why is it so hard to find a 150mm enlarger lens on ebay?

[highpeak]

I have been trying this for a couple of days now, and missed a couple of deals. After that, there is very few 150mm lenses to be found. Does anybody has any suggestion where to find it? Thanks.

Alex

 

[reellis67]

I found the same problem, for some time actually, and then I got an el-nikkor for $20. Go figure. If anyone has any ideas on their rarity, I'd like to know also. I was beginning to think there was some sort of conspiracy going on.

- Randy

 

[Ole]

"A couple of days" is a short time. It took me several weeks to get a 150mm Rodagon for under $20!

 

[David Brown]

I would think that patience and a few weeks or more would be neccesary to get any good lens for $20! There are bargains to be had, but $20!!!!

 

[reellis67]

Ole is right about the time. It took me about 6 weeks to get the one I picked up the other day. It depends a lot on how you search as well. No one bid against me on the one I got for $20...

- Randy

 

[raucousimages]

A few years ago it was easier to find them. I think the new popularity of 4X5 has dried up the cheap supply of lenses, enlargers and other items that studios were giving away when they all switched to digital. I know that the large format section of ebay has a much smaller selection than four years ago and a lot of it is actualy medium format. Have you seen how many Holga's are in LF?

 

[Ole]

Just an obervation: 135mm and 180mm lenses seem much easier to find. I use a 180mm Rodagon for 5x7", and a 150mm for 4x5". 210mm Rodagons have 58mm threads, which is more difficult to find lensboards for. So after I got one and discovered the lensboard would cost three times as much, I got a $15 180mm. I've been very satisfied with that. I assume the 135mm will cover 4x5" just as well as the 180mm covers 5x7"!

 

[JBrunner]

I have a 135 EL Nikkor on my 45MCRX and have no trouble with coverage on 4x5. I suppose makes exposures a little faster too, perhaps at the expense of some theoretical edge sharpness, but I can't find any fault that I can see.

 

[ricksplace]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...20009980231&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

150/5.6 Componon Cheap right now. Ends in about 15 hours.

Good luck!

Rick.

 

[Early Riser]

I have a 135 EL Nikkor on my 45MCRX and have no trouble with coverage on 4x5. I suppose makes exposures a little faster too, perhaps at the expense of some theoretical edge sharpness, but I can't find any fault that I can see.

Using a slightly wider enlarging lens isn't only about a loss of edge sharpness but a light fall off factor. When you print with a longer lens you are moving the enlarger lens further from the neg therefore making the distances between the center of the neg to the lens, and the edge of the neg to the lens more similar. You are reducing a sort of focus foreshortening. This can also make it easier to get good edge to edge focus on the neg. You are also projecting from a smaller area of the enlarger's light source, that is you are not using the edges of the condensers or diffuser but are using a smaller centered section. It's just more even.

The fall off factor is not as bad when you shoot B&W, where the fall off of the taking lens is somewhat equalized by the fall off of the enlarger lens, they work in opposite and balance eachother. The fall off of the enlarger lens means less light passes through to the printing paper on the edges, and as the edges of the neg are usually thinner than the center due to it's taking len's fall off, a balance is struck. However if you print color from a chrome, the fall off of the taking lens is added to the fall off of the enlarging lens giving you very noticeable fall off on the print.

 

[highpeak]

Thanks a lot guys. I thought the 4X5 enlarger lens should be cheap as dirt now since everybody is gone you know where. But the fact is there are more hardcores out there than I think.

BTW. I did few contact print with the negatives, I like what I see so far. Can't wait to see how the enlarged print looks like.

Be patient....

Alex

 

[Donald Miller]

The following are up on Ebay now. Considering that these sold, in many cases, for $500-$600 when new, the prices seem pretty reasonable to me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schneider-Kreuz...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rodenstock-Roda...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rodenstock-Roda...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/SCHNEIDER-150MM...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/150mm-f4-5-Rode...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-150mm-f9-A...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The last appears to be a process lens (considering the max aperture)...probably blazingly sharp if you can deal with the F stop.

I have no interest in any of these lenses.

