Nikkor enlarging lens comparison

I have two 80mm El-Nikkor lenses, both f5.6, one with a chrome barrel (max f45) and the other with a black barrel (max f32). Which of these is considered to be the better lens?

Let us know.

I don't recall ever seeing a chrome El-Nikkor, thus, I'd guess it's a good bit older than the black one. Presumably, if they both have the same number of elements, the newer one would be sharper, but that might be a big assumption. Since both are starting off as very good lenses the only difference between these and between either and someone else's might be sample variation, assuming both are undamaged.

As Ic-racer implies, the the only way to really tell is to make high magnification prints with each and compare the result.

I have two pair of Nike shoes. One pair is made in China, another in Korea. Which of these is considered to be more comfortable?
Just send me your lenses. For compensation I will send you full report about sharpness of these lenses.
Just do it.









my flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/92377102@N08/

If both lenses are in good condition - I think you will have problem to find any difference. I compared 75mm f4 against 50mm f2.8 and it was hard to see the difference, and 50mm f2.8 is better design and better lens, but in practical use those cheap enlarging lenses like 75mm f4, or Meopta lenses are giving very good performance.

ParkerSmithPhoto said:

I have two 80mm El-Nikkor lenses, both f5.6, one with a chrome barrel (max f45) and the other with a black barrel (max f32). Which of these is considered to be the better lens?

Click to expand...

both excellent at f/8

I can understand questions like this in a general sense. But we're also talking about mechanical/optical devices with moving parts that were hand-assembled, designed before computers, and likely "vintage" - ish, and may have seen careful use or serial abuse. So a forum answer may be a generalized starting point, but is likely (or sometimes, or often, or always?) not the correct answer for a specific case.

Like maybe 50% of the questions on this forum, testing such gear yourself will give you a definitive answer, an answer that addresses your own materials and workflow, and that addresses specific serial numbers vs. a general product range. All in about 30 minutes, including pouring chemicals and cleaning up after. A couple sheets of RC paper ought to do it. Might as well find the sweet focus spot of each lens while you're at it, right? Or find where a specific lens starts to degrade a print? Good stuff to know.

I think I have days where I'm a broken record around here (test…click…test… click…) but testing always seems to teach me a little more than I was hoping to know (like, the half-stop on one of my nikkors seems to be a 1/3-2/3 split). And it makes me feel a bit like a little lab-coat badass who is serious about my tools.

The black one. ;-)

This reminds me of a comment in a newsletter by Fred Picker, the man behind Zone VI, who was often sent letters (in those days it was paper mail in an envelope) asking "what would I get if I did this,.. or is developer A better than developer B,..." and so forth.

He had a big rubber stamp which he applied TRY IT! and he mailed it back to the sender.