  38 
f/22 61  68  61		 145g . 891xxxx 1960's
Schneider Angulon f/6.8 90mm f/16 13  15  12 
f/22 11  13  12 
f/32 30  30  21		 120g . 360xxxx 1950's
Schneider Super Angulon f/8 90mm f/11 67  67  17 
f/16 60  54  21		 370g Copal 0 118xxxx0 1980's
Graphlex WA Optar  f/6.8 90mm f/11 54  32  15 
f/16 54  42  24 
f/22 54  44  18		 140g Rapax 903xxxx 1960's
Wollensak WA Raptar f/6.3 3 1/2" f/16 60  42  24 
f/22 60  54  24 
f/32 42  42  30		 135g Rapax 907xxx 1960's

100mm thru 163mm
 

Goerz Zeiss Dagor f/9 100mm f/11 54 42 19 
f/16 54 54 21 
f/22 48 54 30		 . . . .
Kodak WF Ektar f/6.3 100mm f/16 67  60  30 
f/22 60  60  30 
f/32 48  42  30		 175g Supermatic RYxxx 1950's
Kodak Ektar f/3.7
- this is really a 6x9
format lens, but is
included here because
I tested it using a 4x5
camera
 105mm f/5.6 68  54  19
f/8  68  42  42
f/11 85  68  48
f/16 76  68  60 
f/22 60  60  54		 .
 Supermatic ES5xx
 1940's
Wollensak WA Raptar  f/6.3 108mm f/6.3 26  16  11 
f/22 60  42  30		 190g Rapax 815xxx 1960's
Schneider Super Symmar XL f/5.6 110mm f/11 80  67  60 
f/16 67  67  67 
f/22 60  60  60		 430g Copal 1 1416xxxx 1990's
Schneider Super Symmar XL f/5.6 110mm f/11 24  38  42
f/16 42  48  42
f/22 54  48  42		 430g Copal 1 1485xxxx 1990's
Schneider Super Symmar XL f/5.6 110mm f/11 76  76  54 
f/16 54  68  48 
f/22 60  60  54		 430g Copal 1 14713xxx 1990's
Goerz WA Dagor f/8 4 3/8" f/11 60  60  24 
f/16 60  60  18 
f/22 54  54  18		 . . 803xxx 1960's
Bosch&Lomb Series 5 Protar  f/18 113mm f/18 54  54  23 
f/22 54  60  30 
f/32 42  48  38		 125g Copal 0 TS24xx 19x0's
Caltar II-N 115mm f/11 68  60  42
f/16 54  48  42
f/22 54  48  42		 715g Copal 1 10682xxx 1980's?
Congo WideAngle f/6.3 120mm f/11 42  42  30 
f/16 42  42  32 
f/22 44  44  32		 145g Copal 0 302xxx 1990's
Congo WideAngle f/6.3 120mm f/11 32  30  18 
f/16 38  30  19 
f/22 60  42  24		 145g Copal 0 301xxx 1990's
Schneider SuperSymmar HM f/5.6 120mm f/11 42  42  24 
f/16 80  80  60 
f/22 67  60  42		 390g Copal 0 142xxxxx 1980's
Schneider APO Symmar f/5.6 120mm f/11 54  54  48 
f/16 76  54  54 
f/22 60  54 48		 190g Copal 0 1462xxxx 1990's
Schneider APO Symmar f/5.6 120mm f/11 67  67  38 
f/16 64  64  54 
f/22 60  60  42		 190g Copal 0 143xxxxx 1980's
Fuji CM-W f/5.6 125mm f/11 42  33  38 
f/16 60  54  54 
f/22 60  60  54		 . Copal 0 75xxx3 1990's
Goerz Carl Ziess Jena  f/9 12.5cm f/16 60  67  38 
f/22 54  54  48 
f/32 48  48  42		 155g Copal 0 124xxxx 19x0's
Fuji Fujinon-W/EBC f/5.6 135mm f/11 76  76  48
f/16 68  68  48
f/22 54  60  54		 230g Copal #0 542xxx 1980's
Fuji Fujinon-W f/5.6 135mm f/11 21  30  60
f/16 33  42  54
f/22 48  54  54		 230g Copal #0 542xxx 1980's
Graphlex Optar f/4.7 135mm f/11 42  42  33 
f/16 54  48  38 
f/22 42  42  42		 195g Rapax G2xxx1 1950's
Kodak WF Ektar f/6.3 135mm f/11 76  53  35 
f/16 76  67  44 
f/22 63  63  54		 290g Supermatic RExxx 1950's
Kodak WF Ektar f/6.3 135mm f/11 42  42  24 
f/16 48  38  24 
f/22 67  54  42		 290g Supermatic EEIxxxx 1960's???
Nikon W f/5.6 135mm f/11 48  38  15 
f/16 67  42  21 
f/22 60  54  38		 210g Copal 0 722xxx 1980's
Nikon W f/5.6 135mm f/11 27  21  19 
f/16 60  42  15 
f/22 54  54  30		 210g Copal 0 710xxx 1980's
Rodenstock Sironar N f/5.6 135mm f/11 48  48  24 
