Durst 138s lensboard question

[tulowulo]

I have a Durst 138s enlarger that is equipped with the Tripla rotating lensboard. I recently picked up a 90mm Schneider APO-Componon lens with 39mm Leica thread mount that I would like to use but the rear element of the lens sticks out preventing the Tripla lensboard from rotating. Does anyone know if there is a Durst lensboard that will accommodate this lens? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Drew Wiley]

Some 39mm thread rings have a distinct cone-like projection, but I can't recall right off the top of my head the specific Durst code for it. Otherwise, it would be easy for any machinist to make one.

[Gord Robinson]

Try this link, about half way down there is a description of the common lens boards available for the Durst 138s Tripla lensboard

https://groups.google.com/g/rec.photo.darkroom/c/cWlZYGFfNm0

[Drew Wiley]

"Vegatub 39" ... Sounds like something I saw on the cooking network, complete with cabbage shredding attachment.

[ic-racer]

Mounting contemporary lenses to the Tripla can be a challenge. The Tripla was primarily intended to be fitted with the silver Componon lenses in various cones. Turns out these cones only fit the older silver lenses.

I was, however, able to mount these newer lenses, with a lot of e-bay searching for mounts.


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[Gord Robinson]

"Vegatub 39" ... Sounds like something I saw on the cooking network, complete with cabbage shredding attachment.
I wasn't sure about it either when I saw the reference but I had to Google it to make sure and it is for the M605, M670 and M70 enlargers.

[Gord Robinson]

Somewhere I came across the Roding lens boards and I needed one of them with a 58mm hole to mount my Rodagon 210mm lens to the Tripla. There is a Roding 3917 which I think would be a 39mm thread but I can not find any references to the Roding lens board to determine if it is a extended cone or flat board. The Rodings were for Rodenstock lenses and came in 3917, 5071, 5072, 58 and 72 according to the Durst catalog. Schneider had a series of boards identified as Soring that I think were extended cones 3975, 50, 5023 and 66.

[Drew Wiley]

I'll have to look at my drawer of Durst odds n' ends to see if I have a Roding in there, and measure it. One problem is that the turret itself changed over time, with one series of rings slightly smaller in overall diameter than the other. The smaller series would fit both turret designs, but had to be more carefully tightened in place or you'd potentially get a light leak around the circumference of the ring itself. But the later larger rings fit only the expressly matched turret design. Admittedly, it can get confusing.

The gist of the problem goes back to cross-compatibility or not with certain of their smaller enlargers, just like Gord insinuated. And I don't have any of those smaller machines, but have accidentally wound up with one of their slightly different lens rings, and realized it has to be used a little differently in a large format turret.

Otherwise - Componon, Componon S, Rodagon, Apo Rodagon N, El Nikkor - every one of them no problem adapting to the turret with a standard ring, mostly either 39mm (Lapla 36) or 50mm thread (Lapla 50), that is, until the lens just get too big in diameter, like my huge El Nikkor 360/5.6. My f/9 Apo Nikkors needed a custom adapter. And then there are recessed versions for tiny short focal length lenses.

[tulowulo]

Thanks everyone for your responses.
I found this but they don't list the particular lens I have.
https://customphototools.com/durst-enlarger-lensboards/
It looks like they could fabricate a lens board for me if I gave them the distance that the rear element protrudes prohibiting the Tripla from rotating.
Does anyone have any experience buying from them?

[Andrea Gazzoni]

Thanks everyone for your responses.
I found this but they don't list the particular lens I have.
https://customphototools.com/durst-enlarger-lensboards/
It looks like they could fabricate a lens board for me if I gave them the distance that the rear element protrudes prohibiting the Tripla from rotating.
Does anyone have any experience buying from them?

I do. Jose is fast and reliable in my experience.
Had 3 or 4 rings made so far, one was uncommon sized, all are a nice fit to my lenses.

[cowanw]

4 thumbs up for Jose; excellent work and a real understanding of the needs of the issues at hand for each job.

[Luis-F-S]

SK Grimes can make you a custom lens board

[Chauncey Walden]

I made a Tripla lens board for a 210 Rodagon from a $5 filter step ring.

[Greg Y]

I made a Tripla lens board for a 210 Rodagon from a $5 filter step ring.

Chauncey, would you care to elaborate, seeing as how those 138 lensboards are about the size of a small dinner plate...

[Chauncey Walden]

It was a 77mm to 58mm step down adapter. You just have to file the two small grooves for the retaining prongs.

[Andrea Gazzoni]

I guess you made a Lapla, not a Tripla, which is way larger

[Chauncey Walden]

All the Durst terminology is confusing - it has 3 holes so I assumed Tripla. You know, I just looked at the link that had the guy at Durst listing all the boards for the Tripla and he noted they were about 80mm. 77 is pretty close to 80 and the 77 step down adapter works just fine. The Tripla is the 3 lens turret - the mount the Tripla sits on is the size of the dinner plate but that would only be for 1 lens if it was a lens board. I rest my case. Well maybe 2 more things. The 77mm is the diameter of the threads on the adapter the flange is 80mm. The turret is marked Tripla. The OP asked for a board for the Tripla and I think Greg must be thinking about a lens board to replace the Tripla.

[Luis-F-S]

Buy a Lapla 25 or 39 and send it to SK Grimes for cutting the threads may still not fit the Tripla but it will fit a Unipla. If in the USA use SK Gimes if across the pond use Jose