Adapting Agfa Varioscope lenses

[mark campbell]

I have a chance to get an Agfa Varioscope 60 enlarger. It comes with Agfa Magnola 60 and 105mm lenses. I want to enlarge some 6 x 9 negatives so I need the 105mm lens. I have read that these lenses are Ok but maybe not great. Has anyone had any experience in adapting other lenses to fit the Varioscope enlarger? The problem is that enlarger has a custom lens mount not the usual 39mm thread. I would love to be able to put a nice Schneider or similar lens on it. Any suggestions?

 

[Lachlan Young]

Kienzle make a whole range of parts for the Varioscope including the means to fit Componon 60mm & Rodagon 105mm's while keeping AF etc. They also make neg carriers, inserts, dichroic heads etc for the Varioscope. Email them for a pricelist etc.

Edit: have added the pricelist I have - I think it's the current one.

 

[mark campbell]

Thanks so much for the pricelist. The prices are pretty high! I might have to look at doing it myself somehow. Thanks

 

[Lachlan Young]

Thanks so much for the pricelist. The prices are pretty high! I might have to look at doing it myself somehow. Thanks

Once you look under the surface of it, the Varioscope is actually pretty complex mechanically - I'd try the lenses that came with it first & see how you like them before diving in on modifications - I think there may have been a couple of generations of the Magnolars - how big are you intent on printing? Is your machine the cream/ grey paint finish?

 

[mark campbell]

Yeah thanks, I don't mind losing autofocus, the enlarger is shown in the link. The lenses are the Magnolar II. Yes it is the grey paint finish one.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Agfa-Va...686531?hash=item342c216943:g:9bIAAOSwqZpfDFDu

 

[AgX]

Is your machine the cream/ grey paint finish?

Why do you ask? The grey version is the older one, but the enlarger proper should be the same. Or do you know of any variation?

At my grey version the mains cable had its rubber isolation hardened to the point of cracking at light bending. Thus one should check that thoroughly and in cas of doubt exchange it. Not forgetting grounding.

 

[Lachlan Young]

Why do you ask? The grey version is the older one, but the enlarger proper should be the same. Or do you know of any variation?

At my grey version the mains cable had its rubber isolation hardened to the point of cracking at light bending. Thus one should check that thoroughly and in cas of doubt exchange it. Not forgetting grounding.

It was to clarify which generation of Magnolar lenses it might have had - the oldest machines I've seen were a black paint finish, whereas most of the newer machines seem to be a pale cream/grey finish. Interesting to see where the differences between the Agfa and the Leitz Focomat IIa/ IIc are.

And yes, the power cable in the column should be checked very carefully (I'd replace it almost as a matter of course unless it had been replaced in the last 20 years or so).

 

[mark campbell]

I read somewhere about a guy mounting a Schneider lens onto one of these, losing autofocus but it only works with the 105mm lens, as there wasn't enough room for the 60mm.

 

[mark campbell]

AGX - how do you rate the magnolar II lenses?

 

[AgX]

Actually there seem to be three sorts of painting: dark grey/black, light grey and cream.
I got the oldest model.

 

[AgX]

Actually there seem to be three sorts of painting: dark grey/black, light grey and cream.
I got the oldest model.

I got it wrong... the cream coloured Varioscop is the model 35/44 (for 35mm film) not the model 60.