Large Format Lens Resolution - tests from 1990's into 2004

Before my old Hevanet site goes away, I want to republish some of the early lens tests that Kerry Thalmann and I performed over 15 years of curiosity on the topic.

Copyright 1998, 1999,2000,2001,2002,2004 Christopher M. Perez/Kerry L. Thalmann- All Rights Reserved

last updated: 04/19/04

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.

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

---

          0     5    10    15    20    25    27    29    30   deg. from axis
f/stop  ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

7.7     100    75    60    50    50    30     5     0     0   lines/mm
11      120   105    85    70    50    35    15     0     0
16       90    90    75    60    50    35    25     0     0
22       60    60    60    55    50    40    35     5     0
32       50    50    45    45    40    40    40    10     0
45       30    30    30    30    30    30    30    20     0