Which enlarger lenses to keep?

I have 3 enlargers (I know...too many) and want to set up a dark room to do some printing.

1-Beseler 45MX II

2-Beseler 23C II

3-Durst 606

 

Which of these lenses would you keep and which to sell/trade/etc?

 

Fujinon-ES 135/4.5

Taylor Taylor Tayon 135/4.5

Vivitar 135/4.5

Beslar 75/3.5

EL-Nikkor 50/2.8 (N) VHE 50/3.5

Vivitar 105/4.5

Rodenstock Rodagon 80/4.0

Rodenstock Omegaron 90/4.5

Rodenstock Rodagon 80/5.6

Rodenstock Rodagon 135/5.6

 

Are any of these lenses good/bad/ugly?

 

Thanks,

J

Edited September 9, 2017 by durr3

It depends on what format you want to print. 4x5, keep the Rodenstock135 among the ones you have listed hands down. 35mm, keep the Nikkor. Medium format, find an 80 (85??) Nikkor. The Fujinon may be pretty good, I don't know. I probably wouldn't worry about the rest, sell them off.

 

Rick H.

As said by the previous poster: It depends what formats you intend printing, and at what size. The focal lengths you have will cover 35mm, 645 or 6x6, 6x7, 6x9 and 5"x4" at up to about 4x magnification.

 

Assuming their condition is perfect; all the Rodagons will be excellent, but you don't have a 50mm among them, so also keep the El-Nikkor. (Not a huge fan of Nikon enlarging lenses, but they're OK.)

 

If you don't print 6x7, then lose the Omegaron.

 

You'll also need the 105mm Vivitar if you intend to print 6x9, but I'd look around for a Rodagon, Componon-S or El-Nikkor to replace it.

 

The Vivitars, VHE, Beslar and TTH lenses are low-end rubbish. Sell 'em for anything you can get for 'em. The TTH lens was good in its day, but must be ancient.

 

The 80mm f/4 Rodagon is probably slightly more useful than the f/5.6 version. So sell the f/5.6.

 

Fujinon lenses are highly regarded, but I'm not familiar with the 135mm f/4.5 ES. However its f/4.5 aperture makes me suspect it might only be a 4 element design, and therefore inferior to the 6 element Rodagon.

 

All the above is dependent on the lenses being in mint optical condition. Anything damaged should be considered for disposal or replacement.

Edited September 10, 2017 by rodeo_joe|1

What is a fair price for these:

Vivitar 105/4.5

Fujinon-ES 135/4.5 (I have two of these)

Taylor Taylor Tayon 135/4.5 (I also have ttwo of these)

Vivitar 135/4.5

Beslar 75/3.5

Keep the good ones. That leave the junk ,which is worth next to nothing. Might as well keep 'em all.

You're lucky to find a buyer for second or third-rate enlarger lenses.

 

As a job lot you might realise £25 to 30 UK or the equivalent in your local currency. Maybe a charity shop could benefit?

 

With ebay prices being totally disconnected from reality, you might get more from some mug with an itchy auction finger, but then you have P&P to deal with.

Oh well ............