Hi

I am seeking information about the various marks of this lens made by Fuji.

As I understand it, a 90mm f8 has been offered by Fuji since the 70s. I am looking to buy used one, and I have come across one bought by an individual in 1992. He isn't able to tell if its a multicoated lens (I suspect it MUST be, due to the 90s vintage), but describes the lens coating as looking 'purplish'. My question therefore is: Is this a multicoated lens???? (It comes in a Copal 0, if that's any help)

I am asking because both my Fujinon 150mm and 210mm W (non-CMW) lenses have greenish coatings.

Lastly, the FSTOP website details the 90mm f8 as having a 6E/6G design. Isn't this very different from the typical 6E, 4G designs of the f8 90mm lenses from the various manufacturers? What advantages can such a design have over the 6E/4G designs, and can someone possibly tell me if the 1992 vintage lens I am looking at has the same design as the current model.

Lastly lastly, pray tell, does anyone know what the BEST street price is for a brand new 90mm f8 Fujinon?? And where can I buy this lens at the price mentioned?

-- K H Tan (kahheng@pacific.net.sg), January 22, 2000

Answers

www.cameracrazy.com usually has good prices on Fuji LF (and MF, if you're interested in gray market GX680, for example). They (or actually "he"; I think it's basically one guy, because I got his roommate when I called!--but both Neighbor to Neighbor refs seem ok) lists the 90 SW f8 for $711.

Others can clarify whether a larger, more established source might be Badger in Wisconsin? Sergey Z. in his question on Neopan 80 listed a toll-free number; don't know if Badger has a website.

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-- Simon (fourthpres@aol.com), January 22, 2000.

Also, my understanding has always been if a lens is coated the glass will reflect colors (and I think my lenses represent the whole rainbow, so the green vs. purple shouldn't concern you), while uncoated glass looks colorless. Others: is this correct?

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-- Simon (fourthpres@aol.com), January 22, 2000.

Simon

Thanks for reply.

Point is, Camera Crazy doesn't appear to have updated their website in quite a while. I have read that the lens is available for under $700.

Anyway, thanks!

-- K H Tan (kahheng@pacific.net.sg), January 23, 2000.

Did he buy it new in 1992? If so it is almost certainly multi-coated. A Fujinon LF lens brochure that I have copyrighted 1982 shows the 90 f8 multicoated under the name EBC = Electron Beam Coated. Looking at the reflection of a light source at an angle, you should see several color reflections from the various coating and surfaces. A 1980 brochure lists the 90 f8 as one of their few lenses NOT multicoated. The non-multicoated version was in Seiko shutter, the multicoated version in Copal. Both are 6 elements in 6 groups and have the same optical specifications.

6 elements in 6 groups vs 6 elements in 4 groups gives the lens designer more surfaces that can be independently specified (e.g., as to radius of curvature) and therefore should permit a better lens design. It means greater manufacturing expense, so it means the maker thought they were accomplishing something useful with the additional airspacing of elements into more groups.

Another thing you can ask the seller to help date the lens: what is the color of the ring on the Copal shutter that one turns to set the speed? Chrome is early, black is later. I don't know the exact date of transition, but it is sometime between early 1980's and late 1990's.

-- Michael Briggs (MichaelBriggs@earthlink.net), January 23, 2000.

I can only tell about my experience. I once had a Fuji 90 mm f8, I think it was made in the erly eightes. I sure was the best 90mm lens for the 4x5" I have had and I regret ever having sod it.

-- Gudmundur Ingslfsson (imynd@simnet.is), February 04, 2000.