Neutrino
Hi everyone,
I’ve got another question for you, in the hope that you’ll be able to help me out once again.
At the moment, I only have a cheap, rubbish enlarger lens with three elements, which isn’t even designed for 6x7cm negatives and has a focal length of just 75mm. If you stop down the aperture a lot, the image circle is illuminated reasonably well, but the corners are still quite out of focus and I wouldn’t exactly describe the rest of the image as razor-sharp either. I’d say a 24x30 enlargement is absolutely the upper limit. A quick question on that: could it be that one corner is out of focus compared to the others, or is there something wrong with the negative stage?
For this reason, I am now looking for an M39 enlarger lens suitable for 6x7cm negatives. It should be in the mid-range to upper mid-range category. In other words, I don’t need another rubbish lens, but it shouldn’t be too expensive either. If good enlargements up to 50x60cm are achievable, I’ll be happy. The problem is that I really have absolutely no idea about enlargement lenses. I’ve of course looked into it online, but that hasn’t really made me any wiser. As far as I know, the more elements a lens has, the better, and that for 6x7cm negatives you need a focal length of around 90mm and upwards, although there are some 80mm lenses that might be suitable.
My question to you is: which lenses do you know of that might be suitable for me, and what would be a reasonable price? Can you recommend anything?
Wolfgg
Hello,
Buy something decent straight away, otherwise you’ll end up buying a third time – that’s 80mm and 6 lenses (Componon, Rodagon, etc.).
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Regards, Wolfgang
Neutrino
Thanks for your quick reply.
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Of course, I’m familiar with Componons and Rodagons. The problem is, however, that there seem to be quite a few variants in various versions, and I can’t quite make sense of them all. How can I tell how old the lens is, how many elements it has, whether it’s suitable for 6x7, and so on?
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AchimBauer
Hi Neutrino, Hi Wofgg,
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80?!
Well, I’d pay 80 for a 6x6. For 6x7, I’ve got a Rogonar S 90mm f/4.5, which is Rodenstock’s entry-level model.
Whether it’s a 4-element or 6-element lens isn’t that important. There are good 4-element lenses and good 6-element lenses, and even decent to good 3-element lenses, because an enlarger lens like this has a simple design. So for 6x7, you really should go for a 90mm. Exception: There used to be wide-angle enlarger lenses for large prints, so you didn’t have to make a hole in the ceiling.
If you buy Rodenstock or Schneider, you can’t go far wrong. Others from major manufacturers don’t seem to be bad either. It gets tricky with all the own-brand and exotic models. If it’s too expensive new, check prices on eBay first and then buy.
Oh, by the way, almost all of them have an M39 mount; only a few ancient ones have a smaller thread, and a few Eastern European ones have M42. Like the Janpol – you can use that as a bellows head on the Praktika without an adapter.
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Regards, Achim
jochen53
Hello,
If one corner appears to be less sharp than the others, this indicates an alignment error in the negative or lens plane. Alternatively, the entire unit may not be parallel to the paper plane. The image circle of standard 80 mm lenses such as Rodagon, Componon and Meogon is sufficient for 6 x 7; they are stopped down anyway, which increases the usable image circle diameter. 90 mm lenses have always been rare and are likely to be quite scarce second-hand. ‘Newer’ Rodagons have plastic mounts and a light shield; older ones are made of metal.
Urnes
Here is the list for Rodenstock
http://www.rodenstock-photo.com/de/main/products/lenses-for-enlarging-and-ccd/
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Unfortunately, Schneider has taken its archive offline. Componone, -S, Apo or WA are fine. Componare lenses are rather mediocre. WA lenses are wide-angle lenses with a shorter focal length, which allow for a larger reproduction ratio on the base plate (see Rodenstock). Normal focal length is 90mm to 105mm. A longer focal length is always possible, but this results in a smaller reproduction ratio on the base plate.
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Regards, Sven.
