Can any users out there give me their opinion of the Osaka Commercial lenses from Bromwell Marketing? I am particularly interested in the 400mm and 500mm tele designs for 4X5. The bellows draw, the weight, and certainly the price make them intriguing. But how do they stand up optically? Can you compare them to the Nikkor teles or the Fujinon 450C? Thanks for your feedback.

-- Ian Dodd (Ian Dodd@aol.com), June 08, 1998

Answers

I have only owned 1 Osaka, the 210mm tessar type, which I bought used for (are you sitting down) $75.00. I paid in cash and left ASAP, wondering if the guy knew what he had and didn't care or didn't and I was taking advantage of his ignorance.

In any event, I have been quite happy with it's performance for that price on 5 X 7 and 4 X 5 and even for close-ups on 8 X 10, although I only make contacts prints in that format. In any event, that doesn't answer your question really. I do remember reading that the Osakas were single coated and not multi-coated. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

-- Sean yates (yatescats@yahoo.com), November 10, 1998.