Anyone use camera lenses on an enlarger?

[Pirate]

I was wondering how this would work. I won't be back at the enlarger till Tuesday to check it out myself, but I have a few Leica 39mm screwmount lenses I was wondering if would work. I think the focal length would be changed, right?

Anyone? Stories, insight, tried it and..... ??

 

[batterytypehah!]

Depends on your enlarger. You may need an extension tube to make it focus in the first place. And it's a total pain if your lens doesn't at least have aperture click stops. And camera lenses aren't built for projection, or elevated temperatures.

In other words: Get an enlarger lens. They're cheap.

 

[Pirate]

I have enlarger lenses, this was just a curiosity.

 

[back alley]

a flat field lens is best on an enlarger...use a macro lens if you must...

 

[K14]

Back in the hey-day you didn't have flat-field lenses, you used camera for the photos and enlarger.

So yes people did and still do.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[colyn]

The Summitar makes an excellent enlarging lens.

 

[Pirate]

I have a couple lenses I want to try out for fun, all 39mm mount models:
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Old Leica Summitar 50mm f/12.5
Canon 135mm
Voigtlander 35mm Colour Skopar

All just to see what will happen, of course.

 

[Pirate]

I just tried the 50 and 135 on an old enlarger I have in the basement (no full darkroom set up though) and the 135 is the only one I could get to work. The 50's need to go closer to the film plane and the bellows won't compress that far. I'll take it in with me on Tuesday and try it in the darkroom just to see the real effects, and maybe make a small print for fun. All in the name of learning. I also have a Wollensak 101mm enlarging lens I need to test out.