why is the Rodenstock Rodagon 150 cheaper at B&H

[Raven Garrow]

The Rodenstock Rodagon 150mm enlarging lens is $590.00 everywhere I inquired. At B&H, it is $460.00. USA warranty. Does anyone know why? Are they somehow inferi or lenses?

[John Hennessy]

"Are they somehow inferior?"

No, dealing with B&H is just fine. It has gotten so big that in the unlikely event something goes haywire, it is sometimes hard to get anyone's attention. But they fix everything PDQ. B&H is not necessarily the cheapest for every product though. Everything is honestly represented as to "US" warranty vs "grey market" for instance. Sometimes the person on the phone is not as knowledgable as you might hope (Calumet is better in that regard) but thier website is packed with info. Ditto for Calumet.

If you know the lens is what you want, I would not hesitate in dealing with B&H. If you want to dead certain that is the best price, also check with Badger and Robert White.

[pat krentz]

Try E-Bay! Pat

[Pete Andrews]

If it says "Rodenstock Rodagon f=150mm 1:5.6" on it then that's exactly what it is, no matter who you buy it from, or at whatever price.Be very aware that if you want to sell that lens again, even if you never use it, you'll be offered about #100 ($150 US), at the very most, from a dealer. The demand for darkroom equipment is at an all time low, it's a buyer's market, and you can save several hundred pounds (or the dollar equivalent) by buying secondhand.

[neil poulsen]

Almost $600 is a LOT to spend for a 150mm enlarging lens. You could also consider a Componon-S. They are also excellent.

These things come up frequently on EBay in the Darkroom section. If you purchase through EBay, check the feedback. I would recommend that the dealer selling have at least 50 responses in feedback, and that they all be positive. If they have more, like over 100 responses, perhaps one or two negatives would be acceptable, depending on what they are. (I got bit in one of my earlier purchases on EBay.)

[Bob Salomon]

Rodenstock lenses that are sold to dealers in the US by HP Marketing Corp carry a lifetime warranty. If this lens carries that warranty it is legitimate.

[paul owen]

Ravin, I have just kitted out a small darkroom and I would second the advice re: buying used kit. Here in the UK prices for used darkroom is at an all time low. I bought an LPL 7451 enlarger, ALL the negative carriers from 35mm to 5x4, 2 diffuser boxes, a wall mounting kit and an "as new" Nikkor 80mm enlarging lens for the princely sum of #500. The new price was about #1600!! This was from a dealer and included a 6 month warranty!! I also bought a used (again as new!) 150mm Rodenstock Rodagon for #125 ( new price in UK #290) Shop around for used!! Regards Paul

[Paul Schilliger]

Bob, just out of curiosity: How many years is a lifetime? Are the mechanical par ts (blades or shutter) included in the warranty?

[Bob Salomon]

Shutters are warranteed for 3 years.

[Charlie Stracl]

Calumet has the same price. I think prices on Rodenstock have dropped in the past few months. May be a currency exchange issue?

Perhaps the other places you were looking were using older pricing?