Astron 75mm f/3,5. Comments please.

[Anon Ymous]

Hello everybody...

I finally bought some second hand equipment and the lot included an Astron 75mm f/3,5 enlarging lens. Google didn't reveal anything useful, so I'd like to know if anyone of you has used it or knows anything about it's quality.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tony Egan]

Included probably because it is a lower quality lens usually included in the most basic "beginners enlarger kits". The last Meopta 6x7 enlarger I bought came with a "free" Astron 75mm lens. Someone on APUG will know for sure but I think they are made in Japan (Tokina?) I have never used it as I already had Nikon and Schneider lens' for that format
If you are really serious about quality printing it would be better to find an El Nikkor(Nikon), Schneider or Rodenstock but if you are just starting out and can't afford anything better you could use it to practice your skills knowing that you can upgrade to improve as the finances improve. Are you enlarging 35mm or medium format 6x6, 6x4.5, 6x7?

 

[Anon Ymous]

Well, Tony, I was just curious about it. I assumed it was a cheap lens, but it doesn't hurt to ask anyway. The truth is, I don't even need this at this point, as I don't use 120, only 135. The enlarger came with a Componon-S 50mm f/2.8, so I do have a good lens

 

[MattKing]

You may find it useful if you need to make small prints from your 35mm negatives. If I were you, I'd print a 5x7 using your Componon-S, and then again using the Astron, to see how they compare.

It may also be handy if you decide to try out 120, and don't want to commit to anything expensive until you are sure you like it.

Matt

 

[ath]

I don't know the lens but it might be surprisingly good. An unnamed lens "made in Japan" 4,5/80mm bought for a song on ebay turned out to be a quite good 4 element lens (comparable to Meoptas Anaret 4,5/80).
Check it out.

 

[Anon Ymous]

@MattKing: Yep, a comparison between the Schneider and the Astron is something I thought about, but I have a feeling that 5x7 will be too small to reveal the truth. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the difference in 8x10 is small. Regarding 120, sooner or later I'll give it a try and this lens is nice to have for a start.

@ath: I've used a 4 element Rodenstock 50mm f/2,8 and an El Nikkor 50mm f/2,8 lens, not my own. I was printing 5x7 and there was absolutely no way to distinguish the difference between the two.

 

[Ian Grant]

From memory the Astron was just a generic enlarger lens, not of a notable quality, it may be OK stopped down but it's unlikely to be a as goodv as a Schneider or Rodenstock equivalent 4 element lens across all apertures.

Ian