Enlarging lens advice

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I am trying to do some 35mm printing for the first time in eons, and find myself needing a quality 50mm enlarging lens. There seems to be a wide array of lenses out there. Which ones to avoid? Which are the best? Brand name is irrelevant, as is age. I just want something that has even coverage, is sharp, with good contrast. I am remembering now why I quit fooling with 35mm. Very hard to get the sharpness and tonality that I want, while it is easy with medium format and larger.Unfortunatley there are some things 35mm cameras excell at- long lenses, wide lenses, action photography to name a few. As usual, thanks in advance.

-- Bruce Appel (appelgate@aol.com), March 22, 2001

Answers

Get a 6-element lens from Schneider, Rodenstock, or Nikon. You can't go wrong with these. Buy from a dealer who will let you return it if it isn't sharp. A few lenses don't get all the elements properly centered, and a good dealer would let you replace it if this is the case.

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), March 22, 2001.

Another vote for Nikon, Schneider or Rodenstock. There should be plenty of these lenses available on the used market. I personally use a Nikon 50mm and a Rodenstock 90mm. Both lenses produce razor sharp (to the naked eye and with an 8x loupe)prints. Several years ago I had experience working with an Schneider 80mm this lens was very sharp as well. Good luck. RO

-- Robert Orofino (minotaur1949@aol.com), March 22, 2001.

I own various lenses from Nikon, Rodenstock & Schneider. I suggest either the 45mm or 50mm from Schneider. Go for the APO lenses if you have the $.

-- PhilipDovinh (pdovinh@aol.com), March 23, 2001.

I'll stick my neck out and be more specific.
You won't go wrong with a Schneider Componon-s. That's not to say that EL-Nikkors and Rodagons aren't just as good, but the price/performance ratio of Schneider lenses is hard to beat.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), March 23, 2001.

While I admit that you won't go wrong with any of the lenses suggested above, I have to agree with Pete's recommendation of of a Componon-S. In any case, stick with the 6-element designs, preferably with an f2.8 max aperture.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), March 23, 2001.


Sorry this is another (related) question, not an answer. I have a late 70's vintage Schneider Componon 50/4. Anyone know more about this - I've always assumed because it's a componon , not a componar, it must be 6 element, but as it is not an "s" , it is probably not the latest multi-coating. I've always thought it's very sharp, BTW, always used stopped down 2 stops. Other infor - it's all metal with a 25mm! thread Regards

-- Nigel Craig (Nigel_Craig@btinternet.com), March 23, 2001.

I use EL-nikkor 50/2.8, Componon 50/2.8, Rodagon and APO Rodagon 80/4. All are excellent. I'm working on a "casual optics test" page here. Where I play with different enlarging lenses and f-stops and glass vs glassless carrier. Right now my problem is resolution of my flatbed scanner. I've made small prints of sections of 24x24" images. The detail is too fine for my scanner at 600dpi. I'm going to macro- photograph the small prints to enlarge further.

-- tim brown (brownt@flash.net), March 23, 2001.

Forgot to mention I like the Componon-S best because of the stop-down lever.

-- tim brown (brownt@flash.net), March 23, 2001.

How do I tell wich lenses are six element?

-- Bruce Appel (appelgate@aol.com), March 23, 2001.

Bruce, Finding a good enlarging lens may be the easiest matter of all in photo business. Good six element lens are always the most expensive around, although to it's life expectancy they will prety cheap after all. You can find them by their names: usually "on" something (Componon, Rodagon, Fujinon, etc., except Nikkors). And also taking a good look and observing how many reflections you can count on it's glass-air surfaces. A three elements design will show six reflexions and it works with all the same with more elements. Off course, manufacture can change within the same brand and model and that's where some testing (as suggested above) can save the day. Modern lenses can show better (or more colored!) coatings, a nice device although not completely necessary. Clearly, it makes sense not to be economical on this matter. But think twice about Apo (or stated Apo) design, you can live long without one, mainly in B&W. Good prints. Cesar B.

-- Cesar Barreto (cesarb@infolink.com.br), March 23, 2001.


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