Rodenstock Ysaron on bellows

scsambrook · Expire: 2011-11-18

I'm not sure why I should be messing about with an enlarging lens on a bellows unit when I have a 90mm Tamron, but sometimes it's nice to try these things ...

Rodenstock Ysaron, 75mm f4.5 enlarging lens, which I think is a 'simple' 3-element triplet made in the 70s or 80s. Shot on a Pentax K10d, stopped down to f8 in the evening light today, and the actual bud is about 25mm across. I like the 'gentle' quality which gives something of the feeling of a pastel drawing - I think it's what used to be termed 'plasticity'.

If we ever get a day without a breeze blowing I'll give it another try - keeping the flowers still is a real problem here.

Jesito · Expire: 2015-01-07

Not bad at all, I like the results!

Regards.

Jes.

patrickh · Expire: 2011-11-18

Those enlarging lenses are a big surprise. I have a few now - couple of Rodenstocks and El Nikkors. They seem to have a consistently mellow OOF and the ElNikkors are extremely sharp.

patrickh

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

I've got a 50mm Schneider lens on bellows, but I find it too much even at minimal extension. I've been meaning to try the Tamron 90 on there just to see how it handles.

patrickh · Expire: 2011-11-18

For routine bellows work look into an enlarging lens of 75mm or more. Gives more room to work

patrickh

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I have a few M39 enlargers lenses, either Rodenstock Rodagons or Schneider Comparons and Componons, all between 50 and 150mm, and i agree, the ones of 100mm or more are easier to use because you don't have to get so close. I'm going to get a longer enlarger lens when I see one cheap or an APO-Rodagon if I see one cheap.

RioRico · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:18 am Post subject:

I love shooting with enlarger lenses and other bellows- and tube-mounted glass, both for macro and general non-macro work. Here is some of what I've learned:

* EL's are prone to flaring. That's not surprising; they're not meant to be aimed into light sources! A hood is needed for much general work.

* Collect the entire set! That can be difficult, especially at the short end. 35mm EL's are rare and generally expensive, even the average ones. 50's are common; 75's are common as dirt, and about as cheap.

* EL's shorter than 75mm are usually better on tubes, not bellows, because a bellows' large minimum extension distance prevents infinity focus. A short focusing helicoid would also work -- but such are costly.

* On my Pentax K20D, EL's longer than 80mm can reach infinity focus on most bellows I've tried. But lenses around 75-80mm on tubes can be fixed-focused to a good portrait distance, say around 1.5-2m.

* Lenses salvaged from trashed MF cameras (folders, boxes, etc) are often in the 70-105mm range. They're good for a 'period' feel to images.

* 35mm slide projector lenses are often in the 60-150mm range. Some projector lenses are on focusing tubes; I glue M42-PK adapters onto those, to mount directly. Some have fat bodies; I cut off unnecessary portions, and glue-on a cheap PK macro tube section, and use PK tubes as the mount adapter kit.

* Projector and process and xray and other non-EL's usually lack an iris. No aperture?!?!? Shoot wide-open for character! Or a makeshift choke or Waterhouse stop can be inserted behind the lens, for some sharpening.

* Lenses longer than 140mm need LOTS of extension. A heavy 300mm MF lens hangs precariously at the end of a long bellows+tubes kludge. Lenses in the 90-140mm range are most straightforward for general use.

* Use an EL in the 90-140mm range on bellows for street shooting. The rig will draw attention, rather than what you're aiming at. It's camouflage!

That's all I can think of right now.

patrickh · Expire: 2011-11-18

Nice to see enlarging lenses finding a home like this. The prices are starting to reflect the new usage too. I now have a decent collection from 50 upwards to 150 in Schneider Componon-S, Rodenstock Rodagons (cannot afford the APO's) and El Nikkors. I recently added a Komura, Kodak and Fujinon, but have not been able to test them (very bad weather here for some time).

patrickh