Any 40mm enlarger lens comparisons?

Hi, I am in the market for a shorter focal length lens (than 50mm) for 35mm work. Does anyone know how the 40mm lens Nikkor, Rodenstock, Schneider etc. compare? I can get the Nikkor quiet cheap but the APO schneider is 5-6 times the price. The lens will be used on a Magnifax 4 enlarger.

You need a wide angle 40mm lens, the more common 40mm ones are for 126 and aps format. You won't be happy with one of those unless you like vignetting.

The 40/4N EL Nikkor is for 35mm and similar sized negatives. It is my favorite lens for large prints from 35mm negatives.


EL-Nikkor 40mm f4N

Focal length 40.1mm

Minimum f/stop f/22

Lens construction 4 – 6 (groups – elements)

Magnification Range 5X – 10X – 30X (minimum – optimum – maximum)

Covering power 52°

Correction Wavelength Range 380 – 700nm

Original Size 43.2mmφ

Format Size 24 x 35mm

Weight 100g (3.5 oz.)

Length 42mm (1.7”)

Diameter 51mm (2.0”)

Front mount size (dia. x pitch) NA

Attachment size (dia. x pitch) 40.5mmφ x 0.5mm

Rear mount size (dia. x pitch) 39mmφ x 1/26”

I have a 40mm Yashikor enlarging lens, it is a wide angle for 35mm. My youngest daughter uses it on a Vivitar enlarger, no vignetting. I picked the little gem up in a darkroom buy out deal. It allows her to print up to 11x14, normally it's a stretch to go 8x10 with a 50mm on the short column machine.

I used to use a wide angle 40mm Rodensotck for doing 20X28 inch enlargements when I had a lab - at f8/f11 it was sharp across the whole print..

I would have liked a Nikkor 40mm, but couldn't afford one.....

And Leica made a 40mm Focotar for their autofocus enlarger - I've seen the odd one for sale at very reasonable prices. They are very good...as you'd expect from leica..

Tomioka 3,5/40mm enlaging lens

The firm OSAWA has offered many years ago an 3,5/40mm TOMOIKA enlaging lens which I've sold to a friend of mine many years ago. He's still using this lens in his darkroom.

Cheers