Durst 609 lensboard

robonfilm · Nov 22, 2024

Hi everyone,
I'm writing because I own a Durst 609, which I managed to set up about a year ago, only for 35mm printing.
Recently, I bought a Yashica Mat 124 G, and I’m diving into 6x6 printing for the first time. Unfortunately, I don’t yet have the right lens (80mm or higher), and before purchasing one, I want to make sure I also get the correct lens board.
Could someone help me understand which type of lens board works with the 609 for this type of lens? If you know, could you share the model name or designation?
Currently, I only have the recessed lens tube for the 50mm, which I assume isn’t suitable for this purpose.
I could buy a Sixtub 25. Would it work?

Thanks in advance!

koraks · Nov 23, 2024

robonfilm said:
I don’t yet have the right lens (80mm or higher)

The most commonly used enlarging lens focal length for 6x6cm negatives is 75mm. Longer lenses generally work, too. But if you're going to look for a lens, 75mm would be the logical option.

robonfilm said:
I could buy a Sixtub 25.

I suspect (but am not 100% sure) that you don't need a recessed board at all for a 75mm or longer, but it depends a bit on how far the bellows on the 609 extends and how small you want to print. However, I think the plain, flat lens boards (LAPLA) will work fine. With a recessed board you may run into trouble if you try to print big, but for modestly sized prints it should work. However, there's probably no real benefit to using a recessed lens board for this application.

When picking a lens board, it helps to get one that's threaded for the lens you get. The common thread for enlarging lenses is M39, but there are also (mostly older) lenses with e.g. M25 and narrower thread pitch. 75mm M39 enlarger lenses are common and a suitable lens board like LAPLA 39 would be the obvious way forward IMO.

In case you end up with an enlarger lens that you can't find a suitable board for and you have access to a 3D printer: Durst lens boards are pretty easy to print.

robonfilm · Nov 23, 2024

koraks said:
However, I think the plain, flat lens boards (LAPLA) will work fine.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a 3d printer but I found a LAPLA 39 for 30$ shipped, compatible with the thread of an E-Rokkor 75mm f4.5 I also found in good condition for around 40$. I have no experience with Minolta lenses, but since I'll strictly use it for B&W work I think it could be fine.
Do you know this specific lens?

koraks · Nov 23, 2024

Nope, don't know it, but I trust it'll be fine really. I expect the combination you found will be perfectly usable. In case the Minolta lens for some reason doesn't fit your purposes, it'll be fairly easy to find e.g. an EI-Nikkor to replace it.

Ian C · Nov 23, 2024

Although a 75 mm lens is appropriate for 6 x 6 cm enlarging, a better choice would be either an 80 mm 5.6 EL Nikkor or a 4/80 Rodagon, both of which are rated by their makers as having proper coverage for the 6 x 7 cm format. At some point in the future, you might wish to enlarge 6 x 7 cm negatives. Either of these 80 mm lenses allow you to enlarge 6 x 7 cm, as well as smaller medium format negatives.

The difference in magnification between 80 mm and 75 mm lenses is trivial.

ic-racer · Nov 23, 2024

Could someone help me understand which type of lens board works with the 609 for this type of lens?

Do you have the manual for the enlarger? It was originally only 40 cents, you should track it down.

The manual will answer that question and many others. You will need a SEIPLA lensboard.

gorbas · Nov 23, 2024

You can also try to flip recessed lens board you already have.

koraks · Nov 24, 2024

gorbas said:
You can also try to flip recessed lens board you already have.

I don't think that works particularly well with the beveled perimeter of the Durst lens board.

Ian C · Nov 24, 2024

At least some of the Durst and both of my LPL lens boards have a bevel on BOTH SIDES of the flange. Such an extended board can be flipped to use it as a recessed board for a shorter focal length lens. Thus, they are best described as "extended/recessed" lens boards.

See the diagrams on the bottom of page 18 in the following link.

http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/manuals/enlargers/durst/Durst_606.pdf

For example, I have 2 different length extended/recessed lens boards for my 6 x 7 cm LPL enlarger. These are equivalent to 4 different single-bevel lens boards, (2 recessed and 2 extended).

koraks · Nov 24, 2024

The ones I've got only have a bevel on one side. I didn't know the double-beveled ones existed, but they could indeed be flipped.

gary mulder · Nov 24, 2024

robonfilm said:
Currently, I only have the recessed lens tube for the 50mm, which I assume isn’t suitable for this purpose.

If the recess of your current lens board with the 50mm is less than 30mm you can use a flat lens board with a 80mm.

gorbas · Nov 24, 2024

koraks said:
The ones I've got only have a bevel on one side. I didn't know the double-beveled ones existed, but they could indeed be flipped.

