Rodenstock Rodagon-D 75mm f4 -question

[Sean]

Hi, I just scored a used one of these at a local shop for dirt cheap (mint condition too). I plan to use it for 35mm (replacing my nikkor50mm). I noticed on B&H it states it is for digital reproduction & macro photography. Is this lens going to be ok for 35mm enlarging? I'm at the office today so have not had a play with it. Thanks

 

[jeroldharter]

I don't have any personal familiarity with that lens. However, I remember that it was also promoted for 35 mm slide dupes and for use on a bellows for macro photography.

 

[pelerin]

Hi, I just scored a used one of these at a local shop for dirt cheap (mint condition too). I plan to use it for 35mm (replacing my nikkor50mm). I noticed on B&H it states it is for digital reproduction & macro photography. Is this lens going to be ok for 35mm enlarging? I'm at the office today so have not had a play with it. Thanks

Hey,
As Jerold notes the lens is meant for duping, not for enlarging. They have none existent color fringing at 1:1, are very flat field and sharp... but are not optimised for magnification ratios generally associated with enlarging 35mm. They were quite expensive new, more so than an apo rodagon n of a focal length that would be suitable for 35mm. Two things: you might email Bob Solomon at HP Marketing and see if you could get a data sheet and, if you can find someone interested in slide duping, you could probably sell it for a tidy sum and invest the returns in an enlarging lens. Try it first though, sometimes the "wrong" thing is just the right thing.
Celac.

 

[Sean]

didn't work, out of focus around the edges so I'm going to return it..

 

[df cardwell]

Always late to a thread: it's a duping lens. I have one, and I dupe with it... on my duper. Really good for duping.

It isn't an enlarging lens. I tried. Ick.

Sean: Hunt down an Apo Rodagon N.

.

 

[Sean]

Well I took it back today and swapped it for a used minty standard rodagon 105 5.6 and it was cheaper too. I brought it home and had a quick test and am very happy with what I saw. The grain literally snapped into focus and remained that way edge to edge 100%. I found my 80mm nikkor sharpness fell off ever so slightly around the edges, but this rodagon is tack.

 

[df cardwell]

way to go Sean !