4x5 enlarging lens

fiddle · Nov 23, 2021

Hello all,
quick question, Im new to 4x5 in the darkroom, been shooting it for a little bit. Im finally in the final stages of my new darkroom build, moved up from a beseler 23c to a 45.
I need to get a lens for 4x5, will a 135 allow me to make smallish 8x10 prints? Im assuming a 150 would be better for that because of the head height?
I like to make small prints, and dont see myself ever going beyond 16x20, if that.

Any lenses I should avoid looking for?

Thank you!

awty · Nov 24, 2021

You need all the lenses.
150mm is a normal lens for 4x5 printing, but I often use a 130 to do 8x10s it's not that big a difference.
Most lenses in good condition do a decent job. It's only when you are doing big prints with small film that the difference becomes more apparent.

Huub · Nov 24, 2021

Depends a bit on the type of 135mm, but i use a 135mm rodagon on my D2V all the time for 4x5. The advantage of a 135mm is that you need less hight for making the same size of prints. No issues at all when printing 'smallish' 8x10 prints, but it also works for 20x24 if you ever feel the need.

Rick A · Nov 24, 2021

I have two 4x5 enlargers, one with a Rodagon 150 that is spectacular, the other has an ancient Solar (Wollensak) 135 that performs very well. You would be hard pressed to see the difference without an optical aid. Where the difference is seen, is in the light source. The Rodagon is mounted on a Beseler with a diffused cold light head and the Solar on an Omega Pro Lab with condenser head.

Ian Grant · Nov 24, 2021

I prefer a 135mm lens and have made reduction prints from 5x4 negative for a small hand made book. Same reasons as Huub above.

Ian

fiddle · Nov 24, 2021

Thank you all!.
At least I know now that either will work. Time to go on a search.

MattiS · Nov 24, 2021

Another advantage of the 135 over the 150 (M50) is the M39 thread. So you might already own the right lensboard. M50 lensboards are not that common.

fiddle · Nov 24, 2021

I do have m39 boards from my beseler 23, although the new enlarger came with what I measured with a really crappy caliper to be a 42. From my research it looks like the componon s lenses are 42. I think.. lol

Not sure if it's a factory lensboard, it's 2 boards, foam in the middle with 3 threads to adjust. Easier to align than shimming the board I guess.

fiddle · Nov 24, 2021

I really.do hate hate ebay. Time to put a wtb add here.

mshchem · Nov 24, 2021

FYI, Wollensak Raptar lenses work great too. I use a 150mm Rodagon, works great for 8x10s

Paul Howell · Nov 24, 2021

Wollensak made a 135, 4 elements in 3 groups, then a 162 in both a 4 element in 3 groups and a 6 element in 4 groups, the 135 is not a good performer with 4X5, the 162 was designed for 4X5. The 6 element pro version is sharp up to 20X24. Kodak made a 161, a 4 element in 3 groups. In the 70s I had this lens, still do somewhere in a box, it was fine up to 11X16, soft at 20X24

Patrick Robert James · Nov 24, 2021

I've got an extra Computar DL 135mm laying around. I bought every Computar DL I could find for a while. In the spec sheet they describe the design as such- "liberal use of high index low dispersion glass" which would be labeled APO by any other manufacturer.

John Koehrer · Nov 26, 2021

fiddle said:
I do have m39 boards from my beseler 23, although the new enlarger came with what I measured with a really crappy caliper to be a 42. From my research it looks like the componon s lenses are 42. I think.. lol

Not sure if it's a factory lensboard, it's 2 boards, foam in the middle with 3 threads to adjust. Easier to align than shimming the board I guess.

Yup! Sure & that's what tis made for. Dunno if it's original or not but...................

Doremus Scudder · Nov 28, 2021

I really love my older El-Nikkor 150mm lens and use it for most of my enlargements, but I have the El-Nikkor 135mm that I use for making larger prints (crops from 4x5 negatives in 16x20 and 20x24) that works wonderfully too. Either focal length will do a great job if you get a quality lens. If you only want to spring for one, and if you plan on doing larger prints, go for the 135mm.

Best,

Doremus

wiltw · Nov 28, 2021

150mm vs 135mm only makes a 10% shorter enlarger head height for same size print with shorter FL lens

mshchem · Nov 28, 2021

Doremus Scudder said:
I really love my older El-Nikkor 150mm lens and use it for most of my enlargements, but I have the El-Nikkor 135mm that I use for making larger prints (crops from 4x5 negatives in 16x20 and 20x24) that works wonderfully too. Either focal length will do a great job if you get a quality lens. If you only want to spring for one, and if you plan on doing larger prints, go for the 135mm.

Best,

Doremus

I love these older El Nikkor lenses, so beautifully made.

Christiaan Phleger · Nov 29, 2021

I too am very fond of the EL NIkkors, the seemingly lower quality of the plastic "N" versions is offset by the simplicity of construction so that they can be easily cleaned. All my nikkor enlarging lenses have faired much better than the Schneiders or the Rodenstocks I have. I've been tempted to return a 50mm APO Rodenstock and claim the original warranty on a defective product since that one has haze inside a sealed lens group.

Mal Paso · Dec 1, 2021

It would take a scientist to tell in real life but If I remember right, recent 135mm lenses from the big 3 are corrected to 12X and the 150mm to 8-10X. I don't remember there being minimums. I have it written down here ... someplace.

El Nikkor 150mm 2-8X
El Nikkor 135mm 2-10X Says "usable range" but I have done 1:1

JensH · Dec 1, 2021

Mal Paso said:
It would take a scientist to tell in real life but If I remember right, recent 135mm lenses from the big 3 are corrected to 12X and the 150mm to 8-10X. I don't remember there being minimums. I have it written down here ... someplace.

El Nikkor 150mm 2-8X
El Nikkor 135mm 2-10X Says "usable range" but I have done 1:1

... as the Rodenstock data are at hand, here the optimum magnifications are:

Rodagon 135mm: 6x (2x - 10x)
Rodagon 150mm: 6x (2x - 10x)
Apo-Rodagon-N 150mm: 6x (2x - 15x)
Apo-Rodagon 180mm: 6x (3x - 10x)
Rodagon 180mm: 5x (2x - 8x)
Rodagon 210mm: 4x (2x - 8x)

On my enlarger (Durst 138s with two 240mm condenser lenses) 135 and 150mm don't give even illumination,
a larger bulb size and different condenser would help... but I like the 180mm better anyway.
I would start with a six element 150mm by a brand you like.

4x5 enlarging lens

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