Lens distinction and are back-ups needed?

[JMC1969]

Hello,

Like an earlier question Apugers were nice enough to help me with on how many negative carriers does one need, I wonder if back-up lenses are really very necessary. I have 3 - 4x5 enlargers set up;

1 - w/ a turret containing Schneider Componon-S 2.8/50mm, Rodenstock Rodgon 4/80mm, Rodenstock Rodagon 5.6/105

2 - El-Nikkor 5.6/135mm

3 - Rodenstock Rodagon 5.6/150mm

I have a few extra lenses and not sure it makes sense to hang onto them. If I was in a position to need to change lenses on a single enlarger, I see the possibility of a tragic dropping of a lens and nice to have another on hand. But, as it is, I'm livin' the dream with all the equipment I have put together.

***** Now for the distinction******

I have (extra) 5 - 80mm lenses;

2 - very different (in appearance at least) El-Nikkor 5.6. 1 is smaller in size, all metal barrel. has a ss# on front ring and stops down to f45, the 2nd seems a bit more modern, has a plastic aperture ring, no ss# and lit f stop #'s

2 - Rodenstock Rodagon 5.6 (1 has a small bit of separation in front element)

1 - The real question here is a Rodenstock Rodagon-P. The barrel is marked with f stop from 4 to 22 and has a hash mark between the 8 and 11. A small paper stick is attached reading "80, 7" (obviously the hash mark) and a small hex head screw is holding the aperture fixed in this place. I'm guessing the "P" is for process and I read somewhere it means "print". I removed the hex screw and the aperture moves freely, but is this truly an f4 lens? As in the same lens as I have on my turret only mounted in a different barrel because of it's apparent use in a specific machine?

I will continue in a reply post on other size lenses I have questions about.

Thank You

 

[JMC1969]

75mm, 63mm and 7 1/2"

As I have an 80mm on my turret, is there anything either of the 75mm or 63mm can do for me that warrants hanging onto them?

Schneider Comparon 4.5/75mm and seriously small in size (1 3/8" dia) but I swear it has 20 aperture blades.

El-Nikkor 2.8/63mm built in what seems to be the same barrel as the more modern version of the 80mm listed in 1st post.


Then there is the Eastman Projection Anastigmat 4.5/ 7 1/2" (190.5mm) and I have the Rodagon 150mm. It seems too big for 4x5 and I really bought it to pull the hat trick as a taking lens for fun. Though I really know nothing about it's quality in any circumstances.

Again thanks

 

[JSebrof]

I know some photographers prefer the color rendition of specific brands of enlarging lenses, so if you do much color work it might be worth figuring out which looks the best to you in terms of color, it might not be the same lens you always go to for black and white.

 

[JMC1969]

Thanks for the reply, At this time I really don't have plans to take on color, though one of my enlargers has an Chromega D head on it. I planned to use the color filters as contrast filters.

 

[jeffreyg]

Use the ones that give you the best results and sell or trade the others for something you would use or they will just gather dust or worse mold. Years ago I traded a bunch of seldom used equipment for a very nice mint condition Hasselblad lens that gets plenty of use.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[JMC1969]

Jeff,

I have come to the same conclusion. Now if I can decide whether or not I have made the correct decision on the one I outfitted my set-ups with.

 

[ic-racer]

Looks like you have the best lenses mounted on your enlargers. I'd get rid of the rest.

 

[JMC1969]

Thanks racer, good to hear. I guess I was questioning if I should replace the 80mm with the 63mm since the 63mm is a 2.8. It really has been a long time since I had a working darkroom and I'm not sure if having a fast lens like that would come in useful. I finished this darkroom in Oct and have yet been able to use it. As soon as I finished we started home renovations and the clear area in the new darkroom became storage for all the junk in the house that needed a place to stay. Couldn't walk past the door for months, but I am now starting to see the floor again.

 

[graywolf]

If you take care of the lenses there is no reason to need a backup.

The 63mm is for 4.5x6 negatives, it will also allow larger prints of cropped 6x6 negs, so may be worth keeping.

The Comparon is a mid level lens. There were Componar, Comporon, and Componon (good, better, best). Althought that is misleading as the Comporon, and Componon were designed for different enlarging ratios rather than diffeerent quality levels.

Selling them will bring in little money however, they may get you things you want as trades.

 

[JMC1969]

4.5 x 6, ahh good to know. Apparently I did not have all my bases covered as I thought. I do own a Mamiya 645, though I don't shoot it much, that isn't to say I won't. FS/FT ads are in my future, I feel. Thanks

 

[bdial]

Fast lenses have their use for focusing, but are never used wide open, so the speed doesn't matter very much. The possible exception might be for doing lith if the exposures get too long at the lenses' optimum aperature.

 

[MattKing]

I could be wrong, but I think that the 63mm lens was designed for 127 film, not 6x4.5. It might have trouble with the corners on the 6x4.5. I think 75mm is the "normal" length for 6x4.5.

I would tend to use that lens more for small enlargements (postcards?) of 35mm negatives, rather than large enlargements of 6x4.5 negatives.

One thing to consider - obtaining a second three lens turret. That way you can easily switch among six different lenses. You will, however, also need mounting plates for all the lenses.

With one very rare exception, I don't print from anything larger than 6x7. I still get good use of a 150mm lens though, whenever I'm making small prints.

The colour rendition issue might have some effect on the response of variable contrast paper, so if you can keep within one manufacturer's range, it might help with consistency.