[rollei_list] Re: Xenar test roll is back
- From: daxelb@xxxxxxx
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:15:45 -0500
Hi,
Yes, I agree that my experience is purely anecdotal and not scientific. I am
far from an expert on these technical matters and am always grateful that
Rollei List is peopled with experts like yourself and Richard to put things
into perspective (no pun intended).
My friend's El-Nikkor is newer (and I'm sure much cleaner) than mine which
likely accounts for the improved contrast.
Thank-you Mark for your input.
Sincerely,
David
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Rabiner <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Fri, Feb 5, 2010 10:19 am
Subject: [rollei_list] Re: Xenar test roll is back
Just as I'm a guy who does not think going out with a lens hand held makes
for a "lens test" I'm also a guy who thinks that printing in a rental
darkroom some prints with one lens, in this case a universally acclaimed
Leitz Focomat, tells us anything like its just as good or whatever to some
other lens like I guess in this case an El-Nikkor you've got at home.
That's 99.9 % subjectivity .01% science.
I've used El-Nikkor's in the darkroom for 40 years they are the standard of
the industry and in no case any cause for embarrassment.
They are not very well sealed and will become grundgy in a decade. A new one
is always better. The German glass do not not have this issue. They stay
clean inside for your printing lifetime in most cases.
Going again I'd pay a little more for an El- Schneider or El-Rodenstock.
Compare an El-Nikkor to an APO Rodagon (costing twice as much if not three
times) in careful testing no I'm afraid not. Big surprise. The APO Rodagon
tests out as a higher class of lens. As does the Leitz.
Two El-Nikkor's stand out as higher class of lens above the rest of the
line.
The 63mm 2.8 and the El-Nikkor 150mm f/5.6
And the prices indicate this they seem to be a full price point above the
rest of the El-Nikkor line. But this has tested out over the years by
articles you'd read in which careful tests were made normally using some
testing gear. And they have that reputation.
Another issue is if your enlarger is in perfect alignment or not and they
rarely are unless they are yours and you are on top of it.
You can get the laser beam thing but I'd always felt the zig-align was a
far better tool.
http://www.zig-align.com/
And your technique; like are you using a good grain magnifier.
In my own darkroom I'd know that my enlarger was in alignment.
At a rental I'd assume not.
So at a rental I'm stopping down three not two.
[Rabs]
Mark William Rabiner
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