Graflarger setup, should I buy an enlarging lens?

[djacobox372]

I'm using a graflarger back on my old speed graphic to make enlargements from 4x5 negatives. I've been pleased with the results so far, but I'm curious is there's any benefit to using a enlarger lens over the the 150mm Fujinon I have been using.

I can assume that a vintage graflex lens would result in low contrast prints, but the lens I'm using is more modern, and creates great contrast in the negatives--wouldn't it work just as well in reverse? Would I see any improvement if I used say, a 135mm el nikkor instead?

Thanks!

[fschifano]

Enlarging lenses are optimized for a flat field, and you might see some improvement with high magnification enlargements out to the corners when the center is in perfect focus. That said, the real old timer often used the same lens for taking and enlarging with good results. If you're happy with what you have, keep using it. I think you'd be better served by taking the money you'd use for an enlarging lens and putting it towards a proper 4x5 enlarger with a good 135 mm or 150 mm enlarging lens for your 4x5 negatives. If you get lucky you might even find one with a decent enlarging lens for not much more than the cost of the lens. That's the market right now. Shipping cost for enlargers is high, detracting from the selling price. Better if you can find one locally.

[djacobox372]

Thanks for the advice... for now I like my graflarger, I live in a small space so storing a 4x5 enlarger is a hassle. I think I'll save my $$ so when I move I can buy a proper setup.

[Eric Rose]

People keep harping about how enlarging lens are designed for flat field blah blah blah so you should not use taking lenses. That may be true for the first part but I'll beat they have never tried using a taking lens to enlarge? Probably they are just parroting what they have heard others say.

Well I will give you the skinny. Go ahead and use your taking lenses. They work just fine. I have used them with great results for both B&W and colour. Now if your life revolves around printing test targets then maybe you might, and I say might, see a difference.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I usually use an enlarging lens when I use the Graflarger, since I have enlarging lenses and a lensboard with the right size hole. I think it's sharper than any of my taking lenses for enlarging purposes.

The main difficulty with the Graflarger is the ramp time of the bulb since it doesn't have a heater. One way around that is to use a lens with a shutter, so that you can open and close it, but the Graflarger head leaks a lot of light, and I don't think you would want it on all the time. I added some extra baffling around the slot where the neg carrier is inserted to cut that down somewhat. A compensating timer like a Metrolux would be ideal.

If you use VC paper, you might want to add about a CC40Y filter for more linear results or when Aristo figures out what they're doing since they were bought out, you should be able to upgrade the bulb to a V54.

[ricksplace]

Frank's answer is excellent advice. I have used a 127/4.5 Ektar as a taking and enlarging lens. While the lens is adequate for enlarging, you will get better results with an enlarging lens of good quality. Look for a Componon or Rodagon in 135 to 150mm. The slower lenses are just as good as the faster lenses and are often considerably cheaper. Lots of them on ebay.

[BetterSense]

Also keh.com. I'm not sure about LF focal lengths but you can buy random enlarging lenses on keh for <$20 sometimes.

[Nicholas Lindan]

The 150 Fujinon W is a 6-element 'double-gauss' design and it should have a very flat field, even though this is not a prime design consideration for a taking lens.

You are unlikely to see any difference with a 'real' enlarging lens. OTOH, used enlarging lenses are selling at almost give-away prices.

Graflargers with taking lenses got a less than stellar reputation when enlargements were made with short 127 mm lenses. The Raptar/Optar lenses were probably the worst performers.

[VaryaV]

Please post your results as I have recently picked up a Graflarger and have yet to use it. I would love to see your results (or anyone else who uses one).

How exciting and good luck.