Your thoughts on Enlarger Lens

R

retrocam

Too many 50mms
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Hi,

What do you think of the these lenses for 6x6 format:
a) Wollensak Velostigmat 90mm f4.5 ?
b) Schneider Componon 80 f/5.6?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
c) Nikkor

Seriously. This will drive me crazy. I was GOOGLING the Leitz Focomat 2 and ran across a hearty endorsement for a particular Nikkor lens for medium format. I can't recall where it was. GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! It was a late version, probably 80mm and had a letter after Nikkor on the lens.

I owned and used the Componon-S on a Besseler 23C II for 6x7 negatives. Good lens. If you can figure out which Nikkor I read about and find one, it may be better.

I hate when this happens!

EDIT: Look at the 80mm EL Nikkor
 
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Wollensak Velostigmat enlarging lenses are older (pre WWII, I believe), and were not really standouts, even in their day. Componons on the other hand, were the top of the line enlarging lenses from Schneider, and were/are highlyregarded. If the Componon is in good shape, it would be a much better lens.
 
I am just starting my adventure in the darkroom and have been looking for lenses, and reading about them quite a bit.

Yes, the Componon lenses are very highly thought of. Yesterday I won an auction for 3 EL Nikkors, 50/2.8 (this will be my second 50.28 EL if anyone is looking for one I will be selling it), 80/5.6 and 105/5.6. All three of these are also said to be excellent, and they all are relatively inexpensive now as they are as common as flies. I am going to try both the 80 and 105 for 6x6, I am sure both will do fine.
 
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Hi rover,

good catch, all three are excellent.

If faced with retrocam's choice, I would go with the Componon without a thought.

I would be interested in the 50/2.8, but I guess from the US shipping would be a killer, and customs has been a bit more investigative recently.

Philipp
 
I'm using a Meopta lens, a 80/4.5 Anaret. It's a nice performer, at an economic price. They now have Meogon lenses which are supposedly much better.
 
Hi Max,

I use an Anaret-S 50/2.8 at the moment. It's a fine lens. You do notice the limitations of the four-element construction at higher enlargement rations, but of course for medium format that isn't a problem :)
 
I had great experience with el Nikkors years ago. I remember them almost being given away on evilBay a few months ago, but that could have been a cycle blip. Customs on a $20 lens should not be too much.

B2 (;->
 
Fujinons (not that you mentioned them, Annie!) are good, too. Not sure about current availability used, but I have a whole suite of Fujinon enlarging lenses: 50, 75, 105, 150. Another good line is Rodenstock. The general consensus is that Schneider, Rodenstock and Nikkor duke it out in the enlarging lens arena. I think Fujis are up there, but they weren't as widely distributed so there isn't as much opinion available.
 
I had the Componon 50 mm and 80 mm, then, when I started 4"x5", I got a Rodenstock Rodagon 150 mm. I was so pleased by the Rodagon's performance that I traded in the Componons...
This, of course, is my personal experience. I do not know the Nikon lenses, but the one I have seen once was made in China, what ever this may tell about Nikon.
 
I'm using a Wray Supar f4,5

It's fine, it's cheap. It does the job. I've been looking into all sorts of the older enlarger lenses, including the Nikkors, just go for a standard cheap 4 1/2 inch lens and see whether you need anything better after a month or two.
 
Thanks for all the replies!:)

The dealer let me choose the 3 enlarger lenses to try from a box of old enlarger lenses. Unfortunately, I didn't pick the 105mm Nikkor because I thought it was too long. :bang. I picked to try the 90mmWollensak, the 80 Componon and a 75mm one which had no brandname on it - it was used for copying (I think) and its glass is very clean.

The Wollensak is not the Raptar version. It says "Wollensak f4.5 Enlaring Velostigmat 90mm Focus" and it is in a 39mm thread mount. It made me curious. I read in the 'net that it is a Tessar design and that Wollensak made lenses for Leitz before. But, I've read about Wollensak being a dog as well.

The Componon is the old Componon, non-S version and comes in a 25mm thread mount and a lens board. I'll have to duct tape this one on the enlarger and see. :D I have to get the Schneider adapter for this if I eventually pick this one. Suprisingly, the Wollensak is in a better shape than the Componon. This Componon has a lot of dust in it.

If ever, the maximum enlargement I can make is 16x20. Can I still use the 105mm Nikkor for 6x6?

Thanks again.
 
Hi Annie (is that your name?)

no problem with the 105 for 6x6. You will have to crank the enlarger head up quite a lot, though, depending on the enlarger. My Magnifax ends at eighty centimeters, at which the 105 will cover 16x20 just barely from a 6x6 negative (so, no cropping at 16x20). Then again, 16x20 is quite big.

Philipp
 
When I worked in a lab, printing custom enlargements, I had a Wollensak 135mm, but I can't remember which model. It was a good, sharp lens.

As far as focal lengths go, I always used one focal length "up" where possible, to insure more than adequate coverage. My enlarger (Beseler 45MX) was installed in such a way that I had adequate height for enlargements, plus for very large I could go horizontal.
 
I've used the 50, 63 and 80 EL-Nikkors. They're all good, the 50 for larger 35mm enlargements, the 63 for small (7x5) and the 80 for 6x6. I've found them all to be sharp from corner to corner 2 stops down from maximum aperture.
 
I own an EL 75mm F/4 Nikkor and it makes gorgeous full frame enlargements from 6x6 negs. I'm a very happy user. Unless there are different variations of the lens, the rumor is bunk. Sorry, it's not for sale though...
I also frequently use a 105mm lens (Vemar??!??) for 6x6. Very useful for smallish enlargements (or larger negs). Only larger than 8"x8" do I use the 75mm.
 
Internet rumors Bryce, thanks for your post. I am sure someone posted something and from there others just re-posted the statement (as I did :(, but at least I only stated that I had read the rumor). You can only trust first hand knowledge though.

Interestingly enough, when this thread was new yesterday there were 3 Meopta lenses posted on ebay. The 80 and 90mm onese are now gone, both surely scooped up for their $20 BIN price, the 30mm lens is still there.
 
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