6x4.5/6x6 Enlarging Lens Recomendationi

[Lorenzot]

Hi Everyone,

I have all of the lenses I need for my darkroom aside from a lens for 66/645 enlargements. Wanting something nice but not ridiculous priced. Out of these four "New" enlarging lens offerings what would be my best bet for B&W and RA-4 printing

Any advice would be appreciated

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...341_rodenstock_80mm_f_4_rodagon.html/overview
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/44521-USA/Rodenstock_452317_80mm_f_4_Rodagon_Enlarging.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._11_014850_80mm_f_4_Componon_S_Enlarging.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ck_452205_75mm_f_4_5_Rogonar_S_Enlarging.html

 

[MattKing]

The first listing pictures a different lens - a 60mm WA lens - than the one described in the listing.
The last listing for the Rogonar S lens is for a lower quality lens.
The other two are of similar, very high quality.
I haven't bought a new enlarging lens since the 1970s!

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Any of the 80mm lenses will do fine. The 75mm ones tend to be 4-element lenses, not that they won't be perfectly acceptable but bragging rights about the number of elements must.. But for Gawds sake buy one used - they don't wear out and don't see rough handling. Used ones cost ~$70 instead of ~$700+. 75mm lenses can be had for $30, some with lens boards.

 

[images39]

You can find those lenses used for a fraction of the new prices listed. I've had great experience with the Schneider Componon S lenses (50mm and 80mm). I don't have experience with the Rodagon lenses, but I understand that they're very good as well.

Dale

 

[lantau]

If you buy used, make sure you get a somewhat recent one. They should have illuminated f stop scale and either a stop down lever (rodenstock?) or adjustable f-stop limiter (Schneider?)! So that you can switch between wide open and stopped down to working aperture without having to look at the lens or count click stops.

I bought a second, used 50mm Schneider because the one, which came with the enlarger, didn't have those features and it became really annoying.

If you buy new at least you'll know that the lens will be good andyou supportthe continued availability. I have a new enlarger on order from a factory and a new 135mm Rodenstock with it.

 

[ic-racer]

I did buy a few new enlarging lenses from B&H when I set up my current darkroom. I have 21 enlarging lenses, so most of them were purchased used or they came with enlargers I bought. One reason I have so many is that of the used ones, maybe 30% of them are no good.

 

[brian steinberger]

I only shoot 6x4.5 and 6x6. Most times I use a 100mm Schneider Componon S because I mainly print small and this allows me slightly longer exposure times and also more room for dodging / burning. When I do print larger I use a Rodenstock 80mm rodagon APO. Both lenses are fantastic.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Last time I made enlargements from 6x6/6x4.5, I used the 80mm Anastar lens (still in shutter) from a Kodak Reflex II. There are lots of claims that a taking lens isn't optimized for enlarging, but I haven't seen any issues (then again, who gets nose grease on an 8x8 print checking the sharpness of the grain, anyway?). Cost me ten bucks, as I recall, and it doubles as a spare parts source for my Reflex II camera's shutter...

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

...who gets nose grease on an 8x8 print checking the sharpness of the grain, anyway?

Around here? And with a 10x loupe, at a minimum.

Very good lenses are nice to have but they aren't what makes a picture. They are only needed in commercial and technical work.

There is some wonderful work on APUG but most all of it could be made with a plebian triplet and it would still be just as impressive. I'm a real fan of triplets, if you can't tell...they let me relive my youth, before I succumbed to the fetish of Summultraaponaraphillia in my darkest days (though I confess the morbid urge still overwhelms me at times).

 

[Donald Qualls]

Triplets are good enough if you can stop down a little. Even for enlarging, where you aren't likely to want to print at f/5.6 anyway, f/8 to f/11 is usually better to get long enough exposure for dodging and burning.

That said, I will not give up my Weltini with f/2 Xenon. It's as good at f/2.8 as a triplet would be at f/8 (but with much shallower DOF -- good news and bad news, depending what you want).

 

[voceumana]

For a real bargain, consider this lens: https://www.freestylephoto.biz/110257-Meopta-Anaret-105mm-f-4.5-enlarging-lens

At $35 US for a new lens I doubt you can do better for anything close to the price. It is long for 6x6, but not excessively. It is 4 elements but beautifully made. My understanding is that the lens design and elements are from Schneider, and Meopta made the case and mounted the lens. It is a metal housing. Low enough in cost that you could get it until you can afford something much more expensive. You might never decide to do that.