f/16 54  54  54 
f/22 60  54  54		 185g Copal 0 109xxxx2 1980's
Rodenstock APO Sironar N f/5.6 135mm f/11 38  42  30
f/16 54  60  54
f/22 48  48  48		 170g Copal 0 11369xxx 1990's
Rodenstock APO Sironar S f/5.6 135mm f/11 38  42  42 
f/16 58  58  38 
f/22 64  64  59		 215g Copal 0 112xxxxx 1990's
Schneider Linhof Xenotar f/3.5 135mm f/11 42  38  42
f/16 60  60  54 
f/22 54  54  54		 375g Synchro-Compur #1 10,959,xxx 1968
Fuji NSW f/5.6 150mm f/11 68  76  68 
f/16 68  76  68 
f/22 60  60  60		 .
 Copal 0 .
 1980's
Fuji W f/6.3 150mm f/11 60  60  48 
f/16 48  60  54 
f/22 54  60  54		 140g Seiko #0 130xxx 1970's
Fuji W f/6.3 150mm f/11 60  60  48 
f/16 48  60  54 
f/22 54  60  54		 140g Copal 0 130xx8 1970's
Fuji WS f/6.3 150mm f/11 60  67  48 
f/16 60  67  48 
f/22 60  60  54		 140g Copal 0 121xx9 1970's
Goerz WA Gold Ring  f/8 6 1/2" f/11 21  24  21 
f/16 38  54  48 
f/22 48  48  48		 . Ilex 786xx8 1960's
Kowa Graphic f/9 150mm f/11 76  76  48 
f/16 67  67  67 
f/22 42  60  60		 260g Copal 0 12xx2 1980's
Rodenstock Geronar 150mm f/11 60  38  24
f/16 76  48  34
f/22 48  54  48		 145g Copal 0 10424xxx 1980's?
Rodenstock APO Sironar(W) f/5.6 150mm f/16 68  68  42 
f/22 54  60  54		 ??? Copal 1 10886xxx 1990's
Rodenstock APO Sironar S f/5.6 150mm f/11 54  54  42
f/16 54  54  54
f/22 54  54  48		 230g Copal 0 116xxxxx 1990's
Rodenstock APO Sironar S f/5.6 150mm f/11 76  85  43 
f/16 76  76  43 
f/22 60  60  48		 230g Copal 0 113xxxxx 1990's
Rodenstock Sironar N f/5.6 150mm f/11 76  57  27 
f/16 76  76  30 
f/22 60  60  43		 200g Copal 0 103xxxxx 1980's
Schneider APO Symmar f/5.6 150mm f/11 54  60  54 
f/16 60  60  54 
f/22 42  42  38		 235g Copal 0 145xxxx8 1990's
Schneider Symmar-S f/5.6 150mm f/11 76  85  38 
f/16 57  60  38 
f/22 67  67  48		 215g Copal 0 141xxxxx 1980's
Schneider G-Claron f/9 150mm f/11 67  43  30 
f/16 76  67  38 
f/22 60  60  48		 130g Copal 0 142xxxxx 1980's
Schneider Super Symmar HM f/5.6 150mm f/11 38  42  38
f/16 76  76  42 
f/22 54  54  42		 740g Copal 0 1449xxxx 1990's
Schneider
- coating imperfections
 Super Symmar HM f/5.6 150mm f/11 20  30  42 
f/16 30  48  48 
f/22 42  48  48		 740g Copal 0 143xxxxx 1990's
Schneider Symmar 
Convertable f/5.6		 150mm f/11 42  48  38 
f/16 42  48  42 
f/22 48  64  42		 . Linhof 449xxxx 1950's
Schneider Symmar 
Convertable f/5.6		 150mm 
single element
at 265mm		 f/16 48  48  23 
f/22 48  48  33 
f/32 42  42  38		 . Linhof 449xxxx 1950's
Schneider Symmar 
Convertable f/5.6		 150mm 
single element
at 265mm
with #15 yellow
filter		 f/16 48  48  21 
f/22 48  48  32 
f/32 30  38  33		 . Linhof 449xxxx 1950's
Schneider Xenar f/5.6 150mm f/11 42 54 26 
f/16 54 67 24 
f/22 67 60 48		 170g Copal 0 14xxxxxx 1990's
Voightlander APO Lanthar
lite element separation		 15cm f/11 67  67  42 
f/16 54  67  54 
f/22 54  42  42		 290g Linhof Select blackface 6745xxx 1960's
Ilex Paragon-S f/4.5 163mm f/11 64 48 21 
f/16 34 42 30 
f/22 58 54 48		 . Ilex 52xx9 1960's
Schneider Angulon f/6.8 165mm f/11 54  54  15
f/16 54  54  24 
f/22 48  48  34		 500g Copal 3 13339xxx 1970's
Schneider Angulon f/6.8 165mm f/11 xx  xx  xx 
f/16 54  38  17 
f/22 48  42  21		 300g Linhof Select blackface 9031xxx 1960's

