Agfa Varioscop 60 Enlarger

p3200TMZ · Aug 15, 2008

Good day,

I have just been given an Agfa Varioscop 60 enlarger. It appears complete including the adapter for a color head except both lenses are missing.

Does anyone know a of good source(other than eBay) for the 6cm and 10.5cm lenses for this enlarger or know if modern Schneider, Rodenstock, Nikkor enlarger lenses can be adapted?

Thanks,

srs5694 · Aug 15, 2008

I'm not familiar with that particular model; however, most enlargers use fairly standard lenses with 39mm thread diameters. In fact, the lens threads are the same as those used on Leica thread mount (LTM) and some early Soviet SLR camera lenses. If you happen to have such a camera, you could see if a lens from the camera will fit. Failing that, measure the opening to see if it's 39mm in diameter. If so, you're set. If not, you may need to track down whatever type of lens the enlarger uses, find an adapter, or get something custom made. Some enlargers use a lens board that's easily removed from the enlarger and that has a threaded 39mm (or whatever) hole into which the lens screws. You could probably have a lens board custom made by a machine shop; they're not exactly high-tech items.

p3200TMZ · Aug 16, 2008

Why didn't I think of that?! Thanks, I just pulled out one of my LTM lenses and it threaded on as pretty as you please. Great, but since this enlarger is an autofocus like the Leica's and has cams to operate the focusing bellows as you raise and lower the head, can I use any 60mm or 105mm lens or will I have to find the specific lens that were designed for this enlarger?

Thanks,

ic-racer · Aug 16, 2008

p3200TMZ said:
Why didn't I think of that?! Thanks, I just pulled out one of my LTM lenses and it threaded on as pretty as you please. Great, but since this enlarger is an autofocus like the Leica's and has cams to operate the focusing bellows as you raise and lower the head, can I use any 60mm or 105mm lens or will I have to find the specific lens that were designed for this enlarger?

Thanks,

Any 60mm or 105mm should work, but as you may know, the exact focal length is not always that which is marked on the lens (ie 100.8mm for a "105" etc.)

Also, getting any 60mm enlarger lens may be not so easy as 50mm is the 'standard' size.
I have used KEH and http://www.igorcamera.com/ for darkroom equipment. (looks like KEH has a 60mm Schneider for $14USD)

srs5694 · Aug 16, 2008

If the autofocus might cause problems, you could experiment with your LTM camera lens. Problems might not indicate problems with an enlarger lens, since the bellows extension range on the enlarger might not match well with the camera lens's size, but if you can get the autofocus to work with the camera lens, it'll almost certainly work with any random 39mm enlarger lens.

edtbjon · Aug 17, 2008

There are Leitz lenses made for their quite similar Focomat IIc enlarger that really are 60 and 100mm. If you look for a Leitz 60mm you will get something that works with the Agfa.

Else, could I tempt you with a lens or two from Kienzle?

//Björn

mario Ag+ · Aug 17, 2008

I've got one of these. The way I see it you should try and find the original lenses. The lenses are screwed on to a metalic base that slides under the negative.Plus the bases for the 60mm and 105mm are diferent( for autofocus ) and the fine tunning focus (auto focus over-ride if you will) is on the actuall lens.

p3200TMZ · Aug 17, 2008

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

I will try tinkering with one of my LTM lenses just for fun. The enlarger I really want is the Leitz, but I was given the Afga by a friend and for all intents and purposes appears to be a twin to the Leitz enlarger, so I am very pleased.

I am glad to hear that Leitz made 60mm and 100mm lenses as I will try to get a set of those. But as 'mario Ag+' has advised, I would like to get a set of the original Agfa lenses to use also as a baseline to ensure that the enlarger is working as it should.

Björn, I have sent an E-mail to Kienzle inquiring about a set of lenses, but apparently they are closed for holidays until the end of August.

I suppose that putting a 'wanted ad' in the classified here would be a good start to getting a set of original lenses.

Again many thanks,

edtbjon · Aug 17, 2008

Eh, about Kienzle, their services will probably cost you an arm and a leg... But it's top quality though. If you're printing a lot, it could be worth the money to have top quality glass between the neg and the print too. (I pointed out in another thread that the Leitz Focomat IIc cost about the same as a new decent middleclass car back in the -60'ies. Just to put things in perspective... It's kind of funny to see that the prices are about the same for an old car and a Focomat these days. But the Focomat will last you a lifetime, while the car can give up on you the next day...)

//Björn

Agfa Varioscop 60 Enlarger

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