Durst 606 with el-nikkor enlarging lenses

So here's my real first world enlarging problem: I got some apo-rodagons on craigslist a few years ago from someone giving them away. I don't print larger than 8x10 and haven't had much time to print lately so I got the brilliant idea to put them on eBay and got some nice el-nikkors to downgrade to for my Durst 606 enlarger. But, the nikkorsdon't fit in the lens boards because the threaded area on the lenses aren't long enough. I'm using retaining rings instead of threaded mounting holes. See picture: https://ibb.co/N9Pddw9

I actually had these boards modified from 25mm to 39mm by a friend with a lathe at work. But because the pandemic I probably can't get him to modify this one for a while... And I don't have a lathe at home. Anyone have any suggestions to get them to work?

You need to order a Durst LAPLA39 ring. They're fairly common.

Will a LAPLA39 fit into a 606? I thought I needed an IXOPLA 39, which is very uncommon. But I would be happy to hear that they are interchangeable. Are they?

Looking at the photo you included, you seem to have mounted the lens upside down.

First, what is difference between LAPLA39 and IXOPLA 39, outside diameter?
LAPLA's are the same diameter as SIRIOPLA's or ~77mm
I also have one flat Sixpla and it's ~70mm OD.
For 50mm lens you most likely need recessed lens board

I'm not familiar with the 606. All my own Durst enlargers are big L units. I'm just basing my suggestion on the style of ring in your picture, which does indeed have the lens mounted backwards.

You guys are right, the lens was backwards. But unfortunately that little raised area also appears on the other side so the problem still exists! I have the recessed lens board, and the 50 mm el-nikkor does fit in there because it doesn't have the lip. But the lens I am wanting to mount now is the 80mm. The IXOPLA is 82mm outer diameter to the outside of the lip by my caliper, which has seen more accurate days.

LAPLA rings have a full outside diameter of 78mm (just over 3 inches). So that would determine whether we're speaking about the same interchangeable animal or not.

I just measured mine and updated my post above - the IXOPLA is 82mm so I don't think the LAPLA will work. Would have been nice but oh well!

A photographic custom machining service like SK Grimes could make you one, but I have no idea about cost or delivery time under the present circumstances. You'd have to ask them. These kinds of rings are also easy to make in a home shop if you have the right kind of equipment and experience, meaning count your fingers both before and after to see if the quantity has remained the same!

An alternative for not much money, would be to purchase a 75mm Schneider Componar that has a 25mm thread...for 8 X 10 prints I doubt you will see any difference between the El Nikkor and the Componar especially if you close down the lens 1 or 2 stops. It is my understanding that the Componar was the standard lens for this enlarger.

Dan0001 said:

An alternative for not much money, would be to purchase a 75mm Schneider Componar that has a 25mm thread...for 8 X 10 prints I doubt you will see any difference between the El Nikkor and the Componar especially if you close down the lens 1 or 2 stops. It is my understanding that the Componar was the standard lens for this enlarger.

Click to expand...

Thanks dan, not a bad idea. You just reminded me that I have a 80mm Schneider Componon in a box somewhere. It had fungus in it but since I last saw it I've learned how to take lenses apart so it was trivial to bring it back up to good standards. Last I tested it with the bit of hazy fungus, it was just barely distinguishable from the Apo-Rodagon at F11 for 8x10.

You might be able to mount a 39mm mounting flange on the lensboard.