180mm thru 270mm
 

Computar Symmetrigon f/6.3 180mm f/11 42  33  26 
f/16 60  60  33 
f/22 54  54  30		 386g Copal 1 74xxx2 1980's
Fuji A f/9 180mm f/11 67 76 34 
f/16 67 67 42 
f/22 60 60 38		  190g Copal 0   28xxxx  1970's
Schneider Symmar-S/MC f/5.6 180mm f/11 54 54 48
f/16 60 48 42
f/22 54 54 42		 450g Compur 1 1410xxxx 1980's
Schneider Symmar-S f/5.6
(single coated)		 180mm f/11 54 54 60
f/16 85 67 60
f/22 60 54 54		 455g Copal 1 1216xxxx 1970's
Bausch and Lomb Protar series-V f/18 183mm f/18 42 38 30 
f/22 54 48 42 
f/32 42 42 38		 . . LF3xx5 .
Kodak  Ektar f/7.7 203mm f/11 60  67  48 
f/16 60  60  54 
f/22 60  60  54		 180g Supermatic RExxx 1950's
Kodak Anastigmat /7.7  uncoated 203mm f/11 48  67  54 
f/16 67  73  42 
f/22 54  60  48		 180g Supermatic no-ser 1930's
Nikkor M-series f/8 200mm f/11 68  76  38
f/16 68  68  34
f/22 60  54  48		 180g Copal 0 200xxx 1980's?
Nikkor M-series f/8 200mm f/11 60  60  30 
f/16 67  60  30 
f/22 60  67  54		 180g Copal 0 201xxx 1980's
Computar (Kowa) f/9 process lens 210mm f/9  48 30 26 
f/11 48 38 38 
f/16 60 54 48 
f/22 48 48 48		 <220g Copal 1 ??? 1970's
Fuji L-series f/5.6 210mm f/11 54 54 34 
f/16 68 60 48 
f/22 48 48 42		 340g Copal 1 255xxx 1970's
Fuji L-series f/5.6 210mm f/11 34 38 34 
f/16 54 48 42 
f/22 42 48 42		 340g Copal 1 253xxx 1970's
Fuji W-series f/5.6 210mm f/11 xx xx xx 
f/16 54 48 42 
f/22 60 48 48		 475g Copal 1 253xxx 1980's
Nikkor W-series f/5.6 210mm f/11 60  42  24 
f/16 60  60  38 
f/22 48  54  54		 475g Copal 1 757xxx 1980's
Rodenstock APO Sironar-S f/5.6 210mm f/11 68  60  38 
f/16 76  54  54 
f/22 60  54  54		 465g Copal 1 11589xx1 1990's
Rodenstock APO Sironar-S f/5.6 210mm f/11 54  38  48 
f/16 76  48  54 
f/22 60  48  54		 465g Copal 1 11589xx0 1990's
Rodenstock SironarN f/5.6 210mm f/11 48  54  42 
f/16 42  42  38 
f/22 34 34 34		 415g Copal 1 103xxxx1 1980's
Schneider Symmar APO f/5.6 210mm f/11 76  76  60 
f/16 67  67  54 
f/22 60  60  54		 475g Copal 1 143xxxxx 1990's
Fuji A-series  f/9 240mm f/11 54  38  34 
f/16 68  60  54 
f/22 60  60  60		 245g Copal 0 5xxxxx 1990's
Fuji A-series  f/9 240mm f/11 60  54  48 
f/16 76  60  48 
f/22 60  67  60		 245g Copal 0 522xxx 1990's
Rodenstock APO Ronar f/9 240mm f/11 76 68 38 
f/16 68 48 54 
f/22 60 42 48		 355g Copal 0? 10526xxx 1970's
Goerz Red Dot Artar f/9 9.5 inch f/11 54 38 24 
f/16 60 54 24 
f/22 60 60 42		 185g Compur 1 838xxx 1960's
Schneider Linhof TeleArton f/5.6 250mm f/11 xx xx xx
f/16 54 60 54
f/22 54 60 54		 820g Prontor-Pro #1 14,076,xxx 1984
Ilex Paragon  f/6.3 254mm f/11 26  42  30 
f/16 48  48  42 
f/22 54  54  54		 . Ilex #2 1xx2 1950's
Rodenstock TeleOptar  f/6.5 270mm f/11 48  48  30 
f/16 48  38  34 
f/22 42  33  30		 900g Copal 0 469xxx6 1970's
Rodenstock TeleRotelar   f/6.5 270mm f/11 21  21  21 
f/16 38  42  19 
f/22 42  33  33		 940g Copal 0 491xxx2 1970's

