BEOON the Leitz Copy Stand

[Ricoh]

Finally, I have acquired all I needed to get started in using the BEOON. It seems I have that same problem with distance and focusing, others have mentioned earlier in this thread.

I am scanning 35mm negatives with a Leica M-P and a Rodenstock APO-Rodagon-N 50/2.8 lens. Since the lens screws directly into the BEOON rings, I cannot use ring A+D as prescribed in the BEOON manual when scanning 1:1, since ring A is for M mount lenses. Using ring D alone makes the negative fill out only part of the picture frame. I have to use rings B+C+D to make the negative fill the whole picture frame. Regardless which ring combination I use, I cannot focus perfectly, since the BEOON focusing spindle reaches bottom before I reach perfect focus.

Has anyone overcome problems like these, and how?

Having the same problem using an El-Nikkor 50mm f/2.8 enlarger lens, tubes B+C+D with an M240. With this combination the BEOON is approximately 1cm too tall at its shortest column setting. I'd like to know if there's a solution to this, ie sourcing different tube lengths or am I wasting my time.

Reading about others having success with the Focotar-2 50mm (I'm envious 🙂 ) someone mentioned the problem with the El-Nikkor 50 f/2.8 maybe something to do with the different physical length compared to the Focotar-2 even though both share the same FL. Anyone know how the physical length can have a bearing on FL?
Thanks.

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

There is a thread on scanning with the BEOON on the Leica-Camera forum at the moment. I have asked the question as I have a BEOON waiting for me when I get back to the UK next month. I will be using exactly the same combo as above, 50mm APO Rodagon-N and either Leica M240 or SL. Someone has been scanning slides with a Companon S, so that should be exactly the same combination of tubes and adapters as the Rodagon. I will post here when I get the answer.
Wilson

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

Here is another LCF thread with yet more (lots more!) information on BEOON scanning. https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topi...se-functional-checks-prior-to-purchase/page-6

It would appear that the answer for a 50mm Rodagon is tubes B+C+D for 1:1 of a 35mm film image.

Wilson

 

[Ricoh]

Thanks Wilson, I'm participating there too (Steve Ricoh)

 

[Richard G]

The Elmar 50 3.5 was advertised in 1953 as a standard, enlarging and copying lens.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5nTaRbIfn_E/VIhd73fkniI/AAAAAAAAK34/puB_NpubDdA/s1600/6.jpg

(From The Online Darkroom site.)

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

The Elmar 50 3.5 was advertised in 1953 as a standard, enlarging and copying lens.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5nTaRbIfn_E/VIhd73fkniI/AAAAAAAAK34/puB_NpubDdA/s1600/6.jpg

(From The Online Darkroom site.)

You can use an Elmar 50/3.5 but it does not have a very flat field and if you close down enough to compensate for this, with a 24MP digital, you may be running into diffraction limitation. The Elmar 65 which was designed specifically as a reprographic lens might be better but I am not sure if it will fit in the BEOON, as you would need to use an additional 41mm extension tube, given that it is a Visoflex lens. When I get back to the UK in three weeks I will try various combinations and report back. I have an Elmar 50/3.5, an Elmar 65/3.5 and loads of different extension tubes, including a 41mm. I think that a good (if you can find one) 50 Focotar 2, 50 Componon S or 50 APO Rodagon-N are the best compromises from the extensive testing that others have already done.

Wilson

 

[Godfrey]

You can use an Elmar 50/3.5 but it does not have a very flat field and if you close down enough to compensate for this, with a 24MP digital, you may be running into diffraction limitation. The Elmar 65 which was designed specifically as a reprographic lens might be better but I am not sure if it will fit in the BEOON, as you would need to use an additional 41mm extension tube, given that it is a Visoflex lens. When I get back to the UK in three weeks I will try various combinations and report back. I have an Elmar 50/3.5, an Elmar 65/3.5 and loads of different extension tubes, including a 41mm. I think that a good (if you can find one) 50 Focotar 2, 50 Componon S or 50 APO Rodagon-N are the best compromises from the extensive testing that others have already done.

