Enlarger Lens for 5x7, what focal length?

[Rick N]

What would be the recommended focal length for a 5x7 enlarging lens?
I do have a Schneider 150mm Componon S, will this work for a 5x7 enlarging lens?
I don't plan on printing anything bigger than 20x24, enlarger would be a DeVere 5108 floor standing model 96” height. What brand and model do you recommend?

Thanks
-RICK-

 

[jim10219]

210mm to 240mm would probably be the focal length I would be looking for. As for brand and model, well that depends on your budget.

 

[silveror0]

I have a 210 Componon on my Omega 5x7 (with XL column), but if I were not restricted by a fixed income in retirement I would have preferred a 240, mainly because it would offer reduced corner falloff from the cosine4 law.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

What would be the recommended focal length for a 5x7 enlarging lens?
I do have a Schneider 150mm Componon S, will this work for a 5x7 enlarging lens?
I don't plan on printing anything bigger than 20x24, enlarger would be a DeVere 5108 floor standing model 96” height. What brand and model do you recommend?

Thanks
-RICK-

a 'normal' enlarging lens for any format is equal in focal length to the focal length of a 'normal' taking lens for that format.

 

[mshchem]

When I was young and foolish I used a 161mm Wollensak , neither I nor the ancient Elwood enlarger knew it was too short, still got some darn nice prints. Now since the collapse, I have a 210 El Nikkor for 5x7, and a 180 el Nikkor fo 6x17. And of course I have 3 different 240mm lenses, the ones I use is a brilliant Rodagon and a Componon -S. Then a 300mm Rodagon in perfect shape, paid 100 bucks for it. The 240 and 300 lenses go on my 8x10 .
Some crazy good deals if you stay on top of eBay. By the way the Wollensak and Ilex lenses of the 1960s are spectacular lenses.

 

[Lachlan Young]

What would be the recommended focal length for a 5x7 enlarging lens?
I do have a Schneider 150mm Componon S, will this work for a 5x7 enlarging lens?
I don't plan on printing anything bigger than 20x24, enlarger would be a DeVere 5108 floor standing model 96” height. What brand and model do you recommend?

Thanks
-RICK-

Pretty much any 6-element lens from 180-240mm will likely be fine, and 4-elements from 210-240mm. Not going to be a problem with working height for 20x24". The 150mm G-Claron will apparently cover 5x7 for enlarging, but given the moderate enlargement size you are after, no need to use a shorter than normal focal length for enlarging. Main thing is making sure you can mount it successfully on the DeVere lens panel. Would suggest a 240mm Rodagon or similar, as it'll also give you the potential to handle 8x10.

 

[Luis-F-S]

What would be the recommended focal length for a 5x7 enlarging lens?
I do have a Schneider 150mm Componon S, will this work for a 5x7 enlarging lens?
I don't plan on printing anything bigger than 20x24, enlarger would be a DeVere 5108 floor standing model 96” height. What brand and model do you recommend?

Thanks
-RICK-

180 mm lens for 57. Good luck in finding a 5108. It’s a matter of luck.

 

[Fritzthecat]

I used a 185mm Enlarging Ektar on my Elwood, Great lens if you can find a clean example.

 

[Rick N]

Thanks everyone for the recommendation! I just pickup a Rodenstock Rodagon180mm f5.6 on Ebay last night.

Now I just need to find the correct lens board for the the Rodenstock 180mm lens.

Luis-F-S, I already have a DeVere 5108 and 504 with the Dichromat color head.

Thanks a lot!
-RICK-

 

[Lachlan Young]

Thanks everyone for the recommendation! I just pickup a Rodenstock Rodagon180mm f5.6 on Ebay last night.

Now I just need to find the correct lens board for the the Rodenstock 180mm lens.

Luis-F-S, I already have a DeVere 5108 and 504 with the Dichromat color head.

Thanks a lot!
-RICK-

You'll want the flat board with the 50mm hole.

 

[Rick N]

You'll want the flat board with the 50mm hole.

Would this be the correct lens board for a Rodenstock 180mm f5.6?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-lensbo...172726?hash=item33f1bf3776:g:sT8AAOSwEfBbb2eG

 

[Lachlan Young]

Would this be the correct lens board for a Rodenstock 180mm f5.6?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-lensbo...172726?hash=item33f1bf3776:g:sT8AAOSwEfBbb2eG

Looks like it should be correct. Should be the same as any 150mm Rodagon.

 

[Ian Grant]

All my larger Rodagon lenses have a lens flange that's 150mm, 210 and 270mm and the flanges are screwed to the De Vere lens boards of my 5108. It's the same with my 240mm and 300mm Componon S lenses.

Ian

 

[Luis-F-S]

I have all my longer lenses (135 thru 240) mounted on Durst Lapla boards and have a single adapter board on an inverted panel for the DeVere. The short lenses are mounted on recessed boards. Larger lenses are mounted on an inverted panel. L

 

[DREW WILEY]

I'd recommend a 180 Rodagon on the short end, 210 as "normal", and 240 as ideal. If you want an extremely sharp compact lens quite affordable on the used market, opt for a 240/9 4-element Apo Nikkor graphics lens. Note its small maximum aperture. But by f/11 it will outperform typical enlarging lenses. 150 would be dicey.

 

[ic-racer]

That is nice that you did not have to take the Durst flanges off the lenses to mount them on the DeVere.

I got this Tripla and the three Componon lenses for almost nothing on e-bay a few years ago. I don't regularly use my 8x10 enlarger for these smaller formats, but I like to have these lenses just in case something comes up. For 5x7 I would use the 210mm.