• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Enlarger Lens for 5x7, what focal length?

Rick N

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Messages
16
Location
San Diego, CA-USA
Format
Multi Format
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-
 
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.
 
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.
 
a 'normal' enlarging lens for any format is equal in focal length to the focal length of a 'normal' taking lens for that format.
 
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.
 

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.
 
180 mm lens for 57. Good luck in finding a 5108. It’s a matter of luck.
 
I used a 185mm Enlarging Ektar on my Elwood, Great lens if you can find a clean example.
 
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.
 
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
 
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






 
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.
 
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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register