Hi Wilson,

Data points for various and sundry lenses: using the BEOON with

- Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5 : V Good results between f/8 and f/11
- Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 (current) : Excellent results between f/5.6 and f/11
- Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 Pre-AI : Excellent results throughout
- Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8 : Excellent results but nearing the limits for the BEOON
- Summicron-R 50mm f/2 : V Good results, improving at higher magnifications

I used a Rayqual Nikon->Leica M adapter for the Nikkor, and the R Adapter M for the R lenses. The Summicron-R 50 is particularly good at magnifications past the BEOON's range ... it's the best lens of this set at 2-3:1 magnifications.

G

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

Thanks for that information Godfrey. The only one of those lenses I have is the Series 5 Summicron, albeit in the special LTM edition. Of my 50mm Leica and Leica fit camera lenses, of which I have far, far too many, I felt the most likely to be good was the Zeiss ZM Planar f2. I still suspect I will get better results from a good enlarging lens, as that is what Leica recommended on their final instructions for the BEOON (the Focotar). It is a bit of a toss up between the considerably cheaper but older Componon S or the more expensive newer APO-Rodagon-N. I saw tests some time ago that claimed that the Rodagon could at f5.6, its optimum aperture, resolve in excess of 250 lp/mm, which is in excess of what the SL at 166/pixels per mm can resolve. I am never sure if 200 line pairs/mm is equivalent to 200 pixels/mm or 100 pixels/mm or something else.

Wilson

 

[Ricoh]

I've tried using the El-Nikkor 50mm f/2.8 and the Componon-S 50mm f2.8 with tubes B,C+D without success. Although the Componon-S is marginally better, in both cases with the BEOON column at minimum column height critical focus is not achievable. I'm using an M240 with live view enabled. On the other hand if I position the negative on a sheet of glass on top the BEOON baseplate, critical focus is achievable with reduced extension tube length, although at something less than 1:1.
The lens equation identifies the criticality of the enlarger lens nodal point. A small variation can have a large impact.

 

[rfaspen]

Hmmm. I was using the EL Nikkor 50/2.8 on my BEOON and it gave me a good approx. 1:1 with 35mm format. I'm sorry I don't remember the tube combo, but I will be pulling it out again in a few days or next week. Will try to remember and provide my setup here.

Went to get one of these highly regarded APO Rodagon-N lenses back when I first got the BEOON. Um, those are not cheap lenses. So the EL Nikkor it will have to be. I do have some other decent enlarger lenses, and they all must be slightly different focal lengths because they all give slightly different magnifications with the same tube combo.... They all claim to be 50mm. Just the way of the world?

 

[Ricoh]

Many have success with the Nikkor 50 f2.8, the Componon-S 50 f2.8 and other enlarger lenses, and having read the many reviews I wasnt expecting anything other than success - sadly not. To date I've only read of one other BEOON user having problems, and that was with the highly regarded Focotar-2. Just thought I'd post my experience as a warning. Different copies of the same enlarger lens can have a small variation in the positioning of the nodal point (having little or no affect when using an enlarger) that's magnified for 1:1 reproduction, as explained by the simple lens equation.

 

[NicolasCooper]

Thank you to everyone for clarifications and Info. I made a snap decision to buy a Leitz BEOON on the bay. I will be using it with an apo-rodagon 50 2.8. when I get it all set up I will share my findings. Cheers!

 

[Peter Jennings]

Thank you to everyone for clarifications and Info. I made a snap decision to buy a Leitz BEOON on the bay. I will be using it with an apo-rodagon 50 2.8. when I get it all set up I will share my findings. Cheers!

Best of luck to you! I have had nothing but good results from mine using the EL-Nikkor 50/2.8.

