Has anyone compared 50mm APO-Rodagon (old) vs APO-Rodagon-N lenses

[jjphoto]

Has anyone compared 50mm Rodenstock APO-Rodagon (old) with APO-Rodagon-N enlarging lenses.

The APO-Rodagon-N's were introduced in about 1995 and although lens construction remained the same as the APO-Rodagon, I'm curious to know what optical differences there are between old and new, if any (both are 6/4 but that doesn't mean they are optically identical).

I have the MTF for the 50mm APO-Rodagon-N lens but haven't seen MTF's for the older APO-Rodagon lenses. Does anyone have copies of the MTF's?

 

[BMbikerider]

The answer is no. I have a newer version and to be honest I have no desire to check an earlier version because this one is so good. I also have a 80/F5.6 Non APO which is also very very good and will do everything I am capable of asking it to do. Is it better than any other 80/5.6? Who cares it is just simply very good as is the other one.

 

[Ai Print]

I have both, pickup the new one after the older one since I found it at a good price, kept the older one as a spare for workshops. I have never done a test but I suspect with black and white printing I would hardly notice the difference.

 

[jjphoto]

I have both, pickup the new one after the older one since I found it at a good price, kept the older one as a spare for workshops. I have never done a test but I suspect with black and white printing I would hardly notice the difference.

Thanks. I suspect it might be difficult to compare them properly, in any meaningful way, as they are clearly both excellent lenses.

 

[Eric Rose]

For B&W printing even the old f4 lenses out perform current B&W papers.

 

[jjphoto]

For B&W printing even the old f4 lenses out perform current B&W papers.

That's fair enough too, but my question is really about how the APO-Rodagon 50 'old' and 'new' compare, are they really different optically and is this noticeable?

 

[chip j]

FWIW, a test was done by a gentleman of the old Apo Rodagon vs the Leitz 50mm 4.5 Focotar 2. The APO was sharper, but he prefered the Focotar because it was "more human".

 

[DREW WILEY]

Expect noticeably better contrast and micotonality, sharper too, than ordinary Rodagon. I happen to print 35mm with a 105 Apo N, and even wide open it outperforms any 50 I've ever used. (Don't use it wide open for MF negs).

 

[chip j]

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/apo-rodagon-2-8-50mm.14553/