How do the El Nikkors compare in quality to the Schneider (Componon) and Rodenstock (Rodogon) lenses?

-- Peter Schauss (schauss@worldnet.att.net), April 03, 2002

Answers

I was part of an enlarging lens test in 1982, Sch vs. Rod. vs. Nikon. The EL-Nikkors were sharpest and cheapest, and the owner re-equipped the lab with them. Since then, I've used Rodenstocks and El-Nikkors in many focal lengths, 50mm-360mm. They are all very high quality lenses and could never trace a fault in a print due to the lens. I would be confident of Schneider quality too, just haven't as much experience with them. I would make sure the lens you use is suited to your needs, and that your enlarger is properly aligned. That's extremely important!

-- Mark Sampson (MSampson45@aol.com), April 03, 2002.

I have an EL-Nikkor & a Rodenstock lens for my enlarger. There is no difference that I can see either to the naked eye or through my grain focuser. In addition I have some experience printing with Schneider lenses also very fine. I would go with the best price, quality is about the same.

-- Robert Orofino (minotaur1949@iopener.net), April 03, 2002.

The El-Nikkor 50mm f/4 and 75mm f/4 are 4 element designs. All other El-Nikkor lenses have 6 elements in 4 groups, which is a superior design (with better measurable resolution than 4 element lenses). All Rodenstock Rodagon and Schneider Componon-S lenses also have 6 elements in 4 groups.

All of the 6 element designs from these manufacturers are considered to be fairly close in quality, although the Schneider Componon-S lenses are usually consider slightly better (although maybe not visibly better). On the other hand, the El-Nikkors cost less, both new and used. If you are looking for a new lens, B&H Photo sells gray market (perfectly legal for Nikon products) lenses at incredible prices. Since there is not much that can go wrong with an enlarging lens, the Nikon USA warranty may not worth paying for (B&H warrants gray market lenses itself). B&H Photo also sells El-Nikkors with the Nikon USA warranty so you can see the difference in price.

When using these lenses, the optimum aperture is 2 stops closed from wide open. At this aperture, you would hard pressed to see the difference between any of the 6 element lenses.

-- Michael Feldman (mfeldman@qwest.net), April 03, 2002.

Ctein, a writer who has done a lot of testing, compares lenses in his book _Postexposure_. He claims that there is considerable individual variation in enlarging lenses, and that one should have a return privilege when buying an enlarger lens. That said, I noticed a great improvement when I went from a 1970 El Nikkor 50/2.8 to an APO Rodagon, also 50/2.8, which I bought used at a photo show. I print only B&W.

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@metrocast.net), April 06, 2002.