 

[JBrunner]

Using a slightly wider enlarging lens isn't only about a loss of edge sharpness but a light fall off factor. When you print with a longer lens you are moving the enlarger lens further from the neg therefore making the distances between the center of the neg to the lens, and the edge of the neg to the lens more similar. You are reducing a sort of focus foreshortening. This can also make it easier to get good edge to edge focus on the neg. You are also projecting from a smaller area of the enlarger's light source, that is you are not using the edges of the condensers or diffuser but are using a smaller centered section. It's just more even.

The fall off factor is not as bad when you shoot B&W, where the fall off of the taking lens is somewhat equalized by the fall off of the enlarger lens, they work in opposite and balance eachother. The fall off of the enlarger lens means less light passes through to the printing paper on the edges, and as the edges of the neg are usually thinner than the center due to it's taking len's fall off, a balance is struck. However if you print color from a chrome, the fall off of the taking lens is added to the fall off of the enlarging lens giving you very noticeable fall off on the print.

Thanks for the clarification, I had been curious about the exact issues surrounding this adaptation. Printing only B&W, and never larger than 11x14, I have not been able to detect any visual difference in my final results. (had a borrowed 150 prior to the 135) I suspect the variables you mention, and others in my own process account for that.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

The following are up on Ebay now. Considering that these sold, in many cases, for $500-$600 when new, the prices seem pretty reasonable to me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schneider-Kreuz...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rodenstock-Roda...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rodenstock-Roda...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/SCHNEIDER-150MM...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/150mm-f4-5-Rode...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-150mm-f9-A...ryZ29986QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The last appears to be a process lens (considering the max aperture)...probably blazingly sharp if you can deal with the F stop.

I have no interest in any of these lenses.

The 150mm Apo Nikkor is a process lens. I have one (I occasionally use mine on my 4x5 Shen Hao) and it is very sharp. The starting price on this eBay example is quite high, IMO (about 3 times what I paid for mine).

 

[highpeak]

Rick, thanks for the info, I am now a winner of a Vintage schneider 150mm enlarging lens!
Hope it arrive here safely.

Donald, I guess they are just coming in on high tide. Thanks.

 

[PatTrent]

They are going for $20 ?!

Well, that settles it then, I'm definitely not going to list my own barely used Schneider Componon-S 150mm f/5.6.

I sold all my 4x5 equipment a few weeks ago but kept the Omega D2V and the 4x5 carriers (regular and glass) and the 150mm lens cone and lens.

Since I have a top quality MF enlarger already, I was undecided about the D2V, and decided to keep it for awhile until I decide whether to sell it as a unit (with the 35mm and 6x6 carriers, too) or just sell the 150mm f/5.6 and cone.

But if they are going that cheaply, I'm hanging onto it.

Amazing what I learn reading these threads.

 

[Tony Egan]

I bought a very used Durst 138 early in the year and the seller "threw in" a nice Rodenstock 150 to seal the deal. A week later scouring the second hand shelves of a traditional camera store I picked up a nice cheap Nikon 150 in a durst lens board when I was only really looking for the board. I think it can boil down to luck and timing. Why do I need two? Why do I need 8 cameras?

 

[MikeM1977]

I found a 135mm Rodagon on eBay for $23 over a year ago.

Works great. I have no problem covering 4x5" negatives. Nice even illumination with my Omega DII

 

[Mark Pope]

There's this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SCHNEIDER-150...ryZ15225QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and I'm certain I saw a 150mm Nikkor, but maybe it ended yesterday. I've just won a 150mm Rodagon for £25 plus £4 P&P. Quite a good buy I think!

 

[GeorgesGiralt]

Hi !
Look on Ebay for the seller named Cametaauctions. He sells 135 mm Nikon El lenses new at a very good price.
This lens is very good and offer very goos coverage on the 4x5.
It also come with a 50 mm thread and a 50 to 39 thread adapter allowing it to be used on any recent lensboards.
BTW, I've no connection with this guy, just a very happy customer !

 

[coriana6jp]

Hi !
Look on Ebay for the seller named Cametaauctions. He sells 135 mm Nikon El lenses new at a very good price.
This lens is very good and offer very goos coverage on the 4x5.
It also come with a 50 mm thread and a 50 to 39 thread adapter allowing it to be used on any recent lensboards.
BTW, I've no connection with this guy, just a very happy customer !

I will second this. I just bought one is the new 135mm Nikors from cametaauctions, service was fast with less than 4 day delivery to Japan. Good outfit to deal with.

Gary