What an enlarging lens exactly does?

pdesopo · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 83

I saw this post today: http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=27470

and now I'm curious about the enlarging lenses. Are they somehow similar to the extension tubes?
This is pretty close to what I've right now:
http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Focus-Extension-Digital-Cameras/dp/B002YIY44O/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1314905173&sr=8-18

By the way, is it possible to mount that particular enlarging lens on a 7D?

indianadinos · Expire: 2011-12-05

Hi,

Well, enlarging lenses are not exactly like an extension tube ...
They are lenses made for projection (film on paper), thus mostly uncoated (at least on the front face).
Nevertheless, they are almost flat field (i.e., they don't suffer of distortion) and almost CA-free ...
Because of the short register distance, they may be used as macro lenses once mounted on bellows or focusing helicals, usually with great results (especially when using the 6-elements ones, like the EL-Nikkor 50/2.8 ) ...

Usually, these lenses come with an M39 threaded mount, so that an M39-to-M42 adapter ring is enough for mounting them on most cameras (provided that you have the right M42 adapter), including your 7D Wink

...

pdesopo · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 83

indianadinos.,

thanks for the explanation. The idea of the macro is interesting, I actually have to shoot something about that. So far I'm trying to get this done with the extension tube, not bad but I'd be curious to see what results are possible to achieve with the enlarger lens.
Actually I haven't found samples around but it seems there are several lenses on ebay under this category. No one of them come with the description about the mount type though. The range goes from about 15 to 75 bucks.
I'll investigate a bit more on this.

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

Some ways of using an enlarger lens -

You can use just extension tubes - but you have to focus by moving the camera - focusing extension tubes, which are a bit rare, or best of all bellows. Its easy to find bellows for any lens mount.

The easiest way to mount the smaller enlarger lenses is to use a plastic body cap - the protective cap that goes on the lens mount when you want to put away your camera without a lens. These are very cheap and its easy to drill a hole to fit the lens. This cap will also fit on the bellows or extension tubes that go with your camera.

Many enlarger lenses do not have M39 thread, and the seller usually can't tell you what kind of thread it has.

If you want your enlarger lens to focus to infinity, you need to get at least a 90mm, or better a longer focal length. If you just want macro 50mm is OK and very cheap.

http://forum.mflenses.com/elgeet-90-4-5-enlarger-lens-flash-t9356,highlight,%2Benlarger.html

http://forum.mflenses.com/wollensak-enlarger-105-4-5-on-bellows-t6369,highlight,%2Benlarger.html

http://forum.mflenses.com/bauschandlomb-tessar-164-4-5-enlarger-lens-on-bellows-t11018,highlight,%2Benlarger.html

http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=7250&highlight=%2Bwollensak&sid=54d8285fc15efb611d3b13e498598f0d

http://forum.mflenses.com/elgeet-colorstigmat-4-5-135-enlarging-lens-t26252,highlight,%2Benlarging.html

pdesopo · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 83

luisalegria,

really interesting, thank you for all the useful info.
You've such nice pictures made with these lenses.

indianadinos · Expire: 2011-12-05

Here are some samples, with a focusing helical and an EL Nikkor 50/2.8 (6-elements) in M39 mount:

At f/2.8:

EL Nikkor 50 2.8 at 2.8 - _MG_3496 by indianadinos, on Flickr

At f/4:

EL-Nikkor 50 2.8 at f4 - _MG_5137 by indianadinos, on Flickr

Another sample with a Taylor-Hobson Ental II 4.25 in. f/4.5, used wide open on a bellows:

Taylor-Hobson Ental II f4.5 - IMGP3233 by indianadinos, on Flickr

Here's how it looks on my K10D:

Focusing Helical - _MG_4752 by indianadinos, on Flickr

Here's a Taylor-Hobson Ental 80/4.5 (M32 mount) with a focusing helical on my 5DII:

Focusing Helical - _IGP5400 by indianadinos, on Flickr

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I'm all to hell tonight, my post should have been in another topic. Rolling Eyes

pdesopo · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 83

@ Lloydy: that's a setup Smile

@ indianadinos: lovely renders, especially the butterfly and the flower.
About the focusing helical, is this what you mean?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=m42+focusing&_sacat=0&_odkw=m42+helical&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

If so they're not cheap. Also, from my understanding a M42 enlarger should already work with a simple M42 adapter, is that correct? If so, what's the benefit to mount it on a focusing helical?

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

An enlarging lens has no focusing mechanism, so if you just mount it in an adapter it will only be in focus at one distance from the camera.

That can work, particularly in macro, if that fixed distance gives you what you want. You can also use extension rings to change the fixed distance to a different fixed distance.

Bellows give you full focus control, and much more extension than focusing helicals, though they are not so cmall.

Extension rings and Bellows are also much cheaper than focusing helicals.

pdesopo · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 83

luisalegria,

perfectly clear, thank you for the explanation.
I already have the extension tube, I could give it a try first to see if the fixed distance may work fine. If not I'll look for a bellow.

indianadinos · Expire: 2011-12-05