Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Mississippi, USA
    Posts
    124

    Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    I have 3 enlargers (I know...too many) and want to set up a dark room to do some printing.
    1-Beseler 45MX II
    2-Beseler 23C II
    3-Durst 606

    Which of these lenses would you keep and which to sell/trade/etc?

    Fujinon-ES 135/4.5
    Taylor Taylor Tayon 135/4.5
    Vivitar VHE 50/3.5
    Beslar 75/3.5
    EL-Nikkor 50/2.8 (N)
    Vivitar 105/4.5
    Rodenstock Rodagon 80/4.0
    Rodenstock Omegaron 90/4.5
    Rodenstock Rodagon 80/5.6
    Rodenstock Rodagon 135/5.6

    Are any of these lenses good/bad/ugly?

    Thanks,
    J

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
    Posts
    14,409

    Re: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    50mm El Nikkor
    80mm Rodagon 4.0
    135mm Rodagon

    All the rest are second or third rate lenses compared to the above. The 5.6 Rodagon was an early version replaced by the far superior 4.0.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Mississippi, USA
    Posts
    124

    Re: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Salomon View Post
    50mm El Nikkor
    80mm Rodagon 4.0
    135mm Rodagon

    All the rest are second or third rate lenses compared to the above. The 5.6 Rodagon was an early version replaced by the far superior 4.0.
    Thanks Bob

  4. #4
    bob carnie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario,
    Posts
    4,939

    Re: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    IMO sell them all and use the dough to buy an Rodenstock APO 90.

    They are lovely lenses for medium format usage.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
    Posts
    14,409

    Re: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    Quote Originally Posted by bob carnie View Post
    IMO sell them all and use the dough to buy an Rodenstock APO 90.

    They are lovely lenses for medium format usage.
    Granted, but then he would still need a 50mm Apo Rodagon N as well.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    1,136

    Re: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    Better yet, get the Apo Rodagon-N 45, it's better than the 50-N. And make sure the Apo Rodagon 90 is the -N version.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Nashville
    Posts
    610

    Re: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    Regarding which lens(es) to keep, it depends on what formats you print. Do you need one, two, or three focal length lenses? My choices:

    35mm: EL-Nikkor 50/2.8
    6x6: Rodenstock Rodagon 80/4.0
    4x5: Rodenstock Rodagon 135/5.6

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Madisonville, LA
    Posts
    2,412

    Re: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Salomon View Post
    50mm El Nikkor
    80mm Rodagon 4.0
    135mm Rodagon

    All the rest are second or third rate lenses compared to the above. The 5.6 Rodagon was an early version replaced by the far superior 4.0.
    +1 It's not rocket science!

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Mississippi, USA
    Posts
    124

    Re: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    Quote Originally Posted by faberryman View Post
    Regarding which lens(es) to keep, it depends on what formats you print. Do you need one, two, or three focal length lenses? My choices:

    35mm: EL-Nikkor 50/2.8
    6x6: Rodenstock Rodagon 80/4.0
    4x5: Rodenstock Rodagon 135/5.6
    Thanks

  10. #10

    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    SooooCal/LA USA
    Posts
    2,802

    Re: Which enlarger lens to keep or which to unload?

    The lenses worth trying are the old chrome or black brass mount lenses, as they often have a much different look for different styles of work... (The lenses listed are post 70's and for better/worse tend to produce the same(ish) look...)

    You probably should try some of yours printing, as sometimes there might be a lens with a nice (but specialized) look that might work with what you are printing... They all should be OK, but some will cut sharper/more contrasty with better edge performance, and some might only be sharpest below 8X10 enlargment size (but not above, as they were computed for the common print size), and so on...

    Sometimes while looking through a good focusing magnifier on the easel with the different lenses on, you can spot some differences if you look carefully...

    Steve K

Similar Threads

  1. How do I unload a single sheet from a film pack?
    By crl in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 31-Dec-2016, 00:15
  2. How do you mount enlarger lens to lens board without lens flanges?
    By originalphoto in forum Darkroom: Equipment
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 16-Apr-2016, 20:15
  3. Good techniqueto UNLOAD Film Holders Inside a Changing Bag?
    By Andre Noble in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 12-Sep-2001, 14:03

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •