who made my brand-new-in-the-box Beseler Colrpro 50mm 2.8 enlarging lens?

chip j · Sep 12, 2014

It's in a big silver box & has a beautiful light-blue coating. Please don't say it's a Computar DL, because I already have the 55m 1.9 Computar DL! Thanks for any info.

Newt_on_Swings · Sep 13, 2014

A pic would help. Not that big of a pool of manufacturers to pick from. Most likely a Schneider or rodenstock as they offered lenses for rebadging.

chip j · Sep 13, 2014

Darn! Just saw a Computar DL on ebay and it looks very much like my ColorPro, down to the iris shape & blue coaing. They're both made in Japan.

Newt_on_Swings · Sep 13, 2014

Then it probably is. How are the lenses? the computars are known for lens separation issues.

Old-N-Feeble · Sep 13, 2014

Yes, it's a Computar DL but it's a very different lens than your 55mm f/1.9. I think the separation issues are mostly with the 55/1.9.

chip j · Sep 13, 2014

Old-N-Feeble said:
Yes, it's a Computar DL but it's a very different lens than your 55mm f/1.9. I think the separation issues are mostly with the 55/1.9.

Yes, the separation issues are w/the 55 1.9, but I had mine repaired by Mike Harshman. The 55 is exceedingly sharp (& exceedingly expensive!). The only lenses in it's class are the Schneider Focotar (big front element) and the Leitz Focotar-2, both of which I have. I collect enlarging lenses, because each has it's own "look" & personality! (I don't have any APOs because my funds now are greatly diminished & I only make full-frame 6"X9" prints anyway).

JW PHOTO · Sep 13, 2014

So, just how good is the Beseler ColorPro 50mm 2.8? Is it as good as say a 50mm 2.8 El Nikkor?

Old-N-Feeble · Sep 13, 2014

JW PHOTO said:
So, just how good is the Beseler ColorPro 50mm 2.8? Is it as good as say a 50mm 2.8 El Nikkor?

The Computar is probably better but you have to be making fairly large prints and be discriminating to see much difference.

chip j · Sep 13, 2014

Haven't tried the ColorPro yet, but as an aside, the 55 1.9 is HUGE--twice the size of any other lens, and w/a floating element It has somewhat the neutral loo of an El-Nikkor, but w/a lot more elegance.

Old-N-Feeble · Sep 13, 2014

chip... I doubt anyone needs to point out the absolute cult following of your 55/1.9. Please let us know your impressions of the 55 vs. the 50 Computar for enlargements between 8x10 and 16x20... or greater if you go that far.

jjphoto · Sep 13, 2014

chip j said:
...I had mine repaired by Mike Harshman...

Do you mind furnishing his contact details in case the need arises, by PM if you prefer not to put them online?

The separation issue is not restricted to just the 1.9/55. See the Kowa 3.5/65 (a Computar DL) below and I think I've seen other focal lengths in the DL range with separation, but not certain.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Kowa-3-5...927?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a9558bd17

Edit: see another example of separation in a Computar DL lens:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KOWA-M39...31467940?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item23361911a4

chip j said:
...The only lenses in it's class are the Schneider Focotar (big front element).

Is that at typo, or do you mean that they made the early Focotars for Leica? Can you please elaborate as I'd be interested in trying one of these if I can find them.

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...15&_trksid=m194&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSRCHX:SRCH

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...15&_trksid=m194&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSRCHX:SRCH

Hoya Super EL's and I believe the Beseler Color Pro's are reportedly early, pre DL, Computars. I don't have any so I don't know how they perform, but they all look the same externally. I suspect (only conjecture) that they are not in the same league as the DL's.

chip j · Sep 13, 2014

Frank Marshman camerawiz@msn.com phone 540 867 9671 The early leitz-made Focotars were only optimized for 5X enlaremets. So Leitz went to Schneider an had them make a Leitz-branded Focotar-this has a big front element compared to all other Focotars, and has a Schneider serial #.
(I also just got a Hoya Super EL, by the way, and it suspicious-looking). The Schneider is said to be the sharpest of all the Focotars and has a very flat field. Curveture of field was re-introduced into the last Focotar-the 2, don't know exactly why, but it is said to have a bit more "pop".

jjphoto · Sep 14, 2014

Thanks Chip. I've also replied via PM.

RPC · Sep 14, 2014

In his book Post Exposure, Ctein published some of the results of his tests done in the 80s of 90 different enlarging lenses. The results of only the ones he considered the best were published, and both the Beseler Color Pro 50mm/2.8 and Computar 55mm/1.9 are included in the results for the 35mm film category. Judging by his comments, the Computar has the edge over the Beseler.

chip j · Sep 14, 2014

Yes, I know that. And I contacted him and he said the Focotar 2 didn't make the grade!

who made my brand-new-in-the-box Beseler Colrpro 50mm 2.8 enlarging lens?

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