I purchased a used LPL 7450 enlarger recently and have not been able to make the 50mm EL-Nikkor lens focus on the baseboard without modifications. (I am just using 35mm for now, maybe larger later) The existing lensboard slides in and holds the lens below it. The bellows will not retract enough to focus the lens. (if I hand hold the lens without the lensboard I can make it focus) (a 90mm will focus as that was in it when I tried it out) I fabricated a flat lens board out of lucite and by placing the neg carrier below a spacer I can make the enlarger focus but it light leaks a ton this way. I looked at a new LPL 4550 XLG on the weekend and it uses a different style recessed lenboard.

As i got a good deal on the enlarger, my question is should I purchase a 75mm EL-Nikkor and will it cover 35mm? The enlarger will print to 16x20 with a 50mm - how much will I lose? Should I retrofit in a new style lensboard holder into the enlarger or just try to order an entire new bottom plate for the bellows and lensboard.

Thanks, Gary

-- Gary Reynolds (greyn@telusplanet.net), March 25, 2002

Answers

I know nothing about this enlarger, BUT (to rephrase a common saying) like all , I have an opinion :)

Have you investigated a recessed lens board for that model. I would have thought they were available as most MF or LF enlargers can be set up to handle smaller sizes. Yes a 75mm El-Nikor would print 35mm fine, not sure of the largest print possible though. You'd manage a 8x10 I'd guess.

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), March 25, 2002.

Tiffen is the current US importer; ask 'em at techsupport@tiffen.com.

My guess is that there's a recessed lensboard for it.

-- John Hicks (jhicks31@bellsouth.net), March 26, 2002.

I THINK the 7450 uses the same lens panels as the C7700, and these should be readily available. The 7700 came with a recessed panel as standard.
Jobo's part number for the recessed 39mm threaded panel is 7740, which sounds like it's the same as the one for the C7700 model.
All the panels shown in Jobo's catalogue for the 5x4 enlarger are recessed. I think you're meant to just reverse them for use with longer lenses.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), March 26, 2002.

My Saunders lens boards are all "recessed". I use them with the "bump" facing down for my 80mm and 150mm lenses and with the "bump" facing up for the 50mm lens. It always seemed odd to me that the 50mm lens won't focus unless I reverse the lens board but being more pragmatic than theoretic, once I discovered that it works that way I just forged ahead.

-- jeff schraeder (jeff@circlesofclarity.com), April 08, 2002.

The El-Nikkor 50mm f/4 and 75mm f/4 are 4 element designs. All other El-Nikkor lenses (includng the 50mm f/2.8) have 6 elements in 4 groups, which is a superior design (with better measurable resolution than 4 element lenses). All Rodenstock Rodagon and Schneider Componon- S lenses also have 6 elements in 4 groups. So, definately do not get the 75mm El-Nikkor. Either get the 80mm El-Nikkor or one of the Rodagon or Componon-S lenses. El-Nikkor has an excellent 63mm lens that would work well for 35mm, but will not cover medium format if you move up.

-- Michael Feldman (mfeldman@qwest.net), April 08, 2002.