Enlarger lens on view camera

[Dan Fromm]

I wasn't aware that that B&L Tessar was not an enlarging lens. It's in a barrel that threads into a typical enlarger plate, as I recall, and I installed it in a stock Omega lens board (25 years ago, that is). And it was sold to me as an enlarging lens, so I took that on face value. If it was intended as a taking lens, then its rendering isn't much like other tessars as taking lenses. Field was quite flat with that lens. Maybe it was intended as a process lens.
Rick "counting the cost" Denney

Rick, the idea of a lens specially computed for enlarging is relatively new. Boyer propaganda of the late 1930s touts the then new Saphir B as the first lens ever designed for enlarging.

The idea that LF taking lenses live in shutters and enlarging lenses for all formats live in barrels has been around forever, if not longer. Whence my $32 (delivered) 135/5.6 Symmar in barrel offered by a eBay seller as an enlarging lens. And whence 105/4.5 Comparons in #0 offered as wide angle taking lenses for 4x5.

There are tessar type process lenses but all the ones I'm aware of (CZJ Apo Tessars, CZJ DDR Apo Tessars, TTH process lenses sold as Apotals and Copying Lenses, LOMO Industar-11M in a variety of focal lengths) are all f/9. A Tessar Ic is a taking lens.

Cheers,

Dan "when I have finished explaining you will understand even less" Fromm

[rdenney]

Whence my $32 (delivered) 135/5.6 Symmar in barrel offered by a eBay seller as an enlarging lens. And whence 105/4.5 Comparons in #0 offered as wide angle taking lenses for 4x5.

I'm going to have to modify my search parameters on ebay--I can see I've been missing out on some opportunities.

I've used both the B&L and the 105mm EL-Nikkor as taking lenses for roll film formats by mounting them on a body cap and then installing them on a Pentacon Six bellows. I can adapt that bellows to a range of cameras, or even put them on a Pentacon Six (or Exakta 66). Putting them on a large-format lens board is a no-brainer, especially since I own a Sinar shutter. Hmmm. Experimentation in order.

The 50mm Componon I own has the oddest aperture pattern, though. The points of the aperture blades define the opening, so that it is not smoothly round. I wonder what effect that would have on bokeh. But that lens definitely post-dates the introduction of specialty enlarging lenses as you describe it.

Rick "there is always less to understand" Denney

[Dan Fromm]

I've used both the B&L and the 105mm EL-Nikkor as taking lenses for roll film formats

Rick "there is always less to understand" Denney

Funny, a while ago I bought a 105 El Nikkor, the old one, not the -N, to try as a macro lens and also tried it at distance. It was ok for macro, but I have better 4" lenses for macro, and less than ok at distance, and I have better 4" lenses for out-and-about.

Dan "opinions about lenses differ" Fromm

[rdenney]

Funny, a while ago I bought a 105 El Nikkor, the old one, not the -N, to try as a macro lens and also tried it at distance. It was ok for macro, but I have better 4" lenses for macro, and less than ok at distance, and I have better 4" lenses for out-and-about.

I bought mine simply because it was the shortest lens I could mount on the Pentacon Six bellows and still focus to infinity, and because the opportunity presented itself cheaply at a camera store (remember those?). It works well enough for the minor copy work I've done with it, but I've never tested its limits. I suspect it would have worked better on the enlarger (for rollfilm enlargement) better than the old Wolly enlarging lens that I used with those formats, but it came to me after the enlarger had gone into storage. It's easy to compare enlarging lenses using a grain focuser.

The 4" focal length is not one I normally use much, except in 35mm format, where my Nikkor 105/2.5 is worth adapting to my Canon DSLR. I use that focal length occasionally with 6x7, but I have a better lens for that format, too (the 105/2.4 Takumar). For other formats, I've never felt much gap between 90ish and 120ish.

Rick "who needs to dig into the pile and find that B&L" Denney

[EdSawyer]

One lens that is pretty reknown for both enlarging and taking use is the Apo El Nikkor 105mm (and the others too but the 105 most commonly). I am not sure if it would mount into a shutter - probably not, and if so probably into a #00 or something. But for a focal-plane camera it would be an ideal lens for macro or anything probably. And of course an exceptional enlarging lens.

[Dan Fromm]

One lens that is pretty reknown for both enlarging and taking use is the Apo El Nikkor 105mm (and the others too but the 105 most commonly). I am not sure if it would mount into a shutter - probably not, and if so probably into a #00 or something. But for a focal-plane camera it would be an ideal lens for macro or anything probably. And of course an exceptional enlarging lens.

Ed, send money.