Enlarger and Lens

[robbeiflex]

A quick question for those with the experience:

Can an enlarger lens such as a 75mm used for 120 film also be used for 35mm film, or is a separate 50mm lens required?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[tlitody]

Yes it can but the enlarger head will be further up the column for the same size print as compared to 50mm lens. So in short the amount of magnification you have available will be limited. But having said that, you should be able to a 16x12 print without a problem if your enlarger has a decent height column. A 20x16 may not be possible. Its just easier with a 50mm lens. But again, if you are only making 10x8s then no problem at all.

 

[MISH]

Rob it will work just fine, in fact some people claim it is even better. the only difference you will see is that the distance between the lens and the paper will be greater. Handy if you are making small prints and the lens is very close.... not so handy if you are making giant prints and your enlarger is extended all the way

 

[robbeiflex]

Thanks guys!

When the enlarger eventually comes my way, then I'll try it with the 75mm for my 35mm prints and take it from there. Printing a decent 8x10 seems like a good goal to start with.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[Ronald M]

Worth a try within the limits stated, however enlarging lenses are made to work within a certain range of magnifications.

An 8x10 from 100 mm is only 8x print, but the lens has to be up and focused from 20X, a distance for which it is probably not designed.

 

[tlitody]

Worth a try within the limits stated, however enlarging lenses are made to work within a certain range of magnifications.

An 8x10 from 100 mm is only 8x print, but the lens has to be up and focused from 20X, a distance for which it is probably not designed.

Good point but most lenses for 135 and MF negs are optimised for around 8x to 10x enlargement I think. So an 8x10 from a 135 neg using 75mm lens should be fine.
My 150 lens is optimised for 6X and some of the cheaper lenses(4 element) are optimised for 4x to 6x.

Not sure where you are getting the 20X from bearing in mind the magnifications are linear magnifications and not area magnifications?

 

[tlitody]

Infact which 75 lens are you using cos some of them have unusual optimisations.

 

[Chris101]

I used to print 8x10s from 35mm negatives with a 75mm EL Nikkor f/4 all the time. They came out nice. The magnification is the same as if you were printing a bit smaller than 16x20 from a 645 negative. And people often print 16x20 from medium format negatives.

 

[rogerzilla]

They tend to be not as bright as a 50mm lens for two reasons: they normally have a smaller maximum aperture and the head is further up the column. This makes exposures longer and focusing/framing slightly more difficult. I used to have 50/2.8 and 75/4 EL-Nikkors (the latter for 6x6) and tried the 75mm for 35mm stuff, but it wasn't much fun.

 

[BobYIL]

Yes you can, I have printed 35mm films also with 75/4 and 80/5.6 El-Nikkors however it takes longer each time compared to a 50mm lens. These days a fine 50/2.8 El-Nikkor can be found for $25, an excellent lens for this purpose and you can also print much larger sizes too.

 

[Chris101]

They tend to be not as bright as a 50mm lens for two reasons: they normally have a smaller maximum aperture and the head is further up the column. This makes exposures longer and focusing/framing slightly more difficult. I used to have 50/2.8 and 75/4 EL-Nikkors (the latter for 6x6) and tried the 75mm for 35mm stuff, but it wasn't much fun.

Frame at full aperture, but focus at the working aperture (you use a grain magnifier, right?) I usually find that I need a bit more time for dodging and burning anyway, so 2x or so on the time is not a problem. At least with RC papers. Now if I were using Liquid Light or something, I'd want all the brightness I could get.

 

[Tim Gray]

I often use my 80mm lens to print 4x6's of 35mm negatives. It gives me more working space between the easel and the lens. Which also helps to move the image further out from the enlarger column.

 

[tj01]

I use my 80mm for 35mm and 6X7 printing on 8X10.

 

[shadowfox]

50mm lenses are not hard to get. Even good ones.