Hi, Just got back into using my darkroom after a few years. Currently, have a Beseler 23C and have been printing 10X10 images using 21/4 x 2 1/4. Have the two following lenses, 1 el-nikkor 50mm 2.8 and 1 el-nikkor 75mm f4. The prints look nice but when printing 35mm the quality is lacking in comparison. What I would like to do is get just one lense that can handle both situations. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Tp

-- Terry Pittman (tp59@juno.com), April 03, 2002

Answers

The difference you see between 35mm and 6x6cm prints is probably due to negative size, not your enlarging lenses. You can use a 75mm lens for both formats, and probably even the 50mm, but 50 and 75 mm lenses are generally more convenient for 35mm and 6x6cm respectively. Since you have two good lenses (I assume), why not use them both?

-- Keith Nichols (knichols1@mindspring.com), April 03, 2002.

You can use the 75 mm for 35mm & 2 1/4 square. You will not be able to get as big a blow up with 35mm & the 75. To get a maximum blow up you need to use the 50. As far as quality is concerned, 2 /14 has considerably more area than 35mm and wil never need as big a blow up and therefore the prints from 2 1/4 will always look a little bit better than the 35mm prints.

-- Robert Orofino (minotaur1949@iopener.net), April 03, 2002.

The 50mm f/2.8 is an excellent lens, and you should use it for 35mm negs. As everyone said, 2 1/4 will beat 35mm every time. Try some 35mm shots using a tripod and slow film, then print them taking extra care to avoid negative pop (a big problem with the 23C). Use a grain focuser. You should be able to get pretty impressive results, though the same care lavished on 2 1/4 will get you even more!

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), April 03, 2002.

The El-Nikkor 50mm f/4 and 75mm f/4 are 4 element designs. All other El-Nikkor lenses have 6 elements in 4 groups, which is a superior design (with better measurable resolution than 4 element lenses). I would keep the 50mm f/2.8 and try to acquire an El-Nikkor 80mm f/5.6 on Ebay for about $75. Given what you already have, you will be better off with two lenses rather than trying to get one for both formats. As noted above, the quality improvement of 2 1/4 is not due to the 75mm enlarging lens. For best results, focus wide open and then use 2 stops closed from wide open for optimum resolution.

-- Michael Feldman (mfeldman@qwest.net), April 03, 2002.

Thanks to all for their replys.

-- Terry Pittman (tp59@juno.com), April 05, 2002.