Using a color lens for B&W?

[Jim17x]

I just purchased a 4x5 enlarger that came with a Beseler Color Pro 135mm lens for 4x5 and was wondering if the lens can be used for B&W printing? Since it says "Color Pro" on it will that make a difference with my prints compared to a El-Nikkor? Is it a low quality lens?

Thanks

 

[Rick A]

Sounds like just a bit of marketing hype to me, use it and compare to the El-Nikkor.

 

[likemarlonbrando]

Usually the "color" lenses have multicoating. These are totally ok to use with B&W. I think this one might even be a rebadged nikkor.

 

[Jim17x]

Sounds like just a bit of marketing hype to me, use it and compare to the El-Nikkor.

I dont have a EL-Nikkor for 4x5 to compare it with.

 

[Jim17x]

I just received a PM from a fellow Apuger telling me "Its a high-grade 6-element 4-group double-Gauss symmetric enlarging lens that is about the same as EL Nikkor in design and manufactur". With that info i will keep it!

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

I think the Beseler Color Pro lenses are either rebadged Rodagons or Computars. I can't remember which. Either way, they're excellent lenses for color and monochrome.

 

[ic-racer]

B&W printing is less susceptible to chromatic aberration than color printing due to the fact that the red wavelengths are not used in B&W printing.

 

[Sirius Glass]

For all the reasons listed above and more, the lens can be used for color and black & white prints.

 

[Zathras]

I think the Beseler Color Pro lenses are either rebadged Rodagons or Computars. I can't remember which. Either way, they're excellent lenses for color and monochrome.

Not sure, but I think the Beseler Color Pro's were re-badged Computars. I have a 80mm ƒ4.0 Beseler HD that I'm convinced is a re-badged Rodagon.