Enlarger lens questions

[Miquel Julia]

In the end I will buy the Minolta, at equal prices I think it is the best of those mentioned at the beginning

I have saved from years ago a Schneider Comparon 150mm f5.6 (too long for the use I intend) and a Schneider Componar f4.5 105 mm that maybe I will use

Due to the elapsed time I don't remember much about its behavior, in any case the enlarger is only for 6x6 and of course for 35mm

Thank you all

 

[DREW WILEY]

Well, even Gasser couldn't afford to carry the Rolls Royce of 105's - the Apo El Nikkor. Those were mainly distributed through graphics or printing industry channels instead, along with the Apo Nikkor series. I have a set of the latter all the way from 240 mm to 760mm, and they're way better corrected than any kind of official enlarging lens like EL Nikkors (without the extra Apo designation). In the shorter focal lengths like 105 I use Apo Rodagon N's. Early on I used Componon S lenses, which were an improvement on earlier Componons, but not quite in the league of upcoming new kids on the block from Nikon, Rodenstock, Fuji, and even Schneider itself.

 

[Pieter12]

In the end I will buy the Minolta, at equal prices I think it is the best of those mentioned at the beginning

I have saved from years ago a Schneider Comparon 150mm f5.6 (too long for the use I intend) and a Schneider Componar f4.5 105 mm that maybe I will use

Due to the elapsed time I don't remember much about its behavior, in any case the enlarger is only for 6x6 and of course for 35mm

Thank you all

The 105mm Componar should work fine for 6x6 if you aren't making really large prints. Give it a try.

 

[Paul Howell]

I've use a 105 or 100 when printing from 6X6 to 4X5 or 5X7 with the enlarger cranked up it gives plenty of room to burn and doge.

 

[ic-racer]

I just bought an LPL B&W enlarger after 30 years and now I need to buy a 75/80mm lens

I thought I had some objective for 6x6 format but it has not been like that

I am undecided between the Nikkor EL 75mm, the Rodenstock Rogonar S 75mm f4 and the Minolta CE 80mm f5.6. In principle I want to make copies of a maximum of 30x40 cm


I need some opinion on the quality of these objectives to be able to make a decision

Thank You

Skip the Nikkor 75 and Rogonar; both Nikon and Rodenstock made better lenses in those focal lengths. The Minolta CE 80 is their top of the line lens.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I just bought an LPL B&W enlarger after 30 years and now I need to buy a 75/80mm lens

I thought I had some objective for 6x6 format but it has not been like that

I am undecided between the Nikkor EL 75mm, the Rodenstock Rogonar S 75mm f4 and the Minolta CE 80mm f5.6. In principle I want to make copies of a maximum of 30x40 cm


I need some opinion on the quality of these objectives to be able to make a decision

Thank You

the Nikkor EL is an excellent choice

 

[Paul Howell]

Skip the Nikkor 75 and Rogonar; both Nikon and Rodenstock made better lenses in those focal lengths. The Minolta CE 80 is their top of the line lens.

Looking at the enlarger lens data base, see link below, both the Nikkor is elements in 4 groups, as as the Minolta 80, while the Rogonar is 5 element in 4 groups. You might see a difference between the Minolta and Rogonar at 16X20 or larger.

Photo Cornucopia

 

[Hilo]

Up to 30x40cm prints there is probably hardly any difference between the lenses mentioned. That is when it is about sharpness.

For me there are other considerations as important: for instance, Meopta made a generation excellent enlarger lenses, the Meogon 50/5.6, the Meogon 60/5.6 and the Meogon 80/5.6. These three lenses have the socalled Zebra barrel, which in fact operates the aperture. In the dark this is incredibly nice to handle, because instead of a smallish aperture ring it feels like we turn the entire lens.

I have all three of them and use them next to Focotars-2 50mm and 100mm. Both these late design Focotars give a lot of contrast. When I have negatives that do not need that, I sometimes switch to the Meogons. It is always difficult to give a name to the result of a certain lens, but I would say these Meogons give me a quieter print than most lenses that are later designs.

Often, the Meogon lenses are sold at great prices. To focus using the relative slow 5.6 aperture works fine for me. I use 150w bulbs. Attached the 80mm Meogon . . .

 

[Miquel Julia]

Looking at the enlarger lens data base, see link below, both the Nikkor is elements in 4 groups, as as the Minolta 80, while the Rogonar is 5 element in 4 groups. You might see a difference between the Minolta and Rogonar at 16X20 or larger.

