While doomscrolling through Facebook one day in July, I came across someone in a film group selling a large-format lens. I already owned a Schneider 90mm lens that I used with my Tachihara and Graflex Pacemaker, but the lens for sale was a Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 90mm f/8 with a Copal shutter. I was drawn to the idea of owning a Super-Angulon lens because of its stellar reputation. The Copal shutter with a preview lever was an added bonus.
It took me a few weeks to test the lens because I spent one week in Oregon in June, followed by another in July. During that time, I managed to take some large-format photos at Crater Lake, which drew a lot of attention from other tourists. Side note: back in 2015, I stopped to talk to someone about his large-format camera, and his attitude was, let’s just say, off-putting. Because of that experience, I’ve made it a point to stop, answer people’s questions, and even let them peek under the dark cloth to view the ground glass.
With shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/500 and f-stops from f/8 to f/64, the Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 90mm has six elements in four groups. It offers an angle of view of approximately 100° and an image circle of about 215mm. Mine is the newer multicoated version. On a 4×5 camera, the 90mm focal length is roughly equivalent to a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera.
The first two images below are from my initial test with the Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 90mm lens. I used the LomoGraflok 4×5 Instax Wide back on my Tachihara camera. I haven’t written about the LomoGraflok back yet, but I’ve used it extensively over the past two years. It’s compatible with any camera that has a Graflock back and uses Fujifilm Instax Wide instant film. The second set of images was shot on Arista EDU Ultra ISO 200 film and developed with FPP Super Monobath.
Overall, I’m excited to shoot wider 4×5 photos with this lens. However, based on the shots taken with the Arista film, I need to get into the habit of using the camera’s movements to correct the tilt of buildings.
Camera: Tachihara View Camera (1979)
Film: Fujifilm Instax Wide
Scanned: Epson V700 Photo
Camera: Tachihara View Camera (1979)
Film: Arista EDU Ultra ISO 200
Processed: FPP Super MonoBath 3:50 Min @ 24°C
Scanned: Epson V700 Photo
Utah Film Photography 
Do you ever have a gallery show showcasing your work?
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I’ve only ever had a gallery showing of my work once. And it was about 14 years ago, and they were all digital photos.
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Howdy,
I too am a large format guy using 2 1/4 x3 1/4 (Graflex XL with 100mm lens), and 4×5 Pacemaker, Monorail, field, etc. and live out in Hooper.
Echo is one of those really neat place with so much history and great stuff to shoot. What color film were you using and did you do your own processing?
Best regards,
Randall Shreve
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Randall, it’s always great to meet a local large format photographer. I typically develop all my BW film myself. I usually send color film out for processing, unless I’ve shot and accumulated a dozen or more rolls. In that case, I’ll buy a kit and process them myself. The color images in this post were shot on Fujifilm Instax Wide instant film. I agree, Echo is a fascinating & historic town. I had an interesting interaction with the property owner of Frank’s Echo Service while I was shooting. I want to go back and shoot some panoramic photos of Frank’s when I have a chance.
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Photo 1: We have one much like it near us.
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Jim, I have a niece that is a serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over in Angola, Indiana.
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Shaun –
I’m interested by your blurb about the Super-Angulon. I’ve never been satisfied with the image sharpness of my Crown Graphic with the 135mm Schneider lens, and wonder how much of that I should attribute to the lens. I’ve never been close enough to another lens to make a comparison. If it is also of interest to you, I suggest we meet someplace and do an onsite comparison on film, but that would require you to also have a lens board that fits my camera.
Bob Grant
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Bob, we could do that. The lens board will fit a Crown Graphic.
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Thanks, Shaun, for your offer. However, it might be a challenge to arrange time to do that. I returned last night from a wedding in Arizona. I’m leaving Monday for a ten day trip to hike the California Coastal Trail from roughly Santa Cruz to Point Lobos (Monterey), and then I’m leaving on Nov 17 for a month in New Zealand. Would the first, and perhaps second, week in November work for you? If not, let’s try again in the Spring.
Bob Grant
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