I have an opportunity to buy a 120 mm F 5.6 Schneider APO Symmar lens at a very good price. I'd like to use it on a 5x7 camera. The specs for the lens show an image circle of 179 mm at F 22, which would be too small for 5x7. However, I'm wondering whether the image circle might be large enough stopped down to F 32 or F 45. Has anyone tried this lens with 5x7 or do you know the image circle if stopped down below F 22?

-- Brian Ellis (bellis@tampabay.rr.com), March 06, 2000

Answers

IMHO the 120mm would struggle to cover the 5x7 format even when stopped down. I have used one on 4x5 but with VERY limited movements, i.e. none at all!!! I may be wrong but I would say a definite NO!! Best of luck Paul

-- Paul Owen (paul@paulowenphotography.freeserve.co.uk), March 06, 2000.

I second the NO vote... I used one in 6x9, and occasionally in 4x5 with very good results, but essentially no movement. I doubt the image circle increases much past f/22.

-- Glenn C. Kroeger (gkroeger@trinity.edu), March 06, 2000.