I have seen the link and it has been very helpful

Skip the Nikkor 75 and Rogonar; both Nikon and Rodenstock made better lenses in those focal lengths. The Minolta CE 80 is their top of the line lens

The Minolta is already on its way, the decision is made

 

[guangong]

They are all fine lenses. Get whichever is in good shape and the least expensive. You won't notice any difference. I use Minolta, Schneider, Rodenstock, Fujinon, Yashica and other enlarging lenses.

The size of the print you make is irrelevant -- but try to use the lens at f8-11 for best results.

Makes sense. I have a Rodenstck, but I bought it way back when.

 

[16:9]

The Minolta CE is in a different category to the other two lenses you mention: it's Gold-rated, whereas the EL-Nikkor 75 is Bronze and the Rogonar was an entry-level lens. For full details of these lenses and many alternatives, see www.deltalenses.com where we've catalogued almost 1,500 enlarger lenses, and tested almost 200.

 

[Paul Howell]

Interesting list of lens, I did not find any information concerning the lens construction, number of elements and group, what size enlargement the lens was optimized for, or how a lens was tested. Below is a link to list from Wikipeida for Schneider lens, camera, projection and enlargers, it provides a good review of level of lens.

Schneider Kreuznach - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Here is the list for Nikkor enlarger lens, your right the 75 is 4 elements in 3 groups, while the 80mm is 6 elements in 4 groups.

Nikkor - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[wiltw]

Generally speaking, company like Rodenstock makes multiple series of lenses. For both Schneider and Rodenstock...

• Those ending in -ar are the 'budget conscious' 4-element lenses
• Those ending in -on are the good performance 6-element lenses
• Those with APO designation are the highest performance lenses.

Often, other companies (like enlarger manufacturers) get lenses from Rodenstock and other lens makers, and follow similar naming conventions.

 

[ic-racer]

I got a Minolta enlarger new in 1975 (still use it) and it was quite expensive. I was not able to get the Minolta Rokkor 80mm lens for it at the time due to it being expensive andI had to use a cheap 3 element lens for many years.
The six element lenses will have a larger sharp image circle. That equals the ability to make bigger prints. For example 3 element 50mm lenses struggle with 8x10 full frame enlargements to get all 4 corners sharp. Due to a combination of chromatic and spherical aberrations plus curvature of field.

 

[Nige]

I use that cheapo 75 El Nikkor for 35mm negs because only the center of the optic is used in that case, although you have to re-focus a bit one stop down due to its focal shift issue.

For someone with generally top notch equipment, why would you bother with this coke bottle at all?

 

[albada]

For someone with generally top notch equipment, why would you bother with this coke bottle at all?

Perhaps Drew is photographing women over 40. They dislike sharp wrinkles. Women like coke bottles.
In fact, somebody should hack a Diana- or Holga-lens onto an enlarger. With those soft and dreamy prints, he'd probably get more business than he could handle.

 

[xkaes]

Nikon made a 63mm f2.8 (6/4) EL which is probably the best for 35mm.

 

[faberryman]

For someone with generally top notch equipment, why would you bother with this coke bottle at all?

Sometimes you don't want a sharp image for aesthertic reasons.

 

[16:9]

Interesting list of lens, I did not find any information concerning the lens construction, number of elements and group, what size enlargement the lens was optimized for, or how a lens was tested.

I suspect what you did there was hit the landing page (with its summary table) and not enter the actual site, with 2,000+ images, reviews, articles, full explanation of test procedures, company histories, serial number references, etc.
There's also a lens comparison tool quickly enabling you to acquire vital stats such as focal-flange distance, extension, weight, aperture type, optical formula, etc. There are many images shot with enlarger lenses, too, and over 1500 projector, industrial and repro lenses are similarly catalogued. No standard taking lenses are included among the 3000+ in the archive, apart from a handful of Sigma primes for reference in the Hall of Fame:

Hall of Fame - delta

NEARWIDE OPEN NEAR f4–F8 NEAR f5.6–F8 FARWIDE OPEN FAR f4–F8 FAR f5.6–F8 Introduction The Delta Hall of Fame grades for sharpness 200 enlarger, projector and industrial lenses at two working distances. Lenses that score 90%+ are awarded Gold – reference-quality.Lenses that score 80-90% are...

deltalenses.com

If anyone spots any errors, or has any serial numbers, or information about lenses that are missing, please drop me a line.

If you search for Rogonar 75, you'll find five results - including the less common Rogonar SC, both versions of the Rogonar-S, the original Rogonar, and the Durst-repackaged Neotaron (AKA Rogonar).

Rogonar 75 - delta

deltalenses.com

If you search for Nikkor 75 - https://deltalenses.com/?s=nikkor+75 - you'll find both versions, complete with serials and production dates.

