Enlarger lens for 5X7 film

nsurit · May 30, 2017

My longest lens is 150mm. Seems that a proper focal length would be somewhere around 225mm for 5X7. Is that correct and anybody have any suggestions on specific lenses? Thanks in advance.

Luis-F-S · May 30, 2017

I'd get a 180mm lens, either Rodagon, Componon-S or Nikkor. What enlarger are you going to use it on?

Peter Schrager · May 30, 2017

I did fine with a apo.rodagon..150mm

mshchem · May 30, 2017

I used a 161mm Wollensak for years. Ebay has tons of 180 nice lenses for cheap

nsurit · May 30, 2017

Will be using on Zone VI enlarger (Type II), I have a 150mm f4.5 Rodenstock Rognar-S and also a Rodenstock APO-Gerogon 150mm f9.

dasBlute · May 30, 2017

150 is plenty for 5x7, lets see some prints

ic-racer · May 30, 2017

Don't overlook the 210mm enlarging lenses, many of those on ebay.

Luis-F-S · Jun 2, 2017

ic-racer said:
Don't overlook the 210mm enlarging lenses, many of those on ebay.

IC, typically more costly than the 180 and the Zone VI doesn't have the column height as does your Durst! The Apo-Gerogon is a WA process lens with a working aperture of f/22 and covering 70 deg. It covers 10x12" at 1:1. There's a pretty good chance it will cover 5x7 at low magnifications (5:1 or less). I'd certainly give it a try.

Leigh B · Jun 2, 2017

nsurit said:
Seems that a proper focal length would be somewhere around 225mm for 5X7. Is that correct...

For any enlarger, the appropriate focal length is the same as the camera's normal lens.
That's typically the diagonal of the film.
I normally calculate that based on the overall film size, i.e. 4x5.
For 5x7 that would be about 180mm.

- Leigh

Rick A · Jun 2, 2017

I had a 185mm Enlarging Ektar that went with the 5x7 Elwood I gave away.

ic-racer · Jun 4, 2017

Luis-F-S said:
IC, typically more costly than the 180 and the Zone VI doesn't have the column height as does your Durst! The Apo-Gerogon is a WA process lens with a working aperture of f/22 and covering 70 deg. It covers 10x12" at 1:1. There's a pretty good chance it will cover 5x7 at low magnifications (5:1 or less). I'd certainly give it a try.

He has a Zone VI, I missed that. Especially if he has the 44" column, 210mm might be too long and that Apo-Gerogon looks like just the right lens.

John Layton · Jun 5, 2017

Depends on column height and your maximum desired print size. I have no problem going up to slightly larger than 20x30 inches with a 180mm Companon-S on my Zone VI series II with long column.

removed account4 · Jun 5, 2017

i use a 210 raptar ( i think? ) i use that has never given me issue
it works great and was not too expensive. and i don't have to drag the enlarger head
far from the base. wider lenses may have that issue ... the gclaron
is a fantastic lens too ( i use a 150 for smaller negatives ) there is a 210 on the eBoink now for like 65$ ...
and the beautiful thing about gclarons is they slide right onto a copal shutter
and you can use them as a taking lens ... plasmat design from what i read.
im guessing if wendy o williams made photographs she'd probably have used this lens
seeing she sang for the plastmatics

choiliefan · Jun 5, 2017

I use a relatively late chromed and coated 190mm Raptar. It's a very good lens.

Enlarger lens for 5X7 film

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