Enlarger lens

[Marc0]

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Hi every one,

I'm writing because i've just bought a Leica M2 with a Summicron 50mm and I think I'm the happiest guy in Italy at the moment. But the problem is this, wich is the use of this amazing camera if my enlarger lens is not able to recreate the negatives in the best way possible? I mean, i'm not looking for THE BEST EVER enlarger lens, (I'm a working student and i've almost finished all my money for the Leica), but just a lens good enough to live up to the Leica standard.

This being sad, I have a durst M305 and my budget is around 150 euro (pleas, don't laugh). I'm thinking about a 50mm lens.

Thanks everyone who will take a moment to give me some advice. Sorry for my english

Marco

Edited October 10, 2022 by Marc0
grammar errors

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[nitroplait]

Any 50mm 6 element enlarger lens from a major producer.

The easiest to find, and easily within your budget is an EL-Nikkor 50mm 1:2.8 - it is very good. The newer plastic barrel is probably fractionally better optically but the older metal versions are still very good (and nicer made).

Avoid the EL-Nikkor 50mm 4.0 - 4 element, decent but not as well corrected.

[Fotoklaus]

Rodenstock Rodagon 2.8/ 50 or the APO Rodagon N 2.8/50 are very good, Schneider- Kreuznach Componon S 2.8/50, Schneider- Kreuznach APO-Componon HM 4,0/45

[zeitz]

Leitz Focotar.  The latest version (such as Focotar-2) you can afford with the 150 euro limit.

[BernardC]

Most of the brands offered high quality 50/2.8 6-element lenses: Rodagon, Componon, EL-Nikkor N. Their lesser lenses (3 or 4 elements) were usually, but not always, slower. These premium lenses were all very good.

The main thing with enlarging lenses is to verify that the glass is clear. Some of these lenses spent decades surrounded by chemistry fumes (not to mention cigarette smoke), and have built-up some haze, which will affect fine detail in your shadows and highlights.

[Pyrogallol]

EL-Nikkor 50mm f2.8

I bought mine in 1986 and use it all the time. I have 80mm and 135mm copies as well for 6x6 and 5x4 sizes.

[Dr Davidson]

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This is a bit late in the day as it were, but there are three points I'd like to make:

1 - I have a Hoya 2,8/50 enlarger lens and it is every bit as good as or better than the El-Nikkor 2,8/50, and costs half or less. Definitely worth a try.

2 - The Schnider-Kreuznach Componon-S 2,8/50 is possibly the only non-leith lens to have an exact focal length of 52,6 mm. It will operate correctly with the autofocus mechanism of the Focomat 1c. I know, I've tried it and my Focomat 1c is set up with this lens. The other 50 mm lenses are not matched to the autofocus cam and will have to be manually focussed.

3 - What has been said above is very true. Any reputable manufacturer's 5 or 6 element lens will be up to the job. Your limitation will be the film's grain and resolution rather than the enlarger lens. Also pay attention to the alignment and illumination of the enlarger. That said there are some very good 4-element lenses around, the Minolta Rokkor 4,5/50 is good, and the Taylor-Hobson 2" Ental is pretty much unbeatable, if you can find a decent one. Find out (from catalogues and experiment) what is the optimum aperture for the lens you use, it will probably be f5,6 or f8 and try to work at that aperture. 

[hirohhhh]

I just purchased my first enlarger and received a Focotar 50/4.5 lens with it. Based on the serial number, I think it was made in 1954.

This is the only lens I have, and I don't have much experience in a darkroom. How does this lens compare to other lenses, preferably from Leitz/Leica, in terms of sharpness, vignetting, etc.? Does it get any better than this? I plan to buy an 80mm lens for 6x6 negatives and want to get the best I can. If there's any other brand Rodenstock, Nikon that performs better, I'm open to hear the opinions.

So far, I have only been using a dirt cheap enlarger in a local community darkroom. I noticed that the lens wasn't very sharp and the enlarger wasn't perfectly adjusted, so I always had one soft corner. I thought this Focotar must be better.

[BernardC]

17 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

This is the only lens I have, and I don't have much experience in a darkroom. How does this lens compare to other lenses, preferably from Leitz/Leica, in terms of sharpness, vignetting, etc.? Does it get any better than this?

I wouldn't worry about your enlarging lens at this point. The Focotar is probably fine, if it's in good condition. Frankly, it's rare that you'll find a bad enlarging lens, especially when you stick to high-end models like the Focotar. You can find lenses that are obscured by haze or fog, which brings-down contrast and makes your prints look lifeless.

You'll get more benefit from aligning the enlarger properly, making sure that your focus is accurate, and that your negatives are flat (which depends on the type of enlarger and negative carrier).

 

[hirohhhh]

7 minutes ago, BernardC said:

I wouldn't worry about your enlarging lens at this point. The Focotar is probably fine, if it's in good condition. Frankly, it's rare that you'll find a bad enlarging lens, especially when you stick to high-end models like the Focotar. You can find lenses that are obscured by haze or fog, which brings-down contrast and makes your prints look lifeless.

You'll get more benefit from aligning the enlarger properly, making sure that your focus is accurate, and that your negatives are flat (which depends on the type of enlarger and negative carrier).

 

 

The enlarger I bought is aligned and sharp edge to edge, but the one I used in the community darkroom was either poor quality or just misaligned, making it impossible to get everything sharp by focusing or tilting the head.

I'm used to paying thousands of dollars for Leica camera lenses, and this Focotar (in perfect condition) cost me only $120, which seemed pretty cheap. So, I thought it might be an entry-level lens, even though it's Leica.

 

[BernardC]

4 minutes ago, hirohhhh said:

 

The enlarger I bought is aligned and sharp edge to edge, but the one I used in the community darkroom was either poor quality or just misaligned, making it impossible to get everything sharp by focusing or tilting the head.

I'm used to paying thousands of dollars for Leica camera lenses, and this Focotar (in perfect condition) cost me only $120, which seemed pretty cheap. So, I thought it might be an entry-level lens, even though it's Leica.

Used enlarging lenses can be surprisingly inexpensive. Let's hope that doesn't change too quickly.

The very best enlarging lenses are the Rodenstock Apo-Rodagons. They sell two types: the "D" is meant for duplication (1:1). That's not the one you want for an enlarger. The "N" is optimized for enlargement up-to 15x. They used to offer a 45 mm f/2.8 Apo-Rodagon-N that was optimized up-to 30x enlargement (equivalent to 1m on the long side from 35mm film).

[Danner]

Agree, any 6-element 50mm (or longer if you have the enlarger column height) will do an excellent job.  I personally use the EL Nikon 80mm lens for 35mm film most of the time.  I also use the Rodegon 50mm f/2.8 when larger enlargements are called for.  Both are excellent.