Rodagon 135 or 150mm ?

[Martin Aislabie]

I am looking to buy a new Rodagon Enlarging Lens for 5x4.

Rodenstock offer two alternative lenses – the 135/f5.6 & 150/f5.6

I am confused as to the advantages and draw backs of the alternative choices

I have enough Enlarger Column height to make as large a print as I will ever intend with a 150mm lens – so magnification isn’t an issue.

Can someone help me out by explaining the differences between the 135 and the 150 (apart from the obvious 15mm )

Thanks

Martin

[vinny]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the 150 gives you more coverage which usually means sharper reproduction from edge to egde over the 135. I wouldn't buy a new enlarger lens these days since they're a dime/dozen right now in the used market. If you can wait and search out an apo rodagon or componon, do that and you'll never wonder if you could have gotten a better lens. I've paid as much as $300 and as little as $12 for enlarging lenses and they're all really good.

[Gem Singer]

The 150 has a larger image circle than the 135.

More coverage for 4X5. Less fall off around the edges.

Since you have the enlarger column height to handle it, the 150 would be a better choice.

[Bob Salomon]

There is also the matter of lens board size. The 150mm is physically much larger and has a 50mm diameter thread mount. The 135mm has the standard 39mm Leica thread mount. The 135mm also has the same pre-set aperture selector ring as the 50 to 105mm Rodagons, the 150mm does not have the pre-set feature. Lastly is cost. The 135mm new is quite a bit less then the 150mm.

[JW Dewdney]

the 135 isn't much of a problem at smaller (closer to 1:1) repro ratios. It's limitations become apparent though as you make bigger prints. But if you're not doing really big prints - it should be just fine.

[Bob Salomon]

the 135 isn't much of a problem at smaller (closer to 1:1) repro ratios. It's limitations become apparent though as you make bigger prints. But if you're not doing really big prints - it should be just fine.

Both the 135mm Rodagon and the 150mm Rodagon are optimized for the same magnification range, 2 to 10x prints.

[Drew Wiley]

I mostly use a 180 Rodagon for 4x5 because it provides much more even illumination across this format than the shorter focal lengths. However, at one time
when I had a more cramped work space, I did use the 135 Rodagon for making 20x24 color prints from 4x5 and it was certainly sharp enough, and had fine color resolution too, though I later found myself using it more for medium format enlargement. Another lens I frequently use nowadays is the 150 Apo-Rodagon - now there's a real gem in this focal length!

[Shen45]

I have had, and a friend has a 135mm Rodagon and a 150 Rodagon [both newer style ] and the results are stunningly good. I cannot see any difference in prints done with either the 135 or 150.

Measured on the baseboard of my DeVere the fall off corner to corner with either lens was .1 of a stop measured with my minolta spot.

My friend uses the 135 especially for doing larger prints. Without being told I cannot tell which lens made which print.

[Martin Aislabie]

Lens mount size isn't an issue - I will buy an additional mount for it - which would would become my main Enlarging Lens.

Martin

[Martin Aislabie]

Lens mount size isn't an issue - I will buy an additional mount for it - as it would become my main Enlarging Lens.

Martin