Which Lens for big Prints from 4x5"?

[andré herger]

Hello 4x5" specialists!

I want to enlarge 4x5" b/w negatives up to 1 x 1,2 meter or more. And i`ve got a old and wonderful Optikotechna enlarger. So there are a few lenses i could use:

I have a

- Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 21cm/ 6,3

- Boyer Paris Saphir Apochromatique 1:10/300mm



And i also have my Sinar 4x5 " lenses:

- Schneider Kreuznach Symmar 5,6/210 mm

-Rodenstock Sironar-n 5,6/135 mm

- Rodenstock Apo-Ronar 9/300mm MC

Which one gives the best results?

The enlarging distance is not important, there is enough space in my studio.. Some people are talking like using a camera lens on a enlarger is like doing a sin... Many Thanks!

[Stan. Laurenson-Batten]

Andre.

Altough camera lenses are quite capable of producing a good result when used for enlarging, some are better than others. Always try to use a lens that has been calibrated for close distance work. You have quite a varied focal length in your lenses. From the list, I would choose the Rodenstock lenses which, although camera lenses, been proven to be good at close distances. I am not familiar with the other lenses you list so cannot give a valid opinion. The enlargements you mention will be no problem at all from 5x4" film.

[Eric Rose]

I have done rather large blowups using a Rodenstock 150 enlarging lens. The prints were very sharp and had good contrast. The biggest challenge was securing the enlarger enough to insure absolutely no shake.

[CP Goerz]

Easy one! The 300mm APO Ronar, especially since you have no worry regarding distance. Besides the Boyer its the only APO you have and the Ronar is corrected rather nicely.

CP Goerz.

[Vince Pulvirenti]

150mm Rodenstock Rodagon - G

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

Hi André
The Boyer Apo lens is a classical 4-element design very close to the apo-ronar design. It will perform well as an enlarging lens, but with a 300 mm focal length you'll need quite a lot of bellows extension.
The Tessar... is a tessar! but some tessars may have been optimised for enlarging work, some others, for infinity. 21 cm denotes a 13x18 format that a 21 cm (210mm) tessar will cover easily. The Symmar is a design older than the apo-sironar-N, I would reserve both for taking pictures.
If you do not have any problem of bellows extension on your enlarger, you'll be happy either with the Boyer or the apo-ronar ; do not forget that apo-repro lenses deliver their best performance at f/22 whereas a regular 6-element 150mm enlarging lens can be used at f/11.

[Bob Salomon]

While the Rodagon G will give the best results they are becoming difficult to find as, except for the 50mm, they are out of production.

However the Apo Sironar N, reverse mounted, will give very good results. The trick is in reverse mounting it and maintainig alignment. You will also need a glass carrier and a solid, vibration-free enlarger.

[Cliff Baldwin]

I have printed over 30 years.I will only use the best Shneider enlargerlenses.Reasons take too much typing here.I have a Componon 135 lens that covers 4x5 for sale.It makes bigger prints in a shorter distance than the 150mm.Asking $185 U.S. Let me know if interested.204-774-7190 or blackypoocher@hotmail.com.

[Andrew_4548]

Cliff,

Have you ever used the 120 Apo Componon HM and what do you think to them?

I've already got a Rodagon 135mm and find it's just not wide enough do much cropping on 16x20 prints (I've run out of ceiling space even though the enlarger maybe has another 4" of travel left on the column...)

The Rodagon-WA 120 seems to be near extinct unless I could pick one up s/hand. The Schneider reads as though it has more functions (full open to stop down switch and disengagable click stops over the Rodagon.)

Thanks,