are plasmats the same?

I have a Symmar-S 300mm in Copal 3 shutter. Can the front element of the Fujinon 300mm that fits the Copal 3 be used to replace the front element of the Symmar-S? In other words, are the Schneider and Fujinon plasmats 300mm of the same design?

They are the same design type but not the same design. You can swap cells between lenses of the same design, e.g., between jes' plain 135/5.6 Symmars, but not between lenses of different designs, e.g., a 135/5.6 Symmar and a 135/5.6 Symmar-S.

 

That said, if you do the swap the resulting lens will pass light and form an image. Whether the image is good enough for your purposes is another thing entirely. The only way to find out is to do the swap and test the lens.

Thanks Dan. I forgot that the Symmar and Symmar-S are (slightly) different designs. Do you know if the Fujinon W and WS are different designs also? Are they comparable to the Symmar designs?

John, you've forgotten that I'm an ignorant barbarian insensitive to the fine points. I've taken the course, passed the exam and have the certificate.

 

With that in mind, for my money all recent lenses of the same focal length and speed from, in alphabetical order, Fuji, Nikon, Schneider and Rodenstock are functionally equivalent. There's no point agonizing over which is best -- some claim the latest Rodenstock lenses beat the others -- since all are better than good enough.

 

About the Fujinons. The first post in this Where to look for information on LF (mainly) lenses discussion has a link to a list of links to information on, among other things. LF lenses. Use it to find out how the incomprehensibly named and variably engraved Fujinons differ. While you're at it, switch your allegiance to www.largeformatphotography.info/forum. Photo.net isn't the best place to go to for info on LF techniques and gear.

 

Short answer to y'r Fuji question, I don't know. Joe McGloin, who compiled the best, IMO, Fujinon list thinks that jes' plain Ws and W Ss are the same.