el nikkor 50mm - 2.8 or 4?

werra · Oct 15, 2009

pakeha said:
okay so we got a 50/50 split, solution is that i will buy both

Don't forget that there are Rodagons and Componons out there as well. Just to add confusion

Last night I made handful of 24x30 and 30x40cm prints with Rodagon-WA 40/4 and they are a tad sharper than ones with 2.8 El-Nikkor. Specially made some to compare with earlier prints. But this could be just a sample variation.

alexmacphee · Oct 15, 2009

polyglot said:
I haven't tried the 50/2.8 but our club darkroom has the 50/4. It has visibly soft corners even at f/8 enlarging to 5x7

Ooooh, you got a bad'un. Or conversely, I got a good'un...

Craig Swensson · Oct 15, 2009

Don't forget that there are Rodagons and Componons out there as well. Just to add confusion

Yep i knew when i posted that this would happen, so i have a couple on watch list:confused:

Originally Posted by polyglot
I haven't tried the 50/2.8 but our club darkroom has the 50/4. It has visibly soft corners even at f/8 enlarging to 5x7

Ooooh, you got a bad'un. Or conversely, I got a good'un...

Must have a bad one, even the rondo i have does not give this result.

Also, i just did a double check around the world and a 2.8 ranges from US40.00[US shipping only] to US 266.00 at the moment

Jim Jones · Oct 15, 2009

I've used several EL-Nikkor f/2.8 lenses over the last 40 years, and found all of them good. I've occasionally used the f/4 model, too. As others have said, the f/4 is fine for most printing. One advantage of the faster lens is in aligning enlargers.

John R. · Oct 15, 2009

I've had a 50 f4 for probably 30 years now. I used it a couple times early on and it has been in it's plastic bubble and original box ever since. No particular reason why it has been stored away. It made very nice prints. I am just more of a german optics guy and I have an array of Rodenstock Roagons and Roganar S lenses plus a couple Schneider Comparons as well. I would say save your money and just stick with the f4 for the 35mm stuff. When and if you go to any larger formats then it is time to start looking much closer at the lens you use on the enlarger. The Nikkor f4 is more than capable at 35mm in my opinion. I agree with the comments by Nicklaus FWIW to you. Enjoy the lens you have and the prints it will create with your guidance and control.

Craig Swensson · Oct 15, 2009

thanx Jim and John, got an f4 50mm yesterday and a new nikkor 75mm two days ago locally-Someone had brought the 75mm as a gift for the sellor, however no one knew it was an an enlarger lens hence it was listed wrong therefore i got for a bargain etc,etc, .Yeah it is not as though i`ve got a gallery showing coming up in the future so the f4 will be fine for 35mm and 75 for 120 ,as a start at leas. They will certainly be superior to what i was using previously. Once i`ve gone as far as i can with this then i may become a German optics guy also, cheers and regards

polyglot · Oct 16, 2009

The other thing is that unless you want big enlargements, you can use the 75 to print from 35mm film. The working height will be greater and the max enlargement (function of your enlarger column height) reduced, but you will be working within the sweet spot of the lens.

ath · Oct 16, 2009

There is the old Nikon 50mm f/2.8 and the new 50mm f/2.8N. They have a different optical design and a different diameter.

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/nikkor/n09_e.htm

RalphLambrecht · Oct 16, 2009

pakeha said:
thanx Jim and John, got an f4 50mm yesterday and a new nikkor 75mm two days ago locally-Someone had brought the 75mm as a gift for the sellor, however no one knew it was an an enlarger lens hence it was listed wrong therefore i got for a bargain etc,etc, .Yeah it is not as though i`ve got a gallery showing coming up in the future so the f4 will be fine for 35mm and 75 for 120 ,as a start at leas. They will certainly be superior to what i was using previously. Once i`ve gone as far as i can with this then i may become a German optics guy also, cheers and regards

Well, when you get the 2.8/50 next month, you'll be able to compare. Compare them at f/4 and at f/8. There should be a clear difference in the corners wide open and very little difference at the working apertures.

Sal Santamaura · Oct 16, 2009

pakeha said:
...got...a new nikkor 75mm two days ago...

When Bob Mitchell tested many enlarging lenses for Darkroom Techniques magazine years ago, the 75mm El-Nikkor center performance was up at 80 lp/mm. I have one for those rare occasions when I make a print from 35mm negatives. As long as you're not enlarging so big as to run out of column, it's an ideal lens for this purpose.

kozesluk · Oct 17, 2009

sadly, 4/75 EL Nikkor is inferior compared to both 5.6/80 and 2.8/50 EL Nikkors....
nowadays, I'm using the 2.8/63 EL Nikkor bought for 50$ (incl. shipping & original box) for 35mm negatives and I feel really satisfied

Martin Aislabie · Oct 17, 2009

I have used both the Nikkor 50/f2.8 and 50/f4

The 50/f4 is a nice lens and for 10x8 prints produces prints that are indistinguishable from the 50/f2.8

However, at sizes of 12x16 and above, the 50/f2.8 really shows its colours and produces some stunningly sharp and high contrast images, while sadly the f4 started to go soft, most noticeably in the corners

I would buy the f2.8 every time over the f4

The Enlarging Lens is a key component in your photographic system - all your images go through that one lens - buy the best you can afford

Martin

Randy Stewart · Oct 18, 2009

The 50mm 2.8 El-Nikkor is clearly the superior lens over the 50mm 4.0. With the huge excess of used 2.8 lenses on the market these days, the 2.8 is often cheaper than the 4.0 [for no rational reason]. For prints up to 8x10, buy whichever is presented when you need it, at the best price. If you want to do excellent prints, full frame, larger than 8x10, buy the 2.8. [The same argument can be made about your 75mm 4.0. It was made to sell as low-cost alternative to the standard El-Nikkor lenses. Today's bargains may justfy an upgrade.]

Craig Swensson · Oct 19, 2009

Exellent, thanks all,10 x 8 is probably as large as i will be going for a while so i`m happy with setup for now, it is always for now though is`nt it?
Obviously i am aware that a 6 element f2.8 lens will be a better performer-at times, over 4 element f4,
Threre must be a lift in interest with enlarging at the moment because the auction prices lately do not reflect the range of prices quoted in this thread, somehow i manage to get cameras/lens at a happy price[and they all work] no luck with the really good enlarger lens so far, regards

el nikkor 50mm - 2.8 or 4?

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