Durst flat ones are mostly with bevel on one side, some recessed are single and some are double beveled. So that is reason I stated "try to flip". Also OP did not even mention what mount his existing 50mm is: 25.5, 32 or 39mm?

ags2mikon · Nov 24, 2024

RAF camera.com has lapla type lens boards with different thread sizes that fit the 609 and other durst enlargers like the 138 series. I have bought from him before ans he is real good to deal with.

gorbas · Nov 25, 2024

ags2mikon said:
RAF camera.com has lapla type lens boards with different thread sizes that fit the 609 and other durst enlargers like the 138 series. I have bought from him before ans he is real good to deal with.

I totally agree with you! RAF is real treasure for photography and movie enthusiasts. If shipping to Canada is easier I would buy tons of stuff from him. But OP is from Italy, home country of the Durst and I expect him to find lens board there much easier than in North America or anywhere else.

robonfilm · Nov 26, 2024

ags2mikon said:
RAF camera.com has lapla type lens boards with different thread sizes that fit the 609 and other durst enlargers like the 138 series. I have bought from him before ans he is real good to deal with.

Thanks, I'll definitely check it out.

robonfilm · Nov 26, 2024

gary mulder said:
If the recess of your current lens board with the 50mm is less than 30mm you can use a flat lens board with a 80mm.

View attachment 384117

Good to know the standard Lapla 39 fits in my enlarger. I thought of flipping my recessed board, but I'm afraid the lens would be too close to the paper, so I'd get just small enlargements

robonfilm · Nov 26, 2024

I also found a SCHNEIDER Componar 75mm f4.5 for the same price ($40). Does anyone know how it compares to the Minolta E-Rokkor 75mm?

I print my standard 35mm negatives with a Schneider Componon 50mm f2.8, which I’m very happy with. I’ve never seen a direct comparison between the Componar and Componon for enlarging, but I know the Componar is a three-element lens.
Could the Minolta be a better deal?

Ian C · Nov 26, 2024

The Componar is a triplet (3 elements in 3 groups) and usually thought of as a “bargain-priced” student lens. These have M32.5 x 0.5 mm thread. Some versions have M25 x 0.5 mm thread. Thus, you’d have the extra expense of buying a suitable lens mount.

The Minolta Rokkor-E is a Tessar (4 elements in 3 groups). It has the common M39 Leica thread. It is a more sophisticated design than a triplet and likely to produce better results.

The Componar-S is a 4-element 3-group Tessar lens.

Whatever lens you decide on, make sure that it’s in good condition: clean, undamaged glass and coatings.

If you shop around, you might find a better 6-element 4-group lens for a reasonable price. Candidates are 80 mm f/5.6 EL Nikkor, and 80 mm f/4 Rodagon (which both properly cover the 6 x 7 cm format). Both have M39 Leica mounting thread.

MattKing · Nov 26, 2024

And has been mentioned earlier, an 80mm lens should be absolutely fine - that is what I use mostly for 6x6 negatives.

robonfilm · Nov 26, 2024

Ian C said:
If you shop around, you might find a better 6-element 4-group lens for a reasonable price. Candidates are 80 mm f/5.6 EL Nikkor, and 80 mm f/4 Rodagon

To be fair, I’ve never really understood the actual differences between these lenses, as I’ve only ever printed with my 50mm.

In real-world conditions (especially when enlarging, since stopping down is rarely an issue), at a reasonable aperture, what’s the actual difference between these types of lenses for printing at reasonable sizes (e.g., 30x30 cm)?

koraks · Nov 26, 2024

robonfilm said:
reasonable sizes (e.g., 30x30 inches)

That's pretty big. I'd go for the nicer lens. For anything up to 30x30cm I wouldn't expect all that much difference. 30x30inches is a different story; you might start seeing slight sharpness falloff in the corners.

robonfilm · Nov 26, 2024

koraks said:
That's pretty big. I'd go for the nicer lens. For anything up to 30x30cm I wouldn't expect all that much difference. 30x30inches is a different story; you might start seeing slight sharpness falloff in the corners.

Wow, sorry. I ment 30X30cm! I just edited the previous post

quine666 · Nov 26, 2024

SIXTUB will not fit on the 609. The reversible boards used on the 606 are also not really compatible.

Here is what the 609 manual recommends:

Personally, I would stick with a 6-element 80mm lens. Note that the LAPLA will work for smaller enlargements, but to get the full range you may need the deeper recess of the SEIPLA.

robonfilm · Nov 27, 2024

quine666 said:
Here is what the 609 manual recommends:

Thanks, that's exactly the part of the manual I was looking for!

robonfilm · Nov 27, 2024

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any of the six-element lenses mentioned at a reasonable price. Since, for now, I’ll only be printing 6x6 negatives, I think I’ll go with the Minolta E-Rokkor 75mm f/4.5 for $40, hoping the print quality won’t turn out too bad. At that price range, it seems to be the best lens I can find.

If anyone has experience with this lens, I’d really appreciate your thoughts!
I've also opened a new thread discussing the specific lens.

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