Slightly OT: Enlarging Lenses

[Graybeard]

Has anyone compared the performance of the Leitz enlarging lenses with the other high level lenses?

I'm using both a Schneider Componon 50mm and an El-Nikkor 50mm for B&W. I con't say that I've noticed a significant difference between the two. Has anyone comared the performance of the Leitz lenses with these?

 

[StuartR]

If anyone cares to send me one, I can compare it to my 105mm APO EL-Nikkor. The APO El-Nikkor is considered either the best or the second best enlarging lens of all time, so it would be worth checking out (the other major one is the Zeiss Orthoplanar). In any case, I do see a difference between the 105 APO and the 50mm f/2.8 El-Nikkor. The 105 (it was made for 35mm to 6x7) is slightly better at 8x10, but the advantages increase with print size. I have not gone above 11x14 with it, as it would require a horizontal enlarger (or enlarging off the floor), but I imagine it only gets better from there.

Either way, the 50mm el-nikkor is a fantastic lens, and any real world differences are not going to be dramatic. The APO is really made for making giant color enlargements, though it is spectacular for whatever you use it for...

 

[Dan Chang]

Can you use 105 for 35mm? never have tried, I think it is not designed for 35mm enlargment

If anyone cares to send me one, I can compare it to my 105mm APO EL-Nikkor. The APO El-Nikkor is considered either the best or the second best enlarging lens of all time, so it would be worth checking out (the other major one is the Zeiss Orthoplanar). In any case, I do see a difference between the 105 APO and the 50mm f/2.8 El-Nikkor. The 105 (it was made for 35mm to 6x7) is slightly better at 8x10, but the advantages increase with print size. I have not gone above 11x14 with it, as it would require a horizontal enlarger (or enlarging off the floor), but I imagine it only gets better from there.

Either way, the 50mm el-nikkor is a fantastic lens, and any real world differences are not going to be dramatic. The APO is really made for making giant color enlargements, though it is spectacular for whatever you use it for...

 

[StuartR]

Dan -- this 105mm is not a standard one (designed for 6x9), it was designed for horizontal enlargement of 35mm negatives, and of up to 6x7 if necessary. It is sort of like a telephoto enlarging lens....but it was made for 35mm.