which 50mm enlarger lens to get?

[Dwig]

Not sure about ones to avoid...
I suppose that just about any lens that was supplied as part of an enlarger kit would be of lower quality than the Big 3 enlarger lens makers. Voss & Omegaron come to mind. ...

Voss and Omegaron are definite ones to avoid. The Ico lens that came with my old Durst RS-35 back in the '60s was a dog (OK, saying that is an insult to dogs, sorry), and so was the Wollensack 50mm f/6.3 that was on my dad's old Federal enlarger. Also, for most use skip the Schneider lenses with "a" in their name (Componar & Comparon); stick to all "o"s (Componon and preferably the newer Componon-S)

I've personally used Schneider Componons, Vivitar VHE (Schneider Componon-S lenses with single layer coating instead of multi-coating), and EL-Nikkors. My pet was the EL-Nikkor 50mm f/2.8. The f/4.0 is good but the f/2.8 is slightly better in theory and vastly better in practice (brighter and easier to focus).

I've heard great things about the Rodagons, particularily the APO. Also, there have apparently been some top drawer Fujinons. I've never used one, but hear the occasional report that they are excellent, which is something a Fujinon is quite capable of being.

 

[xwhatsit]

I have a El-Nikkor 50/4, but my Minolta CE-Rokkor 50/2.8 seems much sharper, well at least at 8x10 and up. I can't tell the difference at smaller sizes. The only thing with the CE-Rokkor is that it's a chunky lens. My Durst S609 has a big tube, the lens fits right at the top, so to stop down you have to put your hand right up the tube, it's hard to get at. The Rokkor is so chunky it's near impossible to get at.

Bear in mind I'm very new at this.

I bought way too many enlarger lenses after I got my enlarger. It came with an E-Rokkor 50 and a 75 (or 80?) -- both 4 element lenses, not as impressive corner-to-corner as the CE-Rokkor 50/2.8 (6 elements). I have stacks of medium format lenses, Hansa, El-Nikkor, E-Rokkor. Once I try medium format I'll pick one good lens from that bunch. I've drawn up a bunch of fantasy sketches on paper about a 35mm panoramic camera (35mm x 90mm) that has a 39mm thread mount and takes enlarger lenses. The 75mm Hansa at least seems to have enough coverage for a 35mm x 90mm negative, even when focused at infinity.

 

[filmfan]

I have a 50mm El-Nikkor f/2.8 and was wondering what aperture yield peak sharpness?
I will be printing some 16x20 tomorrow and want to get the best results possible.

 

[MartinP]

At 20x16" any imperfections in the enlarger alignment, the effects of a non-flat negative and even vibration of the enlarger will be having an effect also.

A couple of stops down would be a good place to start. You can make a couple of small test-strips, at centre and an edge, exposed simultaneously, to see if you get a benefit from stopping down further.

 

[filmfan]

At 20x16" any imperfections in the enlarger alignment, the effects of a non-flat negative and even vibration of the enlarger will be having an effect also.

A couple of stops down would be a good place to start. You can make a couple of small test-strips, at centre and an edge, exposed simultaneously, to see if you get a benefit from stopping down further.

I think I will just use my go-to setting of f/8. I am going to make sure my alignment is on and clean the glass negative holder I was given as well before I try 16x20.