Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I've been very interested with the discussion of enlarging lenses that has been going on. Years ago, Ken Hansen told me that he believed the best 35mm enlarging lens was the 50mm Focotar-2. I've had one for over ten years and have made comparisons with comparable Nikon and Schneider lenses by making prints from the same negative. I see discernable differences in the lenses and find the Focotar-2 to be superior in terms of over-all sharpness and contrast. I've have never compared the Focotar-2 to the APO Rodenstock and I would be very intterested in hearing from anyone who has made such a comparison. The Focotar-2 is a sweet lens but as I get older I squint more and more through that grain focuser and I wonder if a 2.8 Rodenstock wouldn't make life easier than the Focotar-2's f4.5. Most of my printing is in color using a old Durst RP40 processor on which I've changed gears to use it with RA chemistry. The enlarger is a Super Chromega D with a Dichroic II head. I would appreciate any comments. Ed Kowaleski