Are Leica enlarger lenses still made?

[Leicapaul]

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Which girl looks prettier, the blue eyed or her brown eyed sister ?

There are many members of the Rodenstock family, each of them supposed

- to work with a vast variety of darkroom equipment

- to be interchangeable not only with each other, but also with Schneider & friends

- to perform in a similar manner within a wide range of focal lengths, f.e. from 40 to 150mm

covering negs from 18x24mm to 4x5" and wider,

but there is just a handful of Focotar models, each of them more or less built to the special demands of the corresponding Focomat enlarger.

 

Nevertheless, none of all these lenses (not mentioning R's cheap triplets) ever really failed. Most

visual differences between them, you would find out working under strictly fixed conditions, will

be egalized by adapting paper exposure and development to your needs! On the other hand,

those who focus manually, will like the extra step of brightness, Apo-Rodagons offer, most Foco-

tars don't. Those using AF can rely upon Focotars' perfect adaption to the Focomat transmission

curve, with other lenses readjustments may be recommended here and there ....

 

If all this doesn't matter, you will find the same sharpness and perfect geometry in both types of

lenses, but remarkable differences in the way of colouring and fine contrasting the paper. I dare

to say, that technical reviewers would figure out somewhat superior MTF charts as well as an

easier controllable fine contrast behaviour as benefits for the very best Rodagons,

that, on the contrary,many artisans would prefer some slight non-linearity, which gives a certain

unique touch to the best Focotar prints, especially to b/w ones.

 

What's better, R.. or F... ?

[gyoung]

what is better, rodenstock or focotar?

 

In my experience, I would take a Focotar if the right focal length was available, otherwise almost invariably the Schneider equivalent has been better than Rodenstock, the 50mm /2.8 Rodenstock in my test all those years ago was worst of the four, more light fall off in the corners and less resolution at full aperture than Componon, Nikkor or Elmar.

And the cheap 50mm Rodenstocks we bought were really quite poor in relation to others of similar price.

 

Gerry

[Leicapaul]

In my experience, I would take a Focotar if the right focal length was available, otherwise almost invariably the Schneider equivalent has been better than Rodenstock, the 50mm /2.8 Rodenstock in my test all those years ago was worst of the four, more light fall off in the corners and less resolution at full aperture than Componon, Nikkor or Elmar.

And the cheap 50mm Rodenstocks we bought were really quite poor in relation to others of similar price.

 

Gerry

 

regarding just 50mm focal length, i agree with Gerry's statements. With 60mm (used in Focomat IIc)

things might be a bit, with 40mm (standard in V 35) even a bit more different from his experience .

Anyhow this short lens, probably an optical designer's nightmare, performs more like a modern

Componon or Rodagon than like one of the previous Focotars. Using it with a V35 there shouldn't

be any need for "better" lenses!

[pgk]

I just picked up a 5cm/3.5 Elmar enlarging lens ('FOOLY') in pretty good condition. Can anyone comment on its age/performance?

[Leicapaul]

Don't run for silver, if you may get gold: REPROVIT ELMAR 3,5/50

 

Congratulations, you've got one of the very best tools for close ups wherever you need them in front

o any bellows, probably made in the fifties or sixties of the past century. Copy your slides, enlarge your negs or "burn" them to a 24MP supersensor. Anyhow, feel happy to know, there is nowhere

more exacting!

[tobey bilek]

For what it is worth, 17671 will not fit the last 50 2.8 version. The inner bayonet lock is is just a bit larger than the original. Oh well it was a good idea.

 

The original 50 2.8 in the Focotar 1C is but ok. About like the first 50 4.5. at 8x.

 

The two best are still the Focotar 2 and the middle version with the 3/4 inch front element for normal size printing. Each has advantages

 

For very large prints, a lens unit from the 1969 version 3 Summicron is to be preferred. Lens units from DR/Rigid were also nice in the large range, howerver they have more field curvature than the 1969 Ver 3 Summicron.

 

65 Elmars are also ok for any size print, black better than chrome. I used an extension tube as a jam nut. Tried this set up on a 4x5 Omega though. No way to get it on a Focomat easily.

[James Purchase]

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I just picked up a 5cm/3.5 Elmar enlarging lens ('FOOLY') in pretty good condition. Can anyone comment on its age/performance?

 

My first enlarger/lens was a Leitz Focotar 1a with a 5cm/3.5 Elmar. I can't quote stats, but I can attest to the quality of the combination. You could almost "feel" the model's skin in 11x14" enlargements. I made a lot of money with that combination.

 

I've just acquired a Focomat V 35 with a Focotar 40/2.8 and am looking forward to many happy years using it.

 

James Purchase

Toronto