 

[quadtones]

Just a heads up, in case no one has tried it. I was able to "scan" full frame 35mm film 1:1 using the new CL on the BEOON with Apo-rodagon 50mm f2.8 + tubes B+D and had enough column range. The magnification on the live view works wonders, and I was even able to use the peaking for focus. I will probably be trying more 35mm scans as well as some 6x7 negatives over the next few days, and if it works, or not, will try to report.

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

Just a heads up, in case no one has tried it. I was able to "scan" full frame 35mm film 1:1 using the new CL on the BEOON with Apo-rodagon 50mm f2.8 + tubes B+D and had enough column range. The magnification on the live view works wonders, and I was even able to use the peaking for focus. I will probably be trying more 35mm scans as well as some 6x7 negatives over the next few days, and if it works, or not, will try to report.

That is good news. The SL is a bit "top heavy" on the BEOON and I am concerned that the total weight will damage my LED light box.

Wilson

 

[wintoid]

34.4mm = D
17.2mm = C
8.6mm = B
7mm = A
1mm = LTM adapter

My BEOON setup has changed slightly. The scanning back is now a Sony A7Rii. The lens is the EL-Nikkor 50mm f2.8 which I found to perform much better than the Componon-S.

I have the same magnification problems as some others. If I use B+D, I can achieve focus but the crop only gives me about half the resolution of the sensor. If I use C+D, I get something which looks like 1:1 on the screen, but can't *quite* focus it (the column won't go any lower).

So I'm going to have a go at resolving this. I've ordered a Leica 17675 tube, which I believe is also known as a DOORX, and is apparently 15mm. I'm hoping that with the 17675 and the D tube, I will get close to 1:1 and be able to focus it.

We shall see!

 

[dourbalistar]

My BEOON setup has changed slightly. The scanning back is now a Sony A7Rii. The lens is the EL-Nikkor 50mm f2.8 which I found to perform much better than the Componon-S.

I have the same magnification problems as some others. If I use B+D, I can achieve focus but the crop only gives me about half the resolution of the sensor. If I use C+D, I get something which looks like 1:1 on the screen, but can't *quite* focus it (the column won't go any lower).

So I'm going to have a go at resolving this. I've ordered a Leica 17675 tube, which I believe is also known as a DOORX, and is apparently 15mm. I'm hoping that with the 17675 and the D tube, I will get close to 1:1 and be able to focus it.

We shall see!

Wintoid, what adapter are you using for the Sony? I also use the BEOON with an EL-Nikkor 50mm f/2.8, but using an APS-C NEX-5T with the Voigtlander VM-E Close Focus Adapter. I'm not sure about the thickness of the adapter itself, but the built in close focus helicoid on the adapter allows for an addition 4mm of extension. The adapter is not cheap, but it may give you the extra bit of adjustment you need.

Here's our own late, great Mr. Tom Abrahamsson giving an overview of the adapter.

 

[wintoid]

I have the regular non-close-focus Voigtlander adapter. If my cunning plan fails, I might hunt down one like yours, although I think I really need to get the camera closer to the negative.

 

[Ricoh]

Wintoid, or raise the negative closer to the taking lens, but in doing so it takes a bit (lot) of fiddling to obtain alignment (as distinct from focus).
I've not touched the BEOON for 12 months or so, I may well dig it out again.

A minor point (minor???): whilst previously using my M240 on the BEOON I did end up getting quite a lot of sensor dust - I suspect the same thing happens when changing lenses as dust is allowed to enter the cavity between the flange and the shutter. Fire the shutter and some of the trapped dust finds its way to the charged sensor, I guess. But as said, I did end up with more whilst experimenting with the BEOON and the various extension tubes.
Good luck.

 

[wintoid]

Yeah no luck with this. I still couldn't get perfect focus as the stand wouldn't lower enough. I think the best solution is going to be to make a new holder for the BEOON that sits flat over the base (instead of dipping like the existing holders).

If I use C+D, I can raise the negative up and get perfect focus and almost 100% view. That's got to be the best solution. I don't want to replace the lens, it's noticeably sharper than the Componon-S and APO Rodagon I've tried.