Enlarger and lens question

I hesitate to ask, not wanting to look like a boob, but can anyone tell me the largest lens that will fit on a Durst 138, the 5x7 enlarger, with a turret? I can remove the turret and there is an oval opening. If it can't be determined because of the vast number of different lenses in varying mount sizes then can you tell me the largest lens you are using and how it is mounted.

Thank you all very much,

Curt

The largest lens I use is a 180mm Rodagon. The largest lens I can use is a 210mm Rodagon - which I don't use because the 180mm does the job well enough and isn't too long for 4x5".

300mm Rodagon mounted on a flat wooden board in place of the turret. As discussed earlier this is used with an Aristo 12x12 cold light head for 8x10 negatives. This same set up can also use a 240mm Rodagon, but I have not had the need to do so.

John Powers

I am taking the above advise under consideration from Ole and John, thank you both. I would like ask if "Apo" lenses are any good for enlarging, 2x to 4x range. I have two that I have had before I got the Durst enlarger, one is a 210 Apo Gerogon and the other is a 305 Apo Nikkor. I really don't know much more than I have read on the net and it's contradictory and confusing.

I see that both of you use the Rodagon lenses, are these strictly an enlarging lens, purpose built and the Apo Gerogon, is that a "process" lens primarily used in graphic arts for flat copy work and not enlarging?

Up until now I have El Nikkor's 50, 75, 105, 150 80's style, and Componon 50, 75, 180, all are clean and sharp. I could add a Rodagon 240, 300 to the list, would that make sense or should I be looking for a Schneider Componon or El Nikkor? I was even looking that the G Claron but they are few and expensive.

Curt

RODAGON
135mm f/5.6 9 x 12cm/4 x 5" 2-10X (6X) 128.0mm 50.0mm M 39 x 1/26"
150mm f/5.6 9 x 12cm/4 x 5" 2-10X (6X) 146.0mm 60.0mm M 50 x 0.75
180mm f/5.6 13 x 18cm/5 x 7" 2-8X (5X) 177.0mm 60.0mm M 50 x 0.75
210mm f/5.6 13 x 18cm/5 x 7" 2-8X (4X) 201.0mm 70.0mm M 58 x 0.75
240mm f/5.6 18 x 24cm/8 x 10" 2-8X (4X) 230.0mm 80.0mm M 72 x 1
300mm f/5.6 18 x 24cm/8 x 10" 2-8X (4X) 283.0mm 90.0mm M 72 x 1
360mm f/6.3 24 x 30cm/10 x 12" 2-8X (2.5X) 300.0mm 100.0mm M 90 x 1

I don't know if they will all fit but the numbers tell you what they cover and what optimal enlargement is (best upto optimal)

APO lenses usually cover a greater range of magnifications but whether you would see any difference upto optimal enalargement is debateable.

RODAGON
135mm f/5.6 9 x 12cm/4 x 5" 2-10X (6X) 128.0mm 50.0mm M 39 x 1/26"
150mm f/5.6 9 x 12cm/4 x 5" 2-10X (6X) 146.0mm 60.0mm M 50 x 0.75
180mm f/5.6 13 x 18cm/5 x 7" 2-8X (5X) 177.0mm 60.0mm M 50 x 0.75
210mm f/5.6 13 x 18cm/5 x 7" 2-8X (4X) 201.0mm 70.0mm M 58 x 0.75
240mm f/5.6 18 x 24cm/8 x 10" 2-8X (4X) 230.0mm 80.0mm M 72 x 1
300mm f/5.6 18 x 24cm/8 x 10" 2-8X (4X) 283.0mm 90.0mm M 72 x 1
360mm f/6.3 24 x 30cm/10 x 12" 2-8X (2.5X) 300.0mm 100.0mm M 90 x 1

Click to expand...

Thank you Rob, I'm now a member of the Rodenstock Rodagon club, having just bought a Rodagon 240mm f5.6. I would have gotten a 300mm if one had been available for a decent price. It's a step forward though, got to move on now.

Thank for all of the replies and help,
Curt

As I await the arrival of my Rodagon I was watching the Ansel Adams Photographer video when he described his horizontal enlarger, which has had a lot of conversation over the years, when the front of it showed the enlarging lens he was using. I thought all along that it was an El Nikkor lens but on pause I could clearly see that it was an Apo-Nikkor 600mm f9, that's a long lens. A process lens for enlarging. As the results show it worked just fine. I wonder why he chose that lens though?

Curt said:

I
I see that both of you use the Rodagon lenses, are these strictly an enlarging lens, purpose built..... Curt

Click to expand...

Sorry, just saw your question a few days late. I believe the Rodagons are sold just for enlargers, but I have read that some people have used them as taking or camera lenses.

Both of my enlargers are second hand.

The Saunders LPL 4550 XLG VCCE came with:
Rodenstock APO-Rodagon 50mm f2.8 lens for 35mm.
Rodenstock APO-Rodagon 90mm f4 lens for 6x7 cm.
Rodenstock APO-Rodagon 150mm f 4 lens for 4x5".

As mentioned before the 8x10 conversion of a Durst 138 came with
Rodenstock APO-Rodagon 240mm f 5.6 lens
Rodenstock APO-Rodagon 300mm f 5.6 lens

John Powers

I just got the lens today, it was quite a wait. It's a: 240mm f/5.6 18 x 24cm/8 x 10" 2-8X (4X) 230.0mm 80.0mm M 72 x 1, with the exception of the mount which is 67mm not 72, I don't know why, maybe it's newer?, I don't really know. The mounting flange is the same as the Apo-Nikkor 305 and 360, they are interchangable in the mount. I have those two lenses.

I made a plate to mount the flange on and with the turret removed the plate attaches to the turret bolt with a nut, and a 5.5mm metric bolt to the filter accessory hole. The two points are nearly 180 degrees from each other. With the right spacer on the turret bolt the plate is in alignment. Since the plate is larger than the opening, being 6x6 inches, I could add three bolts and make it adjustable like the Beseler adjustable lens board.

I had some extended complications from a recent surgery so I'm working a lot slower than I had anticipated. I purchased the lens for a sum of $109.00 and its glass and barrel were given an "E" for condition. It is a nearly new lens, has the gold metal Rodenstock sticker still on the barrel and since it's 5.6 it's going to be easy to focus.

Curt