How many enlarging lenses do YOU have??

Five. A 40mm Nikon I seldom use, 150mm unbranded I haven't used since the early '90s and the three I keep in the turret. A 50mm f/2.8 Rodagon, a 75mm f/4 Nikon and a 135mm f/5.6(?) Nikon.

I have too many.....But some are a bit interesting. and in the current post analog world if you are still printing like me they can be had for almost nothing, look for ones a bit off beat
really good ones can be had for next to nothing they are found at swap meets an camera store junk boxes, or in job lots bought on line.

I have a a total of 17 different lenses, my enlargers are a Durst l1200 and a AC800 this makes life a bit easy as long as they are mounted on a lens board I can swap between both enlargers

4x5 Lenses

161mm 4.5 Kodak Ektanon Bought for $1 attached to a durst plate ....I really only wanted the plate, nice lens very sharp but has less contrast than a Nikkor or a Rodagon
150mm 5.6 Rodenstock Rodagon super sharp high contrast uniform corner to corner ... came attached to my L1200
135mm 5.6 El Nikkor Super sharp covers 4x5 great contrast very sharp....has a very very small amount falloff on corners wide open... stopped down all is good

6x9 lenses

105mm 5.6 Schneider componon Older silver one may only be single coated Works well but lacks contrast but this sometimes can be usefull
100mm 5.6 Schneider componon -s Newer black lens very sharp nice contrast
105mm 5.6 El Nikkor great contrast very sharp
105mm Rodenstock Rodagon super sharp high contrast uniform corner to corner - I have calibrated my Durst AC800 with this one

6x6 lenses

80mm 5.6 Schneider componon 25mm thread black lens very sharp nice contrast
80mm f4.0 Rodenstock Rodagon super sharp high contrast uniform corner to corner - I have calibrated my Durst AC800 with this one
80mm f5.6 El Nikkor great contrast very sharp
75mm f4.5 Schneider comparon older silver 4 element lens 25mm thread, I find this one very useful when a rollei or Bronica neg is way too sharp !!! takes off the edge

35mm and smaller

68mm 3.5 El Nikkor Very sharp lens has a bit of a Cult following in the macro world
50mm F2.8 New Plastic Body lens Supper sharp lots of contrast
50mm F2.8 Rodenstock Rodagon super sharp high contrast uniform corner to corner - I have calibrated my Durst AC800 with this one
50mm F4.5 Leitz (Leica) Good lens, not quire as good as the Rodagon but as I got it for $15 !!!
40mm F4 Rodagon WA Not a easy one to find cheap, very sharp, used for big enlargments
30mm F4.5 Minolta 110 film lens very sharp for a 4 element lens

There you have it too may lenses, some have a personality of there own.

Johnkpap

Six. Covering film formats from 35mm to 8x10.

Wow some people have a LOT!

As others one for each format.

50mm
80mm
135mm
240mm
300mm

All EL-Nikkor A models.

I have a El Nikkor f2.8 and a Componon-S both in 50mm, a Componon-S 100 for my 6X7 and a generous member here sent me a Componon-S 80mm under the Vivitar rebanding. All excellent lenses. I was surprised to see however that my 50mm Componon-S is actually a five element lens; I always thought it was a six like the others.

Marc, I think you're mistaken. The 50mm Componon-S is a 6/4 design. You're saying yours looks like a Heliar or something else?

enough

Two, 80 and 150mm, 80mm does not get used now as I do not shoot 6x6 anymore, been using the 150 for 4x5 LF and 6x9 MF but I am looking for a 105 mm for 6x9

Old-N-Feeble said:

Marc, I think you're mistaken. The 50mm Componon-S is a 6/4 design. You're saying yours looks like a Heliar or something else?

Click to expand...

Hi Old-N-Feeble. I came across an old issue of Darkroom Magazine from the late 1980's which had an article written by Ctein about enlarging lenses. He tested out many many lenses and even provided a handy table which gave the specs on each lens. Anyway, unless I have a newer model then the one listed on the table it stated that the 50 mm Componon-S is a five element design. My lens must be a current model since it looks just like my 100mm Componon-S.

YES, they did make 5-element Ss--I have brochure on them.

That's interesting... I didn't know.

I have two: 50 and 105, both El Nikkor.
And no enlarger
My life is full of contradictions like that.

15 lenses, mostly schneiders, ranging from 45 to 360mm, I shoot 35 through 810 film.

Yeah, I'm most at home w/my Schneiders.

A set of late-model EL-Nikkors: 50/2.8, 63, 80, 105 and 135. The 80 and 105 get the most use - the former with 35mm, the latter with medium format. I tend to print small, and longer focal lengths give me a bit more maneuvering room between enlarger head and baseboard. Can't tell you how many times over the years I've whacked my head against a sharp corner of the enlarger while fussing with the Micromega.

Interesting thread… I was just sorting through my lens cabinet today.

I have a pretty complete set of El-Nikkor lenses: 50mm, 63mm, 80mm, 105mm, 150mm, 210mm, 240mm, 300mm, and 360mm (I was printing 8x10 and 7x17). Some are first generation, and others the latest N version.

I also have an older Leitz Focotar 50mm/f4.5, and an APO Nikkor 480mm I used for enlarging 7x17 before I got the 360mm.

Checking the ‘bay, I notice fewer and fewer used enlarging lenses, especially the longer El Nikkors.

I had about 4-5 but sold all the ones I didn't use and now have two only.
EL Nikkor(s) 50mm f2.8 and 80mm f5.6 for small and medium format respectively.

I don't like just "having" therefore only keep what I actually use.
Ben

50 & 90 Apo-Rodagons, 150 Apo-Componon HM

I like camera lenses that have "character." Enlarging lenses should just be accurate.

Currently have 3 lenses to go with my two enlargers.

A Schneider-kreuznach componon 50mm f4 for my Omega type CII

An El-Nikkor 50mm f2.8 for my Omega B-600

And a Rodenstock Rodagon 80mm f5.6 that fits both enlargers.

I only have two: 50/2,8 and 80/5,6 Rodagons.

None, next question ?.

Hi,

just four.

Rodagon 4/60mm, got it cheap

Componon-S 4/80mm, great for 6x6

Apo-Rodagon 4,8/180mm, works very well for 4"x5"

Apo-Rodagon-D (2x) 5.6/120mm, duplicating lens; one of my favourite lenses at all, macros in 135, 120 or 4"x5"; enlarging 4"x5" 2x to 3x, just fantastic.

Sold the 150 and 210 Rodagons, the 180 Apo-Rodagon is better.

Best
Jens

About two cubic feet

38, 50, 75, 90, 105 and 135mm lenses. Pretty much allows me to enlarge any format from 110/Pocket Instamatic up to 4" x 5" sheet films. Two b/w enlargers currently set up: an Omega D-2 for medium and large format and a B-22 for 35mm and smaller. The D-2 has the variable condenser and can be used for the smaller formats also as required.

Maybe twelve. I dunno. My very best are a set of graphics barrel Apo Nikkors cannibalize from process cameras. Don't confuse these with ordinary EL Nikkors, though I have a couple of those too. Then there's the Rodagons and ApoRodagons, which I use a lot. I sold off all my Schneiders.