revised: 135mm f5.6 EL-NIKKOR A

[Bruce Osgood]

This is an enlarging lens. I may bid on it. Does anybody know what the "A" stands for?

 

[DrPhil]

I looked up the auction on eBay and it looks like the A is only on the box/paperwork. It doesn't appear that the "A" is on the lenses. This is the newer style el nikkor as the aperature ring is knurled. Some older el nikkor lenses had huge ridges. Maybe many of the other el nikkor lenses are also "A's" and don't know it

 

[jd callow]

I did a search on the web and found no reference to the (A), circle A or simple 'A' designation. I have used this lens (sans 'a') many times. On the enlarger that I have used it -- a Beseler 45 -- it had fall off issues on the corners for 4x5 when enlarged full frame, but allowed for easier (less head elevation) cropped enlargements from 4x5's than a 150mm. This might be an enlarger specific issue.

On the flip side the lens looks very clean and the price is certainly v good (new at b&h the lens goes for 350.00).

 

[Bruce Osgood]

DrPhil and mrcallow

Thank you both.

I see DrPhil's point that the "A" does appear on the lens shown and may just be a mystery. I think the seller is honest as he has a positive rating on over 1000 items sold.

the second area of concern for me is the fall off factor which mrcallow confirms. The D-5 XL has plenty of elevation so a "good" 150 will better serve my needs.

Thank you both for keeping me on track.

OT mrcallow: Way back when I was in High School one of our rival sports teams was Ferndale HS. I went to what was then Southfield. "But that was a another time in another country and the bitch is dead". (E. Hemingway)

 

[jd callow]

Although I live in ferndale now, I spent my youth in Farmington hills on the border of Southfield (Inkster road between 10 and 11 mile roads). Funny thing about Farmington hills: few farms, no hills. I was lucky, the house I lived in was not in a subdivision and at one time was part of an apple orchard and later was used to keep horses. We had three old gnarly (crab)apple trees, no horses. Our Football team (Harrison High) regularly beat the bejeebers out of all comers (10x state champs) -- southfield and ferndale included. Being the 70's, I didn't care or notice, I was too busy doing things I shouldn't.