Yes, I'm starting another enlarger lens thread

MTGseattle · Dec 21, 2022

Ok. I know the basics, and I've done a fair bit of printing (enlarging) albeit 15 years ago. I'm also the custodian of a lot of the old family negatives which run from 16mm up to 4x5 with some odd (maybe 1/4 plate?) sizes thrown in. So, how many focal lengths do I actually need to own?
I've heard of people using both 135mm and 150mm for 4x5 for instance.
For 645 up to 6x9 can an 80mm run the gamut, or are 75mm and 90mm necessary?
I own a 28mm already for the 16mm.
for 35mm up until a lens swap for medium format are there others besides the 50mm? I can't recall seeing a 60mm.
Trying to get my brain booted back to college is difficult, and I can't remember how many focal length choices we were offered.

In short, do I need 8 lenses, or can a couple of formats be printed well with the same lens?

I do not care at all about the various lens makers and options therein. This is simply about whether one needs all of the focal lengths or not. Hopefully this may help other folks just jumping into the darkroom or like me, getting back in after a lengthy hiatus.

MattKing · Dec 22, 2022

It depends a bit on what size prints you make, and how much column height your enlarger offers.
It also depends, of course, on what coverage your lenses are designed to supply.
An enlarger with a short column may need a 135mm lens to do larger prints from 4x5 on the baseboard.
Some 80mm lenses will cover 6x7, and some won't, but for 6x9, all 80mm lenses would be less than optimum - they may even vignette. A 90mm lens is optimum for 6x7, while a 105mm lens is optimum for 6x9.
With my old Omega D6 with its extended column, when I was making smaller prints I could using the 105mm lens for 6x4.5 through 6x9 (due to the extended column) but if I needed larger prints from 6x4.5, the 80mm worked best.
75mm isn't necessary if you have a good 80mm lens.
With my D6, I had 5 lenses spread over two three lens turrets - that worked well. I could have been happy with one less.
But that 60mm Focotar was really nice to work with on the D6

ic-racer · Dec 22, 2022

One can use a lens of longer than normal focal length if the enlarger height will withstand it.

One can use a lens of shorter than normal focal length if making small prints.

koraks · Dec 22, 2022

MTGseattle said:
In short, do I need 8 lenses, or can a couple of formats be printed well with the same lens?

I do all of my enlarging currently with just two lenses to cover the range of 35mm up to 4x5". It helps I rarely print bigger than ca. 11x14" and the Durst 138 chassis I'm using is pretty flexible.
It's a case of YMMV.

Paul Howell · Dec 22, 2022

I use a 50mm or 60mm for 35mm, 75 and 80 for 6X6, a 105 for 6X9 and a 135 to 162 for 4x5 depending the enlarger I'm using, in general I would recommend 3, a 50, 105, and 150.

rcphoto · Dec 22, 2022

Just really depends on your output. I primarily enlarge from 6x7 negs with a 105 but if I have some 35mm snapshots i want to print, I'm not swapping my lens out. If I wanted to print 35 larger than 3.5x5, I would have to.

gone · Dec 22, 2022

Different focal lengths for different film formats is pretty much a standard rule, depending on how big you want things enlarged

Sirius Glass · Dec 22, 2022

Should we also talk about enlarger lens threads too?

Pieter12 · Dec 22, 2022

If you have an enlarger with a tall column or an adjustable baseboard, or if you don't make large prints, using a focal length longer than what is considered normal for the format will use the sweet center spot of the lens. Less light fall-off and sharper at the corners. Downside is the projected image will be a bit dimmer because of the greater negative-to-easel distance.

ic-racer · Dec 22, 2022

Remember the narrower beam of light with the longer lens concentrates the light in a smaller area, so it is just as bright as the shorter lens which spreads the light out to make it dimmer but is closer to the baseboard.

What can make the output dim by comparision is using the 4x5" mixing box with the 150mm lens, instead of using the small format mixing box. If I can get an extra 2 stops of light by using the 35mm mixing box, that is the difference between a 1 minute exposure and a 15 second exposure.

Sirius Glass · Dec 22, 2022

ic-racer said:
Remember the narrower beam of light with the longer lens concentrates the light in a smaller area, so it is just as bright as the shorter lens which spreads the light out to make it dimmer but is closer to the baseboard.

What can make the output dim by comparision is using the 4x5" mixing box with the 150mm lens, instead of using the small format mixing box. If I can get an extra 2 stops of light by using the 35mm mixing box, that is the difference between a 1 minute exposure and a 15 second exposure.

... and several hours swapping out equipment.

MattKing · Dec 22, 2022

ic-racer said:
Remember the narrower beam of light with the longer lens concentrates the light in a smaller area, so it is just as bright as the shorter lens which spreads the light out to make it dimmer but is closer to the baseboard.

What can make the output dim by comparision is using the 4x5" mixing box with the 150mm lens, instead of using the small format mixing box. If I can get an extra 2 stops of light by using the 35mm mixing box, that is the difference between a 1 minute exposure and a 15 second exposure.

Sirius Glass said:
... and several hours swapping out equipment.

Depends - with my Beseler 67 dichro and Ilford Multigrade light sources, it takes/took about a minute to switch the mixing boxes.
They just slide out, the replacement slides in, and then you adjust the holding clamps.

