BRIEF FIELD REPORT: Nikon Nikkor 300mm M f9.0 compact lens [Tessar Type] 

Theoretical covering power:  266mm* [325mm at f22 infinity]

  Comparison against a Nikon Nikkor 300mm W f5.6 lens mounted in a Sinar lens panel (right), the 300mm f9 Nikkor

(left) is a compact design field type lens producingf ull coverage for whole plate format with modest movements.

Test Camera:                           Chamonix Whole Plate.  Sinar mount lens board. 
 
Front filter:                               standard 52mm (no mechanical vignetting observed with Cokin Pro style filter holders)

Groundglass:                          Groundglass viewing is bright at f9.0 for its its focal length on a whole plate camera.

 
Illumination:                            This lens possesses even field illumination throughout the image area of the whole plate negative

                                                  at full aperture. 

Focussing:                              Chamonix Whole Plate users:  Final/furthest standard detent (300mm) to be used. 

Covering Power:                    Listed in manufacturer's literature as 325mm for f22 at infinity*, in practice there are some constraints to

                                                 achieving this extent of coverage relative to peripheral field definition.

Movements:                            Somewhat of a paradox, the theoretical coverage entails at least moderate shift movements with front tilt

                                                 should be possible

                                             
Image characteristics:           Modern, sharp and contrasty images with flare free reproduction.   Depth of field fall-off is perhaps ordinary

                                                 rather than aesthetically pleasing and on whole plate contact format size, the ambiguity between in-focus

                                                 and out-of-focus can seem rather unsettling.    The high contrast of the lens design and multi-coated optics

                                                 may give the impression of a hard and 'wirey' quality to the imaging, and therefore subject matter may be

                                                 an important pictorial consideration before using this optic within one's arsenal..

Modern sharp clinical optics: perhaps sharp to the point of being too harsh?

 
Summary:                                A popular telephoto lens for the 4x5" user, this lens also finds its way into the camera bag

                                                 for multi-format users up to 8x10" formats.  The Nikkor 300mm f9.0 offers a sharp contrasty and

                                                 very typical Japanese quality modern optic with few compromises.  It's maximum aperture of f9.0

                                                 for its relative telephoto field of view renders the ground glass acceptably bright for focussing work.

                                                 On whole plate format, the Tessar formula offers a very limited freedom for movements, and

                                                 this image circle seems to diminish rapidly at wider apertures than f22.0 for infinity focus.   For a

                                                 no movements approach to whole plate photography, this compact lightweight lens is an ideal

                                                 introduction to whole plate photography, perhaps rivalled best by the modern Fujinon C series in the

                                                 same focal length, and only outclassed by the bijoux Boyer Apo-Saphir 300mm f10.0 lens   It may

                                                 be worthwhile considering the Nikkor W 300mm f5.6 lens as an alternative.

See also:                                Also reviewed at  http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/300f9.htm

Other Nikkor and Topcor lenses (require 259mm image circle):

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Revisions and comments welcome.