Rodenstock Rodagon 35mm f4

[gust a]

Hello all

Im thinking about buying a 35mm f4 rodenstock rodagon. Its a 6 elements lens.

I intend to use it for 24 x 36 (35mm) negatives enlarging in a durst M670, for 16 x 20 size papers.

Id like to know whether anyone has used it for this purpose, and if it delivers good prints or if it has any lighting problems or distortions of any kind.

It seems its also a good lens to reverse and do macro photography. Any coments on this?

I appreciate!
Cheers.

 

[Pentode]

I believe you'd be better served by a lens with a longer focal length, such as a 50mm, for 35mm negatives.

 

[MattKing]

Hopefully someone has a link to the Rodenstock information on this lens. I would be surprised, however, if it would "cover" a full 35mm frame. I expect it was designed for half-frame 35mm or some other smaller format.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

It's designed for 24x24mm but maybe it can be pushed to 24x30 without issues... I don't know. I would be surprised if it covered the full 24x36mm format without fall-off and/or distortion. I'm sure the 40mm WA is a better option.

http://www.prograf.ru/rodenstock/enlarging_en.html#Rodagon

 

[darkroom_rookie]

Had one, tried exactly what you intend to, doesn't cover. That's a ~15x enlargement you're talking about. Get an eight-element Hoya Super EL/Osawa Tominon/Bogen WA 60mm f4. A real sleeper of a lens.

 

[removed account4]

don't forget enlarging a soft focus lens can cause problematic prints.
i don't know about 35mm portrait / SF lenses, but other SF/portrait lenses were really made
to contact print the results. you might also look into using something at the enlarging stage of your process
rather than the taking stage. they used to use verito and other portrait/SF lenses as enlarger lenses as well as
taking lenses. also look into, if you want that is, seeking out a variable softness filter to project your negatives through
or making your own filtration device. it might not be the same as an imageon, but it will give you a look that can't be replicated by anyone but you...

john

ps junk folder / box camera lenses i've used to enlarge from and they do fantastic things to both b/w and color prints. ( YMMV )

 

[gust a]

Thank you all for the answers. I was just about to buy this lens, but now i see it would be a waste.

Indeed, Rodenstock states that it is meant for up to 24 x 24 negs.

As i like to print 16 x 40, i was hoping that with this lens id be able to set the enlarger head a little bit less high than i have to set it when i use a 50mm lens.

That would be important because my condenser seems to be faulty, or maybe it wont work right because i use it in a color head (durst m670 color). Anyway, light was very eneven, mostly in lower apertures (at least i couldnt notice the light fail when the lens had the aperture fully or almost fully opened).

So now i will try to work with a difusor (vegabox 67), and it takes a lot more light to get the image done. Thus the importance of lowering the enlarger head.

Have you got any coments on this? Should i place a new thread, since this last issue is not exactly about Rodenstock Rodagon 35mm f4?

 

[Neal]

Dear gust a,

It might be handy for high magnifications of a heavily cropped photo. I have used a 40mm Nikon to enlarge a 35mm negative roughly 30x onto 16x20 paper.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra