I was recently told that using a 67 lens on a 35mm body would yield image results that were not as good as using a 35mm lens on the same body. I was told that it had something to do with the larger image circle on the smaller film size being the problem. Is there any truth to this?

The reason I am asking is that I am looking for the SMC-A* 200mm f/4 ED Macro or a SMC-A* 200mm f/2.8 for my 35mm bodies. I am having a hard time finding thse lenses used, however, so I thought that maybe I should purchase a 200mm f/4 67 lens and use my 67 to 35mm lens adapter. I am primarily looking to use the lens to shoot people in landscapes with high compression. (Just in case you are wondering, I do own a 67, so this would not be a completely frivolous purchase.)

-- Deron (dchang@choate.edu), July 31, 2000

Answers

I have never heard, that due to the image circle being different, that 67 lenses would degrade the image if used on 35mm equipment. I don't agree that the image circles are going to be all that different on various 200mm lenses designed for SLR cameras; whether used on 35mm or 67. Yes, the lens baffeling on 35mm lenses may prevent the entire image circle from reaching the film, but if left unbaffeled, the circle would be similar to that of a 200mm on the 67. I have used the 200mm f/4 on my KX with excellent results. Since you are using less of the image circle with 35mm format/200mm lens, than when using 67 film, you are using more of the paraxial rays of the lens and less marginal rays. Your results will be similar to using a 200mm lens designed for a 35mm camera. The edge of the 35mm image (with P67 200mm) will be sharper than the edge of a 67 image, especially at f/4. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), July 31, 2000.