Both Minolta and Nikon lenses land on page 16 of the main enlarger lens catalog:

Enlarger Lenses - delta - Page 16

Optics deployed in enlarging devices for printmaking from 35mm, medium format, or large format negatives. Most 40-50mm enlarger lenses cover 35mm ‘full-frame’ sensors, and allow tilt/shift movements on smaller cameras (Micro Four/Thirds, APS-C, etc). Lenses longer than 75mm typically project an...

deltalenses.com

To reiterate - and good call, Miquel - the CE80 Rokkor is several levels above the Rogonar and Rogonar-S, or the EL-Nikkor 75, which was the ugly duckling of the otherwise excellent EL-Nikkor N range. The comparable Nikon is the 80/5.6N, which is similarly top-notch.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I agree. I cannot recommend the 75 El Nikkor for MF film use. It might be OK for up to 645 perhaps. I use one for 35mm film because only the center of the optic comes into play, and the lens was dirt cheap. The longest El Nikkor I have used is the 350/5.6 - an excellent lens but too big and heavy for anything but true industrial enlargers.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

I had Schneider Componon's, 50mm, 80mm and 150mm, they all got Schneideritis which is the beginning of deterioration.
So I bought Rodenstock Rodagon and never got any problems.
Schneiders are very good, till thy get sick...

 

[ic-racer]

I suspect what you did there was hit the landing page (with its summary table) and not enter the actual site, with 2,000+ images, reviews, articles, full explanation of test procedures, company histories, serial number references, etc.
There's also a lens comparison tool quickly enabling you to acquire vital stats such as focal-flange distance, extension, weight, aperture type, optical formula, etc. There are many images shot with enlarger lenses, too, and over 1500 projector, industrial and repro lenses are similarly catalogued. No standard taking lenses are included among the 3000+ in the archive, apart from a handful of Sigma primes for reference in the Hall of Fame:

Hall of Fame - delta

NEARWIDE OPEN NEAR f4–F8 NEAR f5.6–F8 FARWIDE OPEN FAR f4–F8 FAR f5.6–F8 Introduction The Delta Hall of Fame grades for sharpness 200 enlarger, projector and industrial lenses at two working distances. Lenses that score 90%+ are awarded Gold – reference-quality.Lenses that score 80-90% are...

deltalenses.com

If anyone spots any errors, or has any serial numbers, or information about lenses that are missing, please drop me a line.

If you search for Rogonar 75, you'll find five results - including the less common Rogonar SC, both versions of the Rogonar-S, the original Rogonar, and the Durst-repackaged Neotaron (AKA Rogonar).

Rogonar 75 - delta

deltalenses.com

If you search for Nikkor 75 - https://deltalenses.com/?s=nikkor+75 - you'll find both versions, complete with serials and production dates.

Both Minolta and Nikon lenses land on page 16 of the main enlarger lens catalog:

Enlarger Lenses - delta - Page 16

Optics deployed in enlarging devices for printmaking from 35mm, medium format, or large format negatives. Most 40-50mm enlarger lenses cover 35mm ‘full-frame’ sensors, and allow tilt/shift movements on smaller cameras (Micro Four/Thirds, APS-C, etc). Lenses longer than 75mm typically project an...

deltalenses.com

To reiterate - and good call, Miquel - the CE80 Rokkor is several levels above the Rogonar and Rogonar-S, or the EL-Nikkor 75, which was the ugly duckling of the otherwise excellent EL-Nikkor N range. The comparable Nikon is the 80/5.6N, which is similarly top-notch.

I don't see where any enlargements were made. Am I missing something?

 

[jtk]

Well, even Gasser couldn't afford to carry the Rolls Royce of 105's - the Apo El Nikkor. Those were mainly distributed through graphics or printing industry channels instead, along with the Apo Nikkor series. I have a set of the latter all the way from 240 mm to 760mm, and they're way better corrected than any kind of official enlarging lens like EL Nikkors (without the extra Apo designation). In the shorter focal lengths like 105 I use Apo Rodagon N's. Early on I used Componon S lenses, which were an improvement on earlier Componons, but not quite in the league of upcoming new kids on the block from Nikon, Rodenstock, Fuji, and even Schneider itself.

Well, yours is undoubtedly fat enough, but Gasser's were fast longer.

We sold MANY APO Nikkors (often 63mm) for specialized work. Half of Gasser's business may have been amateur but my half was professional/institutional and produced over half of Gasser's revenue with only three employees.

Rodagons were sometimes better than Componons but Rodagon elements famously became unstuck.

Happily these issues are irrelevant to non-hobbiests who make more demanding prints the famous "other" ways.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

This is about Rodenstock:

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

In fact, somebody should hack a Diana- or Holga-lens onto an enlarger.

I have always wanted to do that.

1st law of the internet - Q: "Am I the only one who...?"; A: "No."