• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Minolta xenon color head - Which enlarger lens for 6x6

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
201,724
Messages
2,829,136
Members
100,915
Latest member
WyattRad
Recent bookmarks
0

1kgcoffee

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jan 19, 2017
Messages
500
Location
Calgary
Format
Medium Format
Recently came into a 4x5 beseler enlarger. It has both a minolta 45a colour head and a regular incandescent head + 150mm schneider componon lens. Of course that is too long for enlarging 6x6.

What is a good choice for enlarging lenses if I plan to make large prints, 11x14 and 16x20 from 6x6 negative? What is a good enlaring lens for 35mm?

Does the light source make a difference?

Can I use LTM 50mm and 135mm lenses?
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
55,104
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
What is a good choice for enlarging lenses if I plan to make large prints, 11x14 and 16x20 from 6x6 negative? What is a good enlaring lens for 35mm?

Does the light source make a difference?

Can I use LTM 50mm and 135mm lenses?

The light source doesn't make a significant difference. I'm assuming by "incandescent" head you mean a condenser head with an incandescent bulb. That will give slightly higher contrast than the mostly diffused light from the 45a head, so unusual lenses with very low contrast might be an issue with respect to the comparison between the heads, but that is for unusual lenses.
A good quality, 5 or 6 element lens in the 80mm focal length range would be ideal for 6x6. Rodagon, Schneider, Nikkor, Minolta, Fujinon, even some of the re-branded Beseler and Vivitar high end lenses would be excellent candidates. Just be sure to be careful about condition, and to avoid the lower end ranges within each line. In some cases, the naming systems can be confusing.
You can also step up to the much more expensive "APO" lenses. They can be superb, but you may not see a big difference unless you go bigger than 16x20.
Some will argue that it can be advantageous to use a slightly longer lens (e.g. 90mm). If you do, you need to have a long column on your enlarger (the shorter the focal length, the greater the magnification).
As for LTM lenses, while they might function, they probably wouldn't cover the 6x6 negative, and they aren't optimized for macro applications (which is what an enlarger does).
In my case, I use a later model 80mm Rodagon for 6x6. In addition to good optical performance, I like the convenience features like illuminated aperture indicator, flexible aperture control and releasable click stops.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,814
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Usually an 80mm lens is used for 6x6, although anything from 75mm to 90mm will work. I use 80mm for 6x6.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom