Rodenstock Rodagon 90/2.8 - any idea what it is for?

Unfortunately it isn't an enlarging lens as I hoped. It is a fixed aperture lens in what looks to be a modern style barrel mount. Coverage at infinity seems to be around 6x7 as you would expect. It's roughly the same size as the Pentax 67 90/2.8, so it's no lightweight.

The obvious choice would be some sort of scientific camera, but what on earth would need a lens optimised for macro style work yet need a fast aperture? It doesn't make much sense.

I think those are copier lenses or something along those lines--maybe for some sort of industrial use. Check skgrimes.com. I think they may have a page on mounting them in a shutter or adding a diaphragm so that they can be used as enlarging lenses. There have been a lot of cheap surplus Apo-Rodagons with no diaphragm like that showing up on eBay and elsewhere.

David A. Goldfarb said:

I think those are copier lenses or something along those lines--maybe for some sort of industrial use. .

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These are commonly known as "process lenses", used, as you say in copiers and other applications (such as occiliscope or cathode ray tube photography) as a permanent set-up. The most common problem in using these lenses is their color rendition. These lenses were generally (but not always) optimized for one or a few wavelengths in the color spectrum, usually the color output of the lamp in use. Try it out and see for yourself if it fits within your style of photography.

Jon
from Deepinaharta, Georgia

paul ewins said:

Coverage at infinity seems to be around 6x7 as you
would expect. It's roughly the same size as the
Pentax 67 90/2.8, so it's no lightweight.

Click to expand...

At infinity. But at 1:1, 12x14 and it's speed f 5.6. Dan