Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/11/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Daniel Ridings wrote: > > > I've replaced enlarger lenses which had gotten ever so slightly cloudy > > on the inside with a new fresh one (Nikons do that) and boy what a > > difference! > > I didn't know that. I have an old Nikkor on my desk now that is a little > cloudy. I guess I won't even bother using it for anything else than a > loupe. > > Daniel > -- Well I printed with all kinds of glass for years in various ongoing non perfect states you do what you can do. I have a cloudy 50 El Nikkor I've put a lot of light through over 20 years. Maybe I'll send it in to get cleaned or get a Rodenstock non apo. A new clear as a bell 63 El Nikkor, this has replaced the 50 for most of my 35mm work. But I need a 50. A cheap 75 El Nikkor I just gave to somebody. An 85 .5.6 El Nikkor which is one stop too slow for me so it's on the way out. I'm getting a Rodenstock f4. A 105 cloudy Schneider Componon I've not used in 20 years as it delivers slightly depressing results. I may feel sentimental about it as it was in my first darkroom setup. A 135 El Nikkor cheap and great for 7x7's on 8x10 paper from 6x6 negs. 4x5's from 35mm negs. And 4x5" negs. A 150 which I don't have is quite a lot more cash but probably reflected in quality. I don't do that much 4x5. A 180 partly cloudy Componon I got with my Beseler 5x7 coldlight a very long time ago. Not been used in decades but looks great on the shelf with the other enlarger lenses all lined up. It's huge and of marginal quality. Also there is the option to get it cleaned instead of getting another one. That would be more common I couldn't afford the down time. Or getting A Schneider or Rodenstock which don't have this problem hardly as much. Sealed better. And harder to take apart. Harder to clean if possible at all. They get cloudy over several decades. You get a real old one and put a light through it and you can see it's bumping into stuff. I'd not want a cloudy Loup. Would opt for a sunny one. Mark Rabiner Portland, Oregon USA http://www.rabinergroup.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html