Pls help to choose 50mm enlarger lens

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minoltist7

pussy photographer
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from these:
Rogonar 2.8/50 - 100 EUR
Rogonar-S 2.8/50 - 200 EUR
Componon-S 2.8/50 - 250 EUR
Rodagon 2.8/50 - 260 EUR
there is 2x difference in price between Rogonar-S and Rogonar - does it means it's twice better?
I'm going to print BW only , and up to 30x40cm (11x16" )
but I'd like to have occasional (very rare) possibility to print 50x60cm with floor projection, although never tried that and I think it's a complicated job
 
I don't know if you are planning on spending that much on a lens. The best of those can be found on Ebay any day, quite cheap.

Good luck...
 
fidget said:
I don't know if you are planning on spending that much on a lens. The best of those can be found on Ebay any day, quite cheap.

Good luck...
Click to expand...

It's not so easy to buy on Ebay from not-so-civilized Ukraine.
There are many obstacles - payment, custom charges, seller's conservatism towards FSU buyers, etc...
Corruption among customs officers is quite common in FSU,
so it even can be stolen (if it's not insured).
Buying from local dealer seems to be more safe and convenient.
 
Can't see any point whatsoever to pay that amount of money for an enlarger lens. I paid $30-40 a piece for my Fujinon EX 50/2.8, EL-Nikkor 63/2.8 and Schneider Componon 80/5.6.

Go for Fujinon EX, EL-nikkor, Schneider Componon(-S) or Rodenstock Rodagon (all f/2.8 are six-element lenses). Rogonar and Componar are cheaper 4-lens constructions with slightly inferior performance; vignetting, sharpness and projection.

Edit: I think your best option is to ask someone here to buy it for you and ship it to you. I'm sure someone is willing to help you out.
 
I bought a used Schneider Componon-S 50mm 2.8 for $75 2 years ago. That was from a camera dealer. I would imagine they could be had even cheaper today, because of the digital fad.
 
As Emil, Brian &c. have already said - those are high prices. I sold my mint Nikkor 50/2.8 for £20...

If you want a lens - drop me a PM and I'll have a look around and sort you out :)
 
I paid $40 for like-new El-Nikkor 50/2.8
You can buy 5 used Rodagons for the price of new one these days and you'll have better lens for enlargements than Rogonar. If you'll ask seller to send it to you via EMS or USPS Global Express Mail I doubt officers will try to stole it.
 
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I use a Rodagon 50/2.8. It's probably not a fair comparison since the El Nikkor 50/2.8 I had was rather old and heavily used, but the Rodenstock simply blew it away. The more expensive Schneider and Rodenstock (and Nikkor) lenses do have better performance. You should be able to locate these lenses at very good used prices.
 
HI,

I use a componon-s and are very happy with that.
I paid EUR 50 for it and they gave me an enlarger with it.

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema
 
I bought an APO-Rodagon 50/2.8 from eBay two years ago, and it was quite cheap. It was noticeably better than my EL-Nikkor 50/2.8 N.
 
The rodagon 50 2.8 is a gem indeed, forget the rogonars. I have my eyes very much pealed open for a rodagon when it shows up here in china.

My friend and teacher, who also happens to be national geographic traveler photo editor has shown me some amazing things this lens can do. Its just the business.
 
no luck with ebay :-(
most sellers insist on paypal, I can only WesternUnion
why? people are so lazy to walk to the postoffice/bank/whatever where they can get a cash?

p.s. I know about ebay & WU scams but they are unsafe for buyer, not for seller
 
after long search on ebay and posting ads on various photo forums,
I found this... new El Nikkor in a box:
I'm happy right now ;) , though I didn't get an enlarger yet
s640x480
 
Rogonar-S enlarger lens.

Rogonar-S enlarger lens.

I just saw this for the first time. I just got a box of photographic stuff. In it was a perfect condition Rogonar-S 2.8 f=50 mm enlarging lens. I see that you just got yourself a lens. Mine is for sale. In the unlikely event you have any interest email me at rswitak@shaw.ca
 
I bought my El Nikkor new shortly after they were introduced about 1962. I've never felt an urge to upgrade or buy a newer one.
 
minoltist7 said:
It's not so easy to buy on Ebay from not-so-civilized Ukraine.
There are many obstacles - payment, custom charges, seller's conservatism towards FSU buyers, etc...
Corruption among customs officers is quite common in FSU,
so it even can be stolen (if it's not insured).
Buying from local dealer seems to be more safe and convenient.
Click to expand...

do like my grandparents did: just move away from there!

otoh.. why would anyone steal an enlarger lens?
 
I also use Rodagon, very sharp and good quality!
Recently I pay a lot of focus on Leitz focomat IIc. Any one has experience of its focotar?
I wonder if Leitz enlarger lense is even better?
 
minoltist7 said:
It's not so easy to buy on Ebay from not-so-civilized Ukraine.
There are many obstacles - payment, custom charges, seller's conservatism towards FSU buyers, etc...
Corruption among customs officers is quite common in FSU,
so it even can be stolen (if it's not insured).
Buying from local dealer seems to be more safe and convenient.
Click to expand...

I am myself from Ukraine. I won Rodagon 50/2.8 for $51 on ebay recently and shortly after that - Rodagons 80/4 and 105/5.6 for $147. 50/2.8 has a little fungus inside and I'm yet to determine if it has effect on picture quality and decide whether to keep it or return. Other two lenses are yet to arrive (shipping gets really slow around Easter..). I have bought quite some items on ebay during the last year and never had a problem with shipping (though I prefer to add a few bucks for the insurance to be on the safe side) or customs (when buying something expensive i ask if the seller can include a cheaper invoice.. same on rff or apug). However, yes, sellers may be conservative and especially refuse to declare lower value if you have zero or low feedback. I don't know why you wouldn't want to use paypal... I'm currently puzzling myself with where to get the easel and enlarger lenses mounting rings from.
 
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