Choosing an enlarger lens

hoffy

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Howdy,

I know I am only a couple sessions in with my enlarging experience, but I have to admit I am already thinking of upgrading my elcheapo Astron enlarger lens.

At the moment, locally, I have found 3 to choose from:

Rodagon 60mm F4
Rodagon 50mm F2.8
El Nikkor 50mm F2.8

Out of these lenses and considering 2 are a bit faster, would there be anything to choose Image quality wise, considering that I would only be doing 35mm frames?

Cheers
 

bdial

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Enlarging lenses are rarely used wide open, except for focusing, so the speed doesn't matter much for sharpness in the print.
The 50's will give you a tad more magnification, which might be valuable if you want to make large prints. OTH, if you want to print small, the 60 might have some advantage. Either depends a lot on your enlarger and how high or low it's able to go.
Otherwise any of the three should be excellent performers. The Nikkor 50 2.8 has a very good reputation, as do Rodagons.

A fellow named Ctein did a comprehensive test several years ago comparing enlarging lenses. The test is published in his book Post Exposure I don't have my copy handy, but I know the 50 Rodagon and El Nikkor scored very closely. I don't know about the 60 Rodagon.

If they are similar in cost, you can choose according to condition, especially of the glass, and perhaps features, such as illuminated f/stops and not go wrong.
 

Tony Egan

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Differences unlikely to be visible between the last two. Go with the f2.8 to give a slightly brighter image for focusing/cropping. I have the El Nikkor f4 and f2.8 50mm lens. Used the f4 for more than twenty years and have no complaints. Got the f2.8 for extra brightness as my eyes age! Personally I would lean to the El Nikkor but that is more to do with familiarity and taste I suppose.
 

archphoto

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If you can spend the money: get both both Rodagons: the 50 for general printing and the 60 for small prints.
There could be one more advantage of the 60mm: you will not be using the whole image circle of the lens en therefore you could have a slightly better corner sharpness. That is why some people use a 80mm Rodagon for 35mm.

Peter
 

Anscojohn

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I use a six-element 60 mm 5.6 Rodagon for my 35mm negs. Ye olde darkroom rats told me a slightly longer focal length enlarging lens gives more even coverage and better sharpness.
That being said, given equally clean and clear glass, I do not see how one could go wrong with those choices.
 

Thomas Wilson

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What John said...

I keep a Nikkor 50 2.8 on my lens turret but haven't used it in years. I prefer the 80mm 4.0 for enlarging 135 negs for the reasons John stated. Any of the major names, Schneider, Nikkor, Rodenstock, in a six-element configuration, would be a safe choice.
 

Willie Jan

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I use a el-nikkor. This lens has a higher contrast compaired for example to the componon-s.
I did a test some time ago to use a larger lens (80) for 35mm and the quality was higher than with the 50mm lens.
You only use the middle part of the 80mm lens to print, compaired with a 50mm lens.

If your enlarger has enough height, i would go for a 75-80mm.
 

ozphoto

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I own a rodenstock 2.8 and it has to be the best investment i made. Truly superb quality in both results and build quality. I traded up from a cheap lens about 3 weeks after starting to print and the improvement it made on the print quality was amazing. I spend $$$ on my camera lenses so using a cheap lens for my prints is not smart. Any of those listed will give you great results; and that can only be a good thing! Hoffy total photographics have a few 2nd hand ones that have been sitting for a while - could grab yourself a real bargain.
 

ozphoto

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Mine cost $295 used nearly 20 years ago. Those today dont seem to have changed much in price in the stores; i did pick up a schneider 105 f4 for about 150usd off ebay about 5 years ago
 

ricksplace

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You should be able to buy any of those lenses on ebay for less than $50. You can't go wrong with any componon, rodagon, or nikkor.
 
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ozphoto

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Need to consider post as well in the cost as well as the time it will take. If happy with that cost decide how much you are willing to say and go for it! Have picked up some good gear using this approach in the past. Good luck hoffy!
 
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