Which 50mm enlarging lens to keep?

[Tim Stapp]

Enlargers are like stray cats, they keep following me home.

The enlargers and lenses that I intend to keep are all Beselar and share lens boards (2x 23CII and a CB7). I'm keeping a 50mm, 75mm and a 105mm lenses.

As a result, I've decided to keep only one 50mm enlarging lens.

I have on hand:
1 EL-Nikkor 1:2.8
1 Beslar 1:3.5
1 Fujinon-ES 1:4.0
1 EL-Omegar 1:3.5

I haven't tested each lens against each other, so....

Which one(s) would you keep?

BTW, I'm working out a barter deal with a co-worker for a Beseler Printmaker 67 Dichroic and an Omega B66, along with a full set of negative carriers for his Omega D2.

 

[gone]

Those will all make good enlargements, but why not use the El Nikkor? It's sharp, and at 2.8 you can focus easier.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Take a few negatives to use as test material and print with each one. See which one YOU like to work with and has the results that YOU like.

 

[RobC]

do the tests to find which one performs the best at your typical enlargement size and keep that one. It would be dumb not to if you are interested best print quality.

3 or 4 element lenses are usually best for small enlargements on 6x4 or 5x7 paper. The 6 or 7 element lens are usually best for 8X to 10X enlargements and bigger. But any single lens which has all its elements in perfect alignment can out perform all the rest. Do the tests.

 

[cliveh]

EL-Nikkor 1:2.8

 

[wiltw]

1 EL-Nikkor 1:2.8 Keeper
1 Beslar 1:3.5 bargain kit lens
1 Fujinon-ES 1:4.0
1 EL-Omegar 1:3.5 bargain kit lens

 

[jimjm]

I'll agree with the El-Nikkor 2.8, it's been my only 50 for years. But look at the condition of all the lenses and do tests at the size you think you'll be printing. Like RobC mentioned, the 6 or 7 element lenses generally perform better the bigger you go. If you're only printing 5x7, you may not see a big difference between lenses.

 

[Jim Jones]

Another vote for the El-Nikkor f/2.8. I've used them for decades. As Momus says, the extra stop aids focus. It becomes evenly illuminated and quite sharp at f/4. Even the little four element El-Nikkor f/4 is decent. I've seen poor EL-Omegars. With several on hand to choose from, test them for yourself. Quality can vary between different examples of one make and model.

 

[ic-racer]

Of the six element lenses I'd probably keep the El-Nikkor 2.8. If it were me, I'd keep the Fujinon, because I already have two of the El-Nikkor 50/2.8 (early and late).

 

[Tim Stapp]

Thanks all, pretty much in line with my thinking. I am keeping the Nikkor and the Fujinon as backup. I'm very happy with the prints from the Nikkor. I am trading the rest. The set up is with two 23Cii and my CB7. One for 35mm, one for 6x7 and the CB7 for proofs??? The CB7 was my very first enlarger and for sentimental reasons, I can't seem to part with it.