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.
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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.
- 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 )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.
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
- Larry Whatley
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