A rare bird Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40 vs Hexanon 1.8/40

[alex ph]

It seems to be a rare bird at large in internet, as it is a rather special purpose 6-glass enlarger lens which fetches pretty bold price tag when new. Mine is not at all new and pretty well used (thus cheap), but with a well preserved glass.

As it is often the case with Rodenstock lenses, colour rendering and sharpness are just fabulous.

Put on Sony Nex WO with a Chinese helicoid it works just fine, covering a distance range from approx. 10 cm to infinity.

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Info about the WA lenses at the Rodenstock web site.

Edit: added Hexanon comparison in the thread title.

[alex ph]

For note, some tech details from another useful brochure.

Optical scheme of the lens



Recommended scale 4x ... 20x. Optimum reproduction scale 10x.

The brochure also describes a pretty weird system of supplementary snap-on lenses which change the focal length of Rodagons in fraction of mms, for example the 40mm lens becomes 39.9mm or 40.3mm. Curious to which purpose such fine graded lenses could serve and at which extent they could affect the IQ (geven the high Rodenstock standards).

[simple.joy]

[alex ph]

Thank you! I've seen this test, nicely made, before satisfying my GAS. I'v got a classic enlarger version of the lens, with the diaphragm mechanism.

I am going to try the lens on Sony A7 in the next days and will post results. I will also add a 100% crop to give a better idea of the lens' rendering. My first test shots did not seem to give appropriate material for a large size inspection.

[IAZA]

congratz.. it's a nice lens indeed. I don't know this lens is rare, but you can check my samples here http://forum.mflenses.com/rodenstock-rodagon-40-4-wa-t82528,highlight,%2Brodagon+%2B40.html

[simple.joy]

[alex ph]

Great samples, Iaza and simple.joy!

I took my Rodagon-WA for a walk as a common photo lens which was easy with a Chineses helicoid. I confirm Iaza's observation that it has a pretty short focusing move, so one need to use focus peaking. But the results are really awarding.

All shots below are taken with Sony A7, at apertures f4 and f5.6.

A very pleasant all-rounder!


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I don't put here larger crops, as long as simple.joy attested himself the lens' performance.

[Ultrapix]

Too much perfect: boring!

[alex ph]

To chill out from the perfection, you are welcome to this thread!

[simple.joy]

[LittleAlex]

[alex ph]

Thank you, simple.joy and LittleAlex!

To calm down a bit the appetite, here is a couple of shots from another realm. Bokeh is pleasing to the eye.

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[simple.joy]

[serkol]

[alex ph]

Thank you, fellows!

Results of a simple BW conversion are also found to be gracious, thanks to the fine lens rendering.

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[alex ph]

I decided to compare the Rodagon-WA 4/40 with a Hexanon 1.8/40, reputed for its sharpness and set to f4.

Both are put on Sony A7 handheld and swapped instantly in the the same scenery thanks to different adapters attached to each lens. The shots are SOOC jpeg.

I'd say Rodagon stands really well in front of the Hexanon and sometimes beats it in terms of colour, flare resistance and sharpness across the field. The overall SOOC image coming from Rodagon is punchier (easily modifiable in PP), while Hexanon gives a finer bokeh and the Rodagon's is naturally round WO and nicer highlighted. Besides, Hexanon's MFD of 45cm does not allow real close-ups, while Rodagon has a much more versatile distance coverage thanks to a Chinese helicoid.

So here follows a paired side-by-side comparison.

#1 Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40, WO, SOOC


#2 Konica Hexanon 1.8/40, at f4, SOOC


#3 Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40, WO, SOOC


#4 Konica Hexanon 1.8/40, at f4, SOOC


#5 Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40, WO, SOOC


#6 Konica Hexanon 1.8/40, at f4, SOOC


#7 Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40, WO, SOOC


#8 Konica Hexanon 1.8/40, at f4, SOOC


#9 Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40, at f5.6, SOOC


#10 Konica Hexanon 1.8/40, at f5.6, SOOC


#11 Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40, WO, autocontrast


#12 A 100% crop from the previous, SOOC, excellent edge sharpness


#13 Konica Hexanon 1.8/40, at f4, autocontrast


#14 A 100% crop from the previous, SOOC, slightly weaker edge sharpness


#15 Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40, WO, SOOC, in-camera +1 exposure compensation


#16 Konica Hexanon 1.8/40, at f4, SOOC, in-camera +1 exposure compensation


#17 Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40, WO, SOOC, bokeh demonstation


#18 Konica Hexanon 1.8/40, at f4 and MFD, SOOC, bokeh demonstation


#19 Rodenstock Rodagon-WA 4/40, WO, SOOC, a Chinese helicoid allows a closer focus distance (here even not at MFD)

[blotafton]

Some really nice shots in this thread, looks like a fine lens.

[alex ph]

Glad you liked it! To use this lens is a very pleasing experience.

#1 Sooc jpg resized


#2 Contrast slightly corrected


#3 Sooc jpg resized

[serkol]

Great lens! I'm already looking for one

[alex ph]

Wish you a good luck!

[serkol]

I have it! Very nice small compact lens with good resolution, micro contrast and color

_fp00202_iWE+f by D0K, on Flickr

[eggplant]

[alex ph]

Congrats with the nice acquisition, Sergey!

[serkol]

[alex ph]

The colours please the eye!