Thoughts on Minolta E-Rokkor 75mm f/4.5 & alternatives

[robonfilm]

I’m looking for a lens to print 6x6 negatives.
I’ve found a Minolta E-Rokkor 75mm f/4.5 and a Schneider Componar 75mm f/4.5, both for around $40.
Since the more refined six-element lenses (mostly 80mm) I’ve found are twice the price, does anyone have real-world experience with the Minolta? I’m leaning toward it because it seems to be a more sophisticated lens, but I’d love to hear about the differences between these two options.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Ian Grant]

Depending on how clean the optics are, the E-Rokkor is the better lens, the Componar is a cheep budget triplet lens. I've use E-Rokkor 50mm & 80mm lenses sinice the mid1970s. The Componar is not worth $40.

Ian

 

[xkaes]

Minolta's C.E. 80mm f5.6 is a stellar six-element lens, but if you're not doing color enlarging, you'll be all set with the 75mm f4.5. Minolta also made TWO 75mm f3.5 lenses.

http://www.subclub.org/minman/enlarge.htm

Fuji made THREE great 75mm lenses as well -- TWO were six elements -- again, only important in color work

http://photocornucopia.com/1061.html

 

[jvo]

good - better - best

componar - componon - componon-s

 

[xkaes]

What about "comparon", "apo-componon", "g-componon"......???

 

[robonfilm]

Minolta's C.E. 80mm f5.6 is a stellar six-element lens, but if you're not doing color enlarging, you'll be all set with the 75mm f4.5. Minolta also made TWO 75mm f3.5 lenses.

http://www.subclub.org/minman/enlarge.htm

Fuji made THREE great 75mm lenses as well -- TWO were six elements -- again, only important in color work

http://photocornucopia.com/1061.html

What about the Nikon EL-Nikkor 75mm f/4? I found one in seemingly good condition for $60. I’d prefer not to spend more than that, but if it’s better than the alternatives, I’m willing to shell out the extra $20!

Thoughts?

 

[Ian C]

The 75 mm f/4 EL Nikkor is a well-made 4-element 3-group Tessar lens. It’s rated by Nikon for coverage up to 6 x 6 cm, but not larger. Mine does a good job.

The EL Nikkor uses 39 mm Leica mounting thread and 34.5 mm x 0.5 mm thread at the front for attaching filters and lens cap. The E-Rokkor’s barrel terminates just forward of the name ring, so you can only use a slip-on lens cap over the outside diameter. Mechanically, I prefer the EL Nikkor. Optically, if the glass and coatings are clean and undamged, they give the same results.

https://www.savazzi.net/download/manuals/El-Nikkor-enlarging-lenses.pdf

[Note: the “29 mm φ x 1/26 in.” attachment size listed in the PDF is a typo. It is the standard 39 mm dimeter Leica thread. It is correctly dimensioned in the accompanying drawing.]

 

[naaldvoerder]

My advice would be to get the best enlarging lens you can affort. A six element lens with a 4.0 aperture. The wider aperture will aid in critical focusing. Consider that every piece of 6x6 art you will create, will pass through this lens in the end. A clean copy of a Rodagon 80/4.0 shouldn’t set you back more then 100$.

 

[xkaes]

That Nikkor is a great lens and a good price, and like I said, if you don't do (or plan on doing) color work, you don't need a more expensive, six-element lens.

 

[koraks]

That Nikkor is my most-used enlarging lens. I use it mostly for 35mm, sometimes for 6x6cm as well, but I just don't shoot all that much 6x6cm. I use it for both color and B&W. Never noticed any problems w.r.t. color work with this lens.

 

[Paul Howell]

Unless you happen on a bad example, Fuji, Minolta, Nikon, Meopta Meogon 80mm should work, these are all 4 and 5 element lens. Here is chart that provides a good paper comparison of many lens.

https://photocornucopia.com/1061.html

 

[xkaes]

Beseler, Hoya, Omega, and Komura made/sold great 6-element 75mm EL lenses that you can find for amazing prices -- if you can find them. They're just not on anybody's "top" list.

 

[MattKing]

Beseler, Hoya, Omega, and Komura made great 6-element 75mm EL lenses that you can find for amazing prices -- if you can find them. They're just not on anybody's "top" list.

FWIW, many of those lenses were simply re-badged lenses - same quality as when sold under the manufacturer's names.
My Beseler HD 90mm lens is excellent.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have a Vivitar 150 5.6 which is a 6 element lens, which I think is a rebranded Componon-S 5.6/150.

 

[Dali]

The OP question remains: Does anyone have real-world experience with the Minolta...?

 

[Ian Grant]

I have a Vivitar 150 5.6 which is a 6 element lens, which I think is a rebranded Componon-S 5.6/150.

I Have the same Vivitar 150mm VHE lens, it's essentially Componon S front and rear cells in a composite barrel made by Meopta.

The OP question remains: Does anyone have real-world experience with the Minolta...?

see second post I have used Minolta 50mm & 75mm E-Rokkor lenses since 1975, although I tend to use more modern Componon S lenses.

Ian

 

[Paul Howell]

I Have the same Vivitar 150mm VHE lens, it's essentially Componon S front and rear cells in a composite barrel made by Meopta.

I was wrong about my lens, looking at it again an Anastigmatic made in Japan. I normally use my Wollenstake 162 pro raptar, enlarging so I had not looked the 150 in years. My Vivitar only stops down to F22, the later version to F45. Must be a 4 or 6 elements, just based on how heavy the lens feels, best guess is 4.