I just bought an old Omega B-8 with a cold light. It just arrived today. I got some cheap lenses with the package, but for obvious reasons want to get as good a lens as I can afford. I would like to stay within $200. The obvious choices to me are the Nikkon EL 80mm and the Schneider Componon S 80mm. Either one will probably be bought on e-bay. I live in an extrememly rural area, and even when I make the hour and a half drive to the nearest "big" city, the photographic shopping is always dissapointing, to say the least. I saw a 80mm Schneider Componon chrome lens. No "S". How would this be for 35mm? Is it a good deal to get the older chrome lenses? I'm out of my element here (no pun intended) and would appreciate any suggestions for a quality 80mm enlarging lens for 35mm. 90% of my prints are on 5x8 paper, and some on 7x11. Thanks for any help.

-- John Kilmer (tcompton@citlink.net), May 11, 2000

Answers

My stock advice is to stick with 50mm, but for your smaller prints, 80mm makes sense. Not only will the enlarger height be more convienent, but the longer lens is probably optimized for lower magnification. At that print size, I don't think you'll see much difference between good lenses, so the older Schneider might be fine. Personally, I'd avoid the perils of eBay and just buy a new lens from B&H. I don't know the price, but you might also look at the 63mm EL- Nikkor. I assume from your print sizes that you typically print full frame. I just started cutting 11x14 paper down to 7x10 plus a small test strip, and that seems to be a nice print format.

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), May 11, 2000.

You are correct, Conrad. I print full frame. I was not aware that there is a Nikkor EL 63mm enlarging lens. I'll look into that, also. It is an unusual size for an enlarging lens. Do you happen to know Nikon's reason for this? I also apologize for posting this on the "film" section. I meant to have this in the "printing" board, but forgot where I was after surfing and reading for two hours.

-- John Kilmer (tcompton@citlink.net), May 11, 2000.

EL-Nikkor (except the 75/4, which is a cheaper 4 element lens), Rodagon and Componon-S are all great lenses. I like the Componon-S the best because of the way the f-stop lever works.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), May 11, 2000.

The 63mm EL-Nikkor is an oddball, but a very good lens. I heard some story about it being designed for 35mm, plus some type of data or test target area on one edge. Don't know if this is true, or it's just for some intermediate format. I have one and can't tell any significant quality difference between it and the 50mm. Don't forget that you should have a condenser setup that more or less matches the lens in use. I suspect the 63 would work with either the 35 or 2 1/4 condenser setup, but be sure to get return privledges if you don't like it.

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), May 11, 2000.

I don't want to spark off the Componon-s versus Componon debate that was raging in the printing forum again.... but. All I'll say is that you'd have to look very critically to see any difference between results from the two lenses, especially with a print size smaller than 12 x 16. If the glass of the chrome Componon is in good condition, and it's the right price, grab it.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), May 12, 2000.

If you can find a good used Leitz Focotar that's the best. If not an El Nikkor or a Companon

-- Tony Brookes (gdz00@lineone.net), May 12, 2000.

I have probably used almost all enlarging lenses ever made from 30 mm to 360mm. If you are printing 35mm negatives I think that the El- Nikor 63 (actually I thought it was a 62mm) is probably the sharpest I have ever used without exception, and I am a huge Schneider Companon S fan. I would recommend the El-Nikor without hesitation. Fred Imaging Services Marshall Space Flight Center

-- fred (fdeaton@hiwaay.net), May 13, 2000.