Can anyone with a working relationship with this lens give me a few pointers. I plan to use this on my 4x5 Pacemaker. What is the best aperture for this lens and how does ir stack up against the other wide angles for this format? I'm new to med. & L.F. and looking forward to building up my system. I also have a 2x3 that came with a 8in. wollensak Tele-raptar & 101mm Ektar. Thanks for all the knowledge on this site.

Quoting from "Graphic Graflex Photography" discussion of the 90mm and 65mm W.A. Optar (10th ed., p. 31): "Like most lenses of this type, maximum sharpness is attained at f/11 and smaller apertures." There is also a warning about vignetting if used at other than the normally centered position. I've found both observations to be true with the 65mm Optar on the Century.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2004-01-06 11:07 ]</font>

I guess 'lenses of this type' would include Schneider's Angulon, which has all the same properties (same aperture, limited coverage, small working aperture).

I have the Angulon and found that the lens can handle nearly all of the rise that a Pace Crown can give. Now the corners may be a bit soft, but in my case it's either grass or mud in those corners, rarely the main subject.

f/22 or f/32 will give the sharpest results. In 4x5, you only get about 1/4in. of rise before the corners start to go.

You can get enough tilt for most landscapes, unless you want the camera right on the ground and need everthing from inches to miles away in focus. Pushing the limits of movement will lead to soft corners at the least, and black corners at it's worst.

Used within it's limits, it is a good lens and yields acceptable results, especially for the money.