Wolfgg
Well, I actually use a Rodagon 4/80 even for 6x9cm and can’t spot any weaknesses in the corners from f/8 onwards (I don’t go below f/8 because the negative plane is never perfectly aligned). Skimping on the enlarger lens is just incomprehensible. You only need one, whereas for the camera you’ll eventually end up with a dozen or more lying about, which have cost far more in total than a six-element lens for the darkroom.
Regards, Wolfgang
Renate
Hello,
The Schneider Componon 80 mm is suitable for 6x7 format from f/11 onwards. The Schneider 90 mm Apo is suitable for 6x7 at any aperture and is considered the best lens for this format. However, it is expensive and rarely found second-hand. I use the Rodenstock 80 mm Apo. This also works for 6x7 at any aperture, but its performance isn’t quite optimal at wide-open apertures. On the other hand, it is significantly cheaper and slightly easier to find second-hand. All lenses with a 105 mm focal length, which are designed for 6x9, are certainly usable. Even a 4-element lens would suffice. However, you cannot achieve high magnification ratios with them, as the tripod column is often too short.
I would always advise against 3-element lenses these days. They are only suitable for small formats. For good optical reproduction, you need at least 4 elements. Good 4-element lenses are available, for example, from Meopta, the Anaret-S lenses. The Anaret-S 80 mm in particular is considered very good and was often used in the retro position as a macro lens in the past. Stopped down significantly, it can even be used on 6x7 if necessary. There is also an Anaret-S with a 105 mm focal length.
Best regards
Renate
Neutrino
Wow, I’ve already received quite a few replies in such a short time – thank you.
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I actually do have a Meopta Anaret 80mm. Unfortunately, though, it has the smaller thread, which only fits my Opemus 5. I’m very happy with the quality of that one too. The big drawback is that it’s limited to 6x6. I was then very lucky and honoured that a friend gave me his Durst M 707. That finally opened the way for me to use the full negative size. Well, and because I couldn’t wait any longer, I quickly bought the Componar-C 75mm – a cheap lens not really suitable for 6x7 – from the local camera shop. As already mentioned, it was fine for the first attempts and for the price, but the quality is, well, very modest.
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Truly top-of-the-range lenses, such as any Apos, are unfortunately out of the question for me due to the price. I’d even be happy with a good 4-element lens. If the Anaret 105mm is any good, that would of course be worth considering. The same goes for the Rodagonar S 90mm mentioned earlier. Less expensive standard Componone and Rodagone lenses would naturally also be an option. I’d only like to buy second-hand. What prices are reasonable? Nikon also made enlarger lenses. What’s the verdict on those?
AchimBauer
Hi Neutrino,
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If you can’t find what you’re looking for on eBay, why not have a look at www.seconfhanddarkroom.co.uk? But be warned: the prices are in pounds and can sometimes be quite steep, though not always.
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Best wishes, Achim
TR
If you’re logged in, you can view the ended listings from the last few days on eBay. The 105 Anaret sells for around €15 on eBay. So that should be within your budget. I’ve got one myself, though I haven’t tested or compared it yet. However, for my future 6x9 prints on 30x40 paper, I’m not worried that, when stopped down, I’ll end up with a lower quality image without a magnifying glass than I would with an ‘apochromatic lens’.
Wolfgg
Hello Neutrino,
It’s almost a shame how top-quality lenses are being sold off so cheaply. Just to give an example, a 6-element lens for 43 euros:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Schneider-Kreuznach-Vergroserungsobjektiv-4-80mm-mit-Abblendhebel-/161294363955?pt=DE_Foto_Camcorder_Vergr%C3%B6%C3%9Ferungsobjektive&hash=item258de4ad33
Something like that cost around 500 DM in the 1980s!
Nikon magnifying lenses are just as good as those from Schneider and Rodenstock.
Regards, Wolfgang
Tandemfahren
Hi Neutrino, you've got a private message.
Neutrino
Thanks again for all the helpful replies.
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Hi Neutrino, you’ve got a private message.
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analog-andy
I have a Schneider Kreuznach Componon-S 4/80 (for medium format 6x7 and 6x9) for sale!!!
Contact:
andy13587@yahoo.de
