Questioning authenticity of new Apo Rodagon N 50mm f2.8

darner · Jan 5, 2024

I recently ordered a new Rodenstock Apo Rodagon N 50mm f2.8 from a US supplier. When it arrived today, I was surprised to find that it was in a white box with no branding on the box, no warranty card, and nothing on the lens indicating that it is a Rodenstock. It is simply labeled Apo Rodagon N 50mm f 2.8 on the barrel. It was supplied in a plastic shell, but again the word Rodenstock does not appear anywhere. There is a cheap plastic snap-on lens cap on the front lens element without the Rodenstock brand name. Is this unusual, or is it normal now?

E76 · Jan 5, 2024

That doesn’t sound right to me. Promark Brands is listed as the current USA distributor of Rodenstock products. I would contact them with the name of the dealer you purchased your lens from. Hopefully they can verify if the lens is authentic or not.

mshchem · Jan 5, 2024

Pictures are helpful. I know that Rodenstock used to make all sorts of different lens caps and such, I would be shocked if this is still the case. I have a bunch of Rodenstock lenses but none less than 25 years old. New enlarging lenses are about as limited production as it gets these days. Does it still say made in Germany on it? I agree check with the distributor.

mshchem · Jan 5, 2024

B&H sells these for over $1200.00 USD wow!

darner · Jan 6, 2024

Some further research has indicated that the lens is a Qioptiq Apo Rodagon N 50mm f2.8 lens. It is being marketed in the US by a few suppliers as a Rodenstock. There is nothing on the lens or plastic case to indicate the manufacturer of the lens (either Rodenstock, Linos, or Qioptiq). The white box, created by the US distributer, indicates that it is a Rodenstock. The information brochure put out by Qioptiq describes the lens as a Linos measuring lens developed by Qioptiq. I have not tested the lens. If anyone knows of any comparisons of the recent Linos/Qioptiq lens with the pre 2000 Rodenstock lens, I would appreciate the references. Thanks

xkaes · Jan 6, 2024

Anyone ever hear of a "measuring lens"? Not me.

darner · Jan 6, 2024

The product number on the plastic case is 0701-349-000-40. If you google that number, you will find a number of companies selling the Qioptiq lens as a measuring lens for much less than $1200 USD. I have no idea what a measuring lens is, or how the quality compares to the original Rodenstock production.

Mark J · Jan 6, 2024

Qioptiq is the company that Rodenstock is now part of. It may also be branded 'Linos' because that name still exists for the photo/industrial optics branch in Europe (under Qioptiq). Either way it should be the same lens as before, made at the Munich site. Maybe the packaging policy has got messed up by attempts to remove the 'Rodenstock' brand.

I work for Qioptiq ( formerly Pilkington PE ) in the UK.

Dan Fromm · Jan 6, 2024

Text from https://www.meddeviceonline.com/doc/measuring-lens-0001:

Measuring Lens

Click to expand...

Source: Rodenstock Precision Optics, Inc.

This new C-mount measuring lens provides imaging

This new C-mount measuring lens provides imaging performance for high-end applications. Featuring low distortion, this digital CCD lens offers a focal length of 35mm and maximum aperture of 1.6. Optimized at 20X with an overall range from 10X to infinity, the lens can be used with images up to 1 in. format. It is ideal for applications requiring extremely high performance imaging.

I believe this is a machine vision lens. OP, yours may be a repurposed enlarging lens. Or not.

E76 · Jan 6, 2024

Many enlarging lenses have found new application in machine vision, since the optical requirements are similar to enlarging: high magnification and resolution.

Mark J · Jan 6, 2024

Well if you look up that product code and Qioptiq, you get plenty of links to a 50mm Apo Rodagon - eg. :

Excelitas Linos APO-Rodagon N 0701-349-000-40

Excelitas Linos APO-Rodagon N 0701-349-000-40 is a measuring lenses for large imaging sensors developed by Qioptiq. Click to learn more.

vitalvisiontechnology.com

That is a 50mm Apo Rodagon N . I have one in the darkroom here.
I think the term 'measuring lens' is just some random term that has been attached to the promo either via a mistranslation, or some blanket term that is misapplied to this, because their main market is machine vision nowadays. ( edit : or as E76 just said, it can be repurposed for Machine vision )

Kino · Jan 6, 2024

It is just like the Nikon 105mm printing nikkor; now it's been rebadged as a Nikon "Rayfact" for machine vision purpose.

