Fuji L lens

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Does anyone have details on the Fujinon L series lens? Apparently this is not a current model. I am interested specifically in the 300mm F 5.6 Fujinon L. Was the L series a predecessor to the CMW series?

-- Dave Schneider (dschneider@arjaynet.com), May 09, 2001

Answers

Dave,

Fujinon L Series lenses come in as 210/5.6, 300/5.6 and 420/5.6 (there might be a 150/5.6). They are all Tessar type (four elements in three groups) design. Your best bet is to check Kerry Thalmann's website. There are a few very informative, well constructed pages about Fujinon lenses. Cheers,

-- Geoffrey Chen (DB45TEK@AOL.COM), May 09, 2001.


Dave,

As Geoffery mentioned, I have some Fujinon information online at:

http://largeformat.terrashare.com/fujinon.htm

The first page, and the one under the "literature" link have some general information on Fujinon lenses - good background reading.

I have a scanned copy of the April, 1981 Fujinon brochure online. The page with the specs on the L Series can be viewed directly at:

http://largeformat.terrashare.com/ls-ts.htm

Also, as Geoffery stated, the L Series Fujinons are Tessar types with coverage of 59 degrees for the 210mm and 300mm. The 420mm F8 Fujinon L had coverage of 53 degrees. The 150mm tessar type (an f6.3) was for some baffling reason granted the W (rather than L) designation in the Fuji product lines. The L series was contemporary to the W and NW (predecessor to the Current CM-W line) Fujinon lines. They had less coverage than the plasmat derivative W and NW designs and were sold as budget priced lenses. To the best of my knowledge, the L Series was single coated only - and remained so (probably to keep cost down) even after all the other Fujinons came with with the EBC multicoatings. Based on the literature I have, the 300mm and 420mm L models were discontinued between March and July of 1982, but the 210mm L continued to be offered as a low cost entry level option until at least 1990 (still single coated). With the introduction of the compact C Series in July, 1982, the 300mm and 420mm L Series Fujinons with less coverage, single coatings, and larger, more expensive Copal #3 shutters become somewhat obsolete (or at least redundant in the Fuji product lines). Although I don't have price data on both lenses from 1982, I suspect the cost of the Copal #3 shutter made the 300mm Fujinon impractical compared to the new 300mm Fujinon C in the smaller, less expensive Copal #1 shutter.

Specific to the 300 L, the image circle is 343mm at f22 for infinity focus. Filter size is 67mm and the weight is a rather hefty 800g. Even though the L series was considered Fujinon's budget priced entry level line, they are still very good performers and very usable lenses. I'd consider them a slightly more modern version of the classic Kodak Commercial Ektars - with the Fujis having the benefit of coming in modern Copal shutters. At the end of it's production life cycle, the 300mm Fujinon L sold new for $479.95 (March 1, 1982 Calumet Catalog).

Concerning prices for used samples, I've seen some pretty outrageous asking prices in the $700 - $900 range, Given the fact that even a late production sample is pushing 20 years old, is single coated and has limited coverage - and the fact that a brand new, multicoated 300mm Fujinon C with more coverage is only $725 - this makes no sense to me. Also, I have seen multicoated 300mm f5.6 Fujinon W lenses selling in this same (or lower) price range. Keep in mind the W Series was contemporary to the L Series and was the top of the line Fuji offering (multicoated, more coverage - 420mm image circle) compared to the entry level, budget priced L Series. To me, a fair price for a 300mm Fujinon L should be $50 - $100 more than the 12" Commercial Ektar in similar condition (due to the more modern shutter of the Fujinon). But the I don't establish market prices - they are set by whatever people are willing to pay.

Kerry

-- Kerry Thalmann (largeformat@thalmann.com), May 09, 2001.


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