300mm and longer
 

Doktor Tessar f/5.6 300mm f/11 38  34  27 
f/16 54 48 48 
f/22 60 42 54		 745g Copal 3 10xx .
Nikon M f/9 300mm f/11 67  67  47 
f/16 48 42 42 
f/22 42 42 42		 270g Copal 1  75xxx6 1980's
Nikon M f/9 300mm f/11 48  48 48 
f/16 48 48 48 
f/22 54 54 54		 270g Copal 1  75xxx2 1980's
Fuji Fujinon-T f/8 300mm f/11 54 38 38 
f/16 54 42 38 
f/22 54 48 38		 415g Copal 0 70xxxx 1990's
Fuji Fujinon-W f/5.6 300mm f/11 38 48 42 
f/16 48 54 48 
f/22 48 54 48		 1100g Copal #3 272xxx 1980's
Schneider G-Claron f/9 305mm f/16 67 67 54 
f/22 54 60 54		 . Copal 1 . 1989
Goerz L.D.Artar f/9 14inch f/11 19 15 10
f/16 38 38 21
f/22 48 48 30

f/11 42 34 26
f/16 54 42 33
f/22 xx xx xx

 315g Compur #2 837xxx .
Goerz L.D.Artar f/9 14inch f/11 48 48 24
f/16 48 60 42
f/22 48 54 48		 565g Copal #3S
front mounted		 837xxx .
Fuji A-series  f/10 360mm f/11 48 48 42
f/16 54 48 42
f/22 48 48 48		 475g Copal 1 521xxx 1980's
Nikon T-ED f/8 360mm f/11 42 42 42 
f/16 54 60 54 
f/22 54 54 54		 . Copal 1  52xxx6 1980's
Schneider Tele Xenar Compact 400mm f/11 50 50 42 
f/16 50 42 50 
f/22 50 42 50		 870g Copal 3 xxx 200x
Fuji C-series  f/12.5 450mm f/16 54 54 54 
f/22 54 54 54 
f/32 38  33  38		 285g Copal 1  640xx0 1990's
Fuji C-series f/12.5 450mm f/12.5 48 48 24
f/16 48 48 34 
f/22 48 48 34
f/32 42 48 34		 285g Copal 1 640xxx 1990's
Nikon T-ED f/11 500mm f/16 19  19  19 
f/22 42  38  33 
f/32 42  42  42		 185g rear element weight Copal 1  18xxx0 1980's
 Nikon  T-ED f/16  720mm f/22 38  42  38 
f/32 34  34  34 
f/45 30  26  30		  150g rear element weight  Copal 1   200xxx  1980's

Please NOTE:

  • This is at best a relative (not absolute) comparison between these lenses. Kerry and I are simply looking for the Pick of the Litter.
  • All lenses tested at 1:20 magnification (a typical working distance).
  • Test setup was TMax100, D76 processed to my system's calibrated exposure/time/temp
  • Canham DCLH(?) metal field 4x5, Linhof Tech III, Linhof Master Technika, Linhof Master Karden, and Tachihara wood field 4x5
  • Edmond Scientific Lens Resolution Chart
  • The negatives were exposed for Zone 7-8 for detailed white and Zone 3 for detailed shadow.
It's also important to remember that things that influence system testing include:
  • Camera alignment
  • lens quality
  • ground glass plane accuracy (which influences holder accuracy)
  • film's granularity
  • light source (narrow band blue will test better than narrow band red)
  • film sag/bulge/droop at focal plane
  • test pattern

As a comparison, I include Larry Whatley's test results. 

From: linda_aw@ix.netcom.com(Linda A Whatley )
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Resolution Data - Ektar 203 7.7
Date: 3 Mar 1997 01:43:37 GMT
X-NETCOM-Date: Sun Mar 02  5:43:37 PM PST 1997
Here is resolution data of a Kodak 203mm f/7.7 Ektar, measured in the film plane with an eyepiece. (Thanks, Bill F., for lending it!) This is a very good lens, usually at a modest used price. Corners for this lens are at 21 degrees for 4x5 and 27 degrees for 5x7. Angles here are half-field angles-- angle from the optical axis. Notice that you need to be a little careful in using this one for 5x7 if you want the corners sharp.

- Larry Whatley



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