 

[Ariston]

Don't do it, man! Those prices are insane! Go to eBay. I just lucked out on an el Nikkor 80mm that would have fit your needs, and it cost me $30. Even at twice that it would have been a bargain.

 

[MattKing]

If, after all this advice, you want to buy new, you have my permission to buy new.
All of us who buy used will thank you for your support.
Does anyone know of any good resources for repairing enlarging lenses?

 

[Ariston]

For a real bargain, consider this lens: https://www.freestylephoto.biz/110257-Meopta-Anaret-105mm-f-4.5-enlarging-lens

At $35 US for a new lens I doubt you can do better for anything close to the price. It is long for 6x6, but not excessively. It is 4 elements but beautifully made. My understanding is that the lens design and elements are from Schneider, and Meopta made the case and mounted the lens. It is a metal housing. Low enough in cost that you could get it until you can afford something much more expensive. You might never decide to do that.

Thank you for this! I just ordered one for my 6x9 negatives.

 

[ic-racer]

Most are way easier to take apart than camera lenses. In my darkroom the 'best' enlarging lenses, or the 'keepers,' are those that can be disassembled, cleaned and reassembled easily.
Funny how no one ever mentions this when promoting their favorite lens.

 

[MattKing]

Most are way easier to take apart than camera lenses. In my darkroom the 'best' enlarging lenses, or the 'keepers,' are those that can be disassembled, cleaned and reassembled easily.
Funny how no one ever mentions this when promoting their favorite lens.
View attachment 266718

If only I could borrow those hands, along with the skills, knowledge and tools associated with them ?

 

[ic-racer]

Not my resources but these two El-Nikkor disassembly and repair sites are available on the internet:
https://conradhoffman.com/f4el.htm
http://photomiser.com/repair-el-nikkor-lens/

 

[Alan9940]

Like MattKing, I haven't bought enlarging lenses for 40 years, but all my lenses are ISchneider Componon S and I've never felt them lacking in any way. The typical focal length for 4.5 x 6 and 6 x 6 is 80mm, but I use a 100mm because I enlarge 6 x 7 negs, too.

 

[Pieter12]

For the price of a new lens, you can probably get a used Schneider or Rodenstock APO lens. Well worth it.

 

[voceumana]

Thank you for this! I just ordered one for my 6x9 negatives.

You will be very pleased with it. A beautiful little lens at a bargain price.

 

[tezzasmall]

Don't do it, man! Those prices are insane! Go to eBay. I just lucked out on an el Nikkor 80mm that would have fit your needs, and it cost me $30. Even at twice that it would have been a bargain.

I too upgraded my two lenses a few years back, with well priced Nikkor lens on ebay UK. Lovely bright apertures and I often print with the lenses wide open at f4, and get great results from corner to corner. I do this as my very early film negatives are REALLY dense and the lenses allow me to see them easily on the easel for cropping.

Terry S

 

[mgb74]

If only I could borrow those hands, along with the skills, knowledge and tools associated with them ?

I'll bring the tools if someone else brings the hands, skill, and knowledge.

 

[Martin Rickards]

Like MattKing, I haven't bought enlarging lenses for 40 years, but all my lenses are ISchneider Componon S and I've never felt them lacking in any way. The typical focal length for 4.5 x 6 and 6 x 6 is 80mm, but I use a 100mm because I enlarge 6 x 7 negs, too.

I believe there are two quality 80 mm f5.6 lenses that can cope with 6x7 negatives: the El Nikkor and the Rokkor CE.

 

[MattKing]

I believe there are two quality 80 mm f5.6 lenses that can cope with 6x7 negatives: the El Nikkor and the Rokkor CE.

My newer version Rodagon does as well.

 

[Steve Goldstein]

The 80mm Rodagon-WA can also cover at least 6x7. [Edit - Rodenstock literature says it will cover 6x9, and the 60mm Rodagon-WA will cover 6x6 so would suit the OP's needs with less enlarger height.]

I’ve used my 80mm Apo Rodagon N with 6x7 as well. [Edit - Rodenstock literature says 6x7.]

I believe there are two quality 80 mm f5.6 lenses that can cope with 6x7 negatives: the El Nikkor and the Rokkor CE.