Ian Grant · Jan 6, 2024

Mark the link you posted includes:

The advantages are clearly visible in both color and black and white enlargements. The Apo-Rodagon-N is therefore the amateur’s and professional’s first choice whenever the very highest reproduction quality is required.

Ian

Mark J · Jan 6, 2024

Thanks Ian, yes.
It doesn't help that they are trying to make 'Rodenstock' purely an opthalmic brand. So Rodenstock enlarging lenses are in recent years branded as Linos. Linos is part of Qiotpiq. Qioptic is owned by Excelitas, which is now owned by AEA investment. Not surprising that potential customers get confused.

xkaes · Jan 6, 2024

Mark J said:
Thanks Ian, yes.
It doesn't help that they are trying to make 'Rodenstock' purely an opthalmic brand. So Rodenstock enlarging lenses are in recent years branded as Linos. Linos is part of Qiotpiq. Qioptic is owned by Excelitas, which is now owned by AEA investment. Not surprising that potential customers get confused.

I'll add that these lenses could very well be made by Seagull or another Chinese optical "Institution" -- and not in Germany. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I have a Seagull 17mm f4.0 -- almost the same as the Minolta Rokkor-X, but not quite.

Mark J · Jan 6, 2024

But I don't think they are. The site in Munich still exists ( although they moved from central Munich to the outskirts about 15 years ago ) for the industrial optics, and all the drawings and tooling will still be present. At this late stage in the product lifespan I don't think the effort to sub-contract it to the far East would be worth the effort.

plummerl · Jan 6, 2024

Check post #8 of https://www.largeformatphotography....Apo-Rodagon-N-lenses-still-made-by-Rodenstock

Question has been around for over 10 years.

locutus · Jan 6, 2024

Bought a Linos branded enlarger lens new recently and it came in a plain white box with a small sticker stating the model and some barcode.

For what is nowadays an industrial equipment provider whose products are going to be integrated into complete machine vision products i fully understand why they wouldn't bother with any fancy packaging.

Mark J · Jan 6, 2024

plummerl said:
Check post #8 of https://www.largeformatphotography....Apo-Rodagon-N-lenses-still-made-by-Rodenstock

Question has been around for over 10 years.

Yes, so it's what I said, the central Munich location was sold and the business moved out to the outskirts.
The high-precision current industrial optics are made there, and some legacy products like the Rodagons.

mshchem · Jan 6, 2024

I have one of these, got it at the bottom of the market during the great purge about 8 or 9 years ago. Nice lens, I use my El Nikkor 63mm as often.

Joel_L · Jan 16, 2024

I just looked up this lens, funny digi-key sells it ( as a machine vision lens ). Who'd a thought I could buy enlarging accessories from digi-key.

Sal Santamaura · Jan 17, 2024

Joel_L said:
I just looked up this lens, funny digi-key sells it ( as a machine vision lens ). Who'd a thought I could buy enlarging accessories from digi-key.

After researching sources, I thought it. That's where I purchased mine.

Fatih Ayoglu · Jan 23, 2024

The package seems similar to my 80 and 105 Apo Rodagons as well and they came from Germany via a reputable UK dealer

Mr Bill · Jan 23, 2024

xkaes said:
Anyone ever hear of a "measuring lens"? Not me.

I would take it to mean a "telecentric" lens. Too complicated to try to explain here but a search shows a lot of online tutorials with ray paths drawn.

In a nutshell when photographing small objects (less than the diameter of the front element(s)) the light rays entering the lens are largely parallel to each other. The net effects are, when photographing a 3-D object, that focus errors have only a small effect on magnification, and perspective distortion can be nearly eliminated. As a result measurements taken from the image are more reliable.

In the experience of a regular photographer it will seem like science fiction.

Mark J · Jan 23, 2024

See 'profile projector' ...

Questioning authenticity of new Apo Rodagon N 50mm f2.8

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Measuring Lens Click to expand...

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Measuring Lens

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