recommended lenses?

[fidget]

Hi, can you recommend lenses for my 35mm and MF enlarging?
I got most of my kit on thE bay at ridiculous prices. Lenses look to be similar bargains. I work in B&W and have a colour M670 which is presently fitted with a Componon-S 80mm. This seems to be a capable lens, rendering impressive detail from my MF negs. I now wish to fit out a second enlarger (Opemus 5) which I will dedicate for 35mm work. Given that some very high quality lenses can go cheap, what wish list could you recommend.
How's the 80mm f4 Componon-S? any worthwhile upgrades there?
Regards, Dave

 

[John Bragg]

Hi Dave,
You could do a lot worse than seek out a 50mm Componon-s. Perfect partner for your 80mm...... These are Top Notch lenses, and perfofm as well as any. Would not swap my 50mm as it has everything I could wish for !!!!

 

[pesphoto]

I just got a Nikkor EL 50mm 2.8 - highly recommend it!

 

[Mark Wood]

The Durst Neonon 50/2.8 is also pretty good. I believe it's a re-badged Rodenstock lens but I'll happily stand corrected. It certainly seems to stand up to comparison with the El-Nikkor (my opinion of course and others may think differently). I haven't looked at prices but given the reduced interest in Darkroom gear these days, I'd have thought it would be possible to get a bargain.

PS. I do mean the Neonon and not the (3 element?) Neotaron that came with the ubiquitous Durst C35.

 

[fidget]

Thanks for the comments. Other posts here also seem to favour the Componon-s and the Rodagon. I recently got an 80mm Rodagon (with a Lab1200 which is way to big for my darkroom), but have yet to try it. (you know what it's like, wrestling with all the other variables in wet processing.)
But what about the exotic or very well spec'ed. Focotar, fujinon ep, oh, and those lenses with "APO" somewhere in their name? In the meantime, my M670 came with the lens I presently use for 35mm work, the Durst Optar 50mm f2.8, how does that rate against the Componon-s? Would the Durst be rebadged?
I know that it seems that I should try those that i have, but as a MF worker tinkering with 35mm I see the shortfall in 35mm performance, which is tempting to blame on the enlarger/lens. Your experiences are valuable.
Dave

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

The Leitz focotar lenses 40 and 50 and 100 sometimes come up for sale separated from their focomat and V35 enlargers. These are jems i have the 50, 60 and 100 and often unscrew them from my Focomats and use them on my Devere 504.

 

[je2a3]

For 35mm work, my favorite is the Rodenstock 50/2.8 [non-APO], affordable used typically $40-60. To my eyes, it combines the virtues of both the El Nikkor and Componon-S which are also great lenses as mentioned by others.

Joseph

 

[kbg32]

The Leitz focotar lenses 40 and 50 and 100 sometimes come up for sale separated from their focomat and V35 enlargers. These are jems i have the 50, 60 and 100 and often unscrew them from my Focomats and use them on my Devere 504.

I second the Focotars. Fantastic lenses.

 

[SDK]

I use an Apo-Rodagon 50mm/2.8 for larger enlargements (on 11x14"). I prefer my 63mm/2.8 EL Nikkor for smaller prints (on 8x10" or 5x7"paper) because it gives more working room for opening the easel and for burning and dodging. Both are excellent lenses, available at reasonable prices used. Unless you are planning on doing really big prints, I would avoid a 40mm lens because your enlarger's head will get too low for convenient use with most set-ups.

If you can find a copy of Ctein's Book "Post Exposure", there is an excellent chart describing recommended lenses, with their strengths and weaknesses described, listing optimum apertures, light fall off, dominant aberrations, contrast etc. The book is well worth checking out from a library or buying a copy, and contains lots of helpful information on darkroom techniques for high quality prints.

 

[markinlondon]

SDK said what I was going to about the 63mm EL-Nikkor. It's great for small 35mm enlargements. It also has a little more coverage than the 50 and so is better in the corners, this is easily visible on a full frame 10x8.. I also have the 50 EL-Nikkor which is again excellent and easier to find used. I don't print much over 10x8 from 35mm.

Mark