Enlarging lens for bellows recommendations

[martinsmith99]

Can anyone recommend a good lens for my russian bellows? Priced around 50GBP give or take a little.

I've heard that enlarging lenses monted reversed produce good results. I've no knowledge of these. Presumably they still have filter rings to allows for a reversing adapter?

[no-X]

Many enlarging lenses produces stunning results even if used in standard way. As for meopta lenses (which are cheap and very very good), there are 3 product lines:

1. Meogon - the top line
2. Anaret - also a top product
3. Belar - this name is used for worse copies of Anarets

I sold a box of meopta enlarger lenses a few months ago, I kept only Meogon 60/5.6, because I had very good references for this one. I must say, that the lens really shines. Very sharp, very good bokeh, light and small.

[scsambrook]

Enlarging lenses don't usually have threaded front mounts, but as no-X correctly says they seem to work very well on bellows anyway. Probably the best-buy for trying bellows work is the El-Nikkor 50mm f4 - they still sell very cheaply and mine seems to be very crisp indeed. I've recently bought a 50mm Schneider Componon and a Leitz Focotar 60mm but I've just not yet had the chance to try them carefully. I'll post some results in due course.

The 50mm lenses will give you images larger than life-size on the sensor (or film) so they're only good for really close work on small objects. The longer focal lengths may let you work out to infinity (depending on your bellows set-up) but they are beginning to sell for higher prices so if you fancy trying them this is probably the right time to invest. My Componon cost me £7.50, the Focotar just over £20, but the El-Nikkor only £5, as I remember. The Scots have a reputation for being very careful with their spending - !

Most German and Japanese enlarging lenses up to 135mm have the 39mm Leica thread, but the Schneider ones (and probably others) come in a variety of sizes. English ones come in a variety of sizes, one-inch, 1.25 inches, and 39mm as well. Adapters can still be found at camera fairs and on Ebay, and being simpy threaded collars ought to be made-up at reasonable cost.

[martinsmith99]

Thanks for the advice.

So I will likely only need a M39/Leica to M42 adapter?

[no-X]

I use the one, which has 1mm disc for dismounting - the cheap-ones, which are manufactured only as M39-M42 rings, are not good if you want to use several lenses or equipment on them.

[martinsmith99]

Not sure I've seen any of those on the auction site. Where did you get yours?

[scsambrook]

[jjphoto]

There are lots of cheap enlarging lenses that work well for macro.

[no-X]

[kds315*]

There are much cheaper russian ones on ebay. I guess I payed $15 for three.

[martinsmith99]

Thanks for the links. Those didn't show up in a search on ebay.co.uk.