Found Looking for an enlarger lens for 6x6

[Vytautas]

(Context: Recently a fried gave away an old Kaiser VCL 60 enlarger without lenses, looking for something to try it out with.)

Looking for decent lenses (e.g. 6 element) with a Leica thread (39mm) for 35 and 6x6 formats (~50-80mm).
The usual suspects are Companon-S, El-Nikkor, Rodagons, etc.

Would appreciate your offers.

Not sure if this is relevant, I am located in Europe.

UPDATE: already bought a 50mm lens, still looking for ~80mm

Thanks,
Vytautas

 

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[xkaes]

The shortest lens that will cover 6x6 is a 75mm, so if you just want one lens, forget about anything shorter.

There are a ton of 75mm and 80mm lenses to choose from -- even with six elements (which is really only important if you are making large prints or doing color work).

Minolta, Fuji, and many others made lenses just as good as the ones you mentioned.

 

[Vytautas]

The shortest lens that will cover 6x6 is a 75mm, so if you just want one lens, forget about anything shorter.

There are a ton of 75mm and 80mm lenses to choose from -- even with six elements (which is really only important if you are making large prints or doing color work).

Minolta, Fuji, and many others made lenses just as good as the ones you mentioned.

Thank you for the insights. I am open to exploring other brands as well, just the number of options is overwhelming, so have to make the list of options manageable.
Currently considering two lenses with the one for 6x6 as the priority (aiming at ~80mm, up to 105mm). Eventually would look for a 50mm one as well for larger prints (up to 30x40cm) if dark room ceiling turns out to be too low
Honestly, I don't have a clue if printing 35mm would stretch the simpler lens designs (3 or 4 element). Not sure if the cost savings on the lens are worth the risk, especially when there are so many options for the better designs.

 

[xkaes]

4-element enlarging lenses have fewer elements, but their design is not "simple". When used at f8 -- which is also where you should use a 6-element lens -- you won't notice the difference unless you are doing large prints or making color prints, and look very closely. The 6-element lenses give you move flexibility -- if you need it -- in the f-stop that you use and the magnification range, for example.

The good news is that enlarging lenses, whether 4 or 6 elements, can often be found at such low prices, that it is not a difficult decision.

You can find excellent 6-element 75mm & 80mm lenses under the Beseler, Fujinon, Computar, Minolta, and Coronar labels -- usually for much less than the ones you listed.

https://www.photocornucopia.com/1061.html

 

[John Koehrer]

With longer lenses 90mm+ you may have problems with length of bellows or ability to raise the head high enough to focus

 

[xkaes]

Even with a 75mm lens and a 35mm negative, you'll need to get that head up high -- and for BIG prints? Good luck.

 

[MattKing]

And for clarity, outside of some specialized wide angle enlarger lens, most lens shorter than 75mm won't give you acceptable prints from a full frame 6x6 negative - they won't cover the field.

 

[thinkbrown]

I don't have any I'm interested in selling, but I'd highly recommend the Minolta C.E. enlarging lenses. The 50mm is my favorite 35mm printing lens

 

[GregY]

They're fairly cheap on Ebay... you'll want a 50mm and a 75/80.
Rodenstock,Schneider Componon, El-Nikkor, Fuji ......prices as low as $45 USD/ 38€

 

[pdccamerqs]

PM sent

 

[xkaes]

I don't have any I'm interested in selling, but I'd highly recommend the Minolta C.E. enlarging lenses. The 50mm is my favorite 35mm printing lens

Minolta made a highly regarded 80mm C.E. lens.

https://www.subclub.org/minman/enlarge.htm

 

[Dani]

I have a Minolta 80 C.E. and a APO-Rodagon-N 50mm. I’m in Naples, Italy. I have other lenses too, like a APO-Rodagon 50mm (non-N)

 

[Vytautas]

Update: already ordered a 50mm lens, still looking for a ~80mm for 6x6.

P.S. really appreciate the support and recommendations from the community

 

[thinkbrown]

Minolta made a highly regarded 80mm C.E. lens.

https://www.subclub.org/minman/enlarge.htm

I recently acquired one but haven't made any prints with it yet. If the 50 is anything to go by I expect nothing less than excellent results

 

[xkaes]

The Minolta 30mm, 50mm, and 80mm multi-coated C.E. lenses are all 6-element optics to go with their top-of-the-line enlargers, so they were designed to be the best of the best.

The only one I don't use is the 80mm because I don't do 120 any more.

The Fujinon EX 6-element enlarging lenses are every bit as good. Unlike Minolta, Fuji never made enlargers -- as far as I know.

 

[MattKing]

Fuji never made enlargers -- as far as I know.

I beg to differ

 

[xkaes]

I may be wrong, but I think that was made by Fujimoto -- which also made the E-LUCKY enlarger lenses. Although they rhyme, that's totally different from Fuji Photo -- which made the numerous Fujinon lines of enlarging lenses.

 

[MattKing]

I don't know if the Fuji enlargers were available in the US.
That image is actually from a UK listing.
A friend in my Darkroom Group has one that complements his 4x5 enlarger(s). And he really likes using it.
It has some interesting features, IIRC.
As far as fit and finish, it reminds me of both the Durst M600 and M700 series, as well as my more recent LPL 7700 enlargers.
I've wondered whether the LPL enlargers share some history with them.