Enlarger Lens Help!

[Jim Jones]

Cameras and lenses may come and go, but a good enlarging lens is a lifetime investment. Don't skimp on one, especially while they are so inexpensive. They can also be used with adaptors on SLR and DSLR cameras for much macro photography.

 

[Ian C]

Regarding 63 mm enlarging lens coverage for a 6 x 4.5 cm negative, so far as I know the only 63 mm lens made was the EL Nikkor and is rated for, at most, a 55.2 mm diameter object circle.

The diagonal of the 6 x 4.5 cm negative (41.5 mm x 56 mm for Mamiya 645) is about 69.7 mm. Thus, the 63 mm EL Nikkor wouldn’t be a good choice for 6 x 4.5 cm format enlarging.

There is a 60 mm f/4 Rodagon WA (wide-angle) enlarging lens that covers the 6 x 7 cm format that would work. It is a relatively rare lens and tends to be expensive.

Your most practical choice is an 80 mm lens.

The specifications for the 63/2.8N EL Nikkor can be read here:

http://www.savazzi.net/download/manuals/El-Nikkor_enlarging_lenses.pdf

 

[Pedro Pinto Basto]

Thank you for all the replys.

Do you also know if Minolta makes good enlargers lens?

 

[JOR]

Thank you for all the replys.

Do you also know if Minolta makes good enlargers lens?

The Minolta E-Rokkor series is excellent

 

[Pedro Pinto Basto]

What about C. E. Series from Minolta?

 

[jjphoto]

What about C. E. Series from Minolta?

I have the 5.6/80 C.E. Rokkor-X which is the earliest of the C.E. range (see http://photocornucopia.com/1063.html ). It's an excellent lens and extremely sharp. I've never compared it directly to it's competitors but I see no reason for it to be considered inferior to any other 6E-4G EL from the same period.

 

[mklw1954]

I have the 50mm and 80mm C.E. Rokkor lenses and they are excellent. I also have EL Nikkor and Rodenstock Rodagon lenses but prefer the Minoltas. However, any of these 6-element lenses are excellent; get the one that's in the best condition.

 

[Dali]

With 8x10 prints from 35mm negatives, I doubt you would see any pertinent difference printing from 1 lens or another as long as you stick with 4 or more elements lenses and the lens you pick up is in good condition.

I printed for decades with a 4 elements Nikkor-EL and switched 10 years ago to 6 elements lenses. I did not notice a real improvement...

 

[nworth]

The general rule is to get the best enlarging lenses you can afford - or maybe slightly more expensive ones. The Ctein book offers excellent advice. Read it. The 50/2.8 EL-Nikkor is an excellent lens, and other lenses are often compared to it. For other lenses, look for 6 element lenses from the major manufacturers - Nikon, Fuji, Rodenstock, Schneider, etc. You can definitely tell the difference between prints produced with a 3 or 4 element lens and prints produced with a good 6 element lens.

My current inventory is a somewhat mixed lot, but they are the kind of lenses you should be looking for: 40/2.8 Apo-Componon (Schneider), 50/2.8 EL-Nikkor (Nikon), 80/4 EL-Nikkor, 105/4 Apo-Rodagon-N (Rodenstock), 135/5.6 Rodagon, 150/5.6 Rodagon-G, 300/5.6 Rodagon-G.

 

[Dali]

As the OP can't go bigger than MF, everything longer then 80mm or 105mm is a waste of money.