Christiaan Phleger · Dec 22, 2022

I've used the 105mm EL-Nikkor for 645 to 6x9. For 35mm of course the 50mm N f/2.8 Nikkor because it is a sharp lens and its easily cleaned. I rather take the time to clean correctly than keep buying new Componon-S or APO's since in my experience those are designed to be replaced rather than maintained.
For 4x5 negatives I would suggest proof printing four to a sheet of 8x10, and it shouldn't be too difficult to find a reasonable 4x5 lens.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 22, 2022

MTGseattle said:
Ok. I know the basics, and I've done a fair bit of printing (enlarging) albeit 15 years ago. I'm also the custodian of a lot of the old family negatives which run from 16mm up to 4x5 with some odd (maybe 1/4 plate?) sizes thrown in. So, how many focal lengths do I actually need to own?
I've heard of people using both 135mm and 150mm for 4x5 for instance.
For 645 up to 6x9 can an 80mm run the gamut, or are 75mm and 90mm necessary?
I own a 28mm already for the 16mm.
for 35mm up until a lens swap for medium format are there others besides the 50mm? I can't recall seeing a 60mm.
Trying to get my brain booted back to college is difficult, and I can't remember how many focal length choices we were offered.

In short, do I need 8 lenses, or can a couple of formats be printed well with the same lens?

I do not care at all about the various lens makers and options therein. This is simply about whether one needs all of the focal lengths or not. Hopefully this may help other folks just jumping into the darkroom or like me, getting back in after a lengthy hiatus.

to be able to print from 35mm to 4x5 I use following Nikkor EL lenses: 50,80 and 150mm;never could not print a negative with that set.

MTGseattle · Dec 23, 2022

Thank you all. It's funny, after I posted I was scrolling through the auction site and found a bunch of 60mm lenses. I likely will not print bigger than 11x14 at home, but we shall see if and when I get a darkroom going.
I finally found an LPL 4550 at a price that didn't make me sick, so that will be the machine.

ic-racer · Dec 23, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
... and several hours swapping out equipment.

What?? No Turret??
The Durst mixing boxes are big but they slide in and out on wheels! They are mostly hollow, so they are pretty light weight, even they have two handles each!

BTW on this enlarger the 135mm is for medium format and the 210mm is for 4x5.

Sirius Glass · Dec 23, 2022

ic-racer said:
What?? No Turret??
The Durst mixing boxes are big but they slide in and out on wheels! They are mostly hollow, so they are pretty light weight, even they have two handles each!

BTW on this enlarger the 135mm is for medium format and the 210mm is for 4x5.
View attachment 324673

I have a turret with the 50mm lens for 35mm film, 80mm for 6x6 and 135mm for 4"x5".

aparat · Dec 23, 2022

Paul Howell said:
I use a 50mm or 60mm for 35mm, 75 and 80 for 6X6, a 105 for 6X9 and a 135 to 162 for 4x5 depending the enlarger I'm using, in general I would recommend 3, a 50, 105, and 150.

Concise, accurate, and helpful.

randyB · Dec 23, 2022

The general rule for which enlarging lens to use for which format is basically the standard lens FL on the camera for the format is the FL of the enlarging lens. E.I. 50mm for 35mm negs, 75/80mm for 6x6 negs, 90mm for 6x7 negs, 100/105mm for 6x9 negs, 150/160ish mm for 4x5. Of course these rules are not set in stone and you CAN use whatever you want to. In my darkroom I mostly stick to the rules but also switch lenses around. On my 35mm enlarger I use 40mm, 50mm, 60mm, 63mm lenses, depending on my mood at the time. On my medium format enlarger I usually stick to the rules. For my 4x5 enlarger I have 135mm, 150mm lenses but sometimes use a 190mm Raptar

GregY · Dec 23, 2022

With all the cameras people admit to owning, I can't see not having enlarging lenses for the negative size you use. This morning on eb*y an 80mm Componon for as low as $29....a 50mm for $19.... a 105 for $24.50.....
It's the holiday season....be generous with yourselves

Pieter12 · Dec 23, 2022

I was told that turrets can have alignment problems.

Sirius Glass · Dec 23, 2022

Pieter12 said:
I was told that turrets can have alignment problems.

I have a problem with the 35mm enlarger lens extending back too far for the turret. I could just buy another lens but what fun would that be?

MattKing · Dec 23, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I have a problem with the 35mm enlarger lens extending back too far for the turret. I could just buy another lens but what fun would that be?

The Omega D5/D6 enlargers worked with two different versions of turrets. The later version was designed to, in conjunction with the correct lens plate, permit use of many more 50mm lenses. I preferred using a 60mm lens anyways - less bellows compression.
My turrets seemed to not cause alignment issues.

Sirius Glass · Dec 23, 2022

MattKing said:
The Omega D5/D6 enlargers worked with two different versions of turrets. The later version was designed to, in conjunction with the correct lens plate, permit use of many more 50mm lenses. I preferred using a 60mm lens anyways - less bellows compression.
My turrets seemed to not cause alignment issues.

I must have an older style. I will live with it and remove it when I need the 50mm lens.

MattKing · Dec 24, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I must have an older style. I will live with it and remove it when I need the 50mm lens.

Be sure to check as well that the lens plate you are using is the correct one for your turret and lens:
http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/LensMountD5.htm

Yes, I'm starting another enlarger lens thread

MTGseattle

MattKing

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ic-racer

koraks

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Paul Howell

rcphoto

gone

Sirius Glass

Pieter12

ic-racer

Sirius Glass

MattKing

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Christiaan Phleger

RalphLambrecht

MTGseattle

ic-racer

Sirius Glass

aparat

randyB

GregY

Pieter12

Sirius Glass

MattKing

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Sirius Glass

MattKing

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Yes, I'm starting another enlarger lens thread

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