Schneider and Rodenstock both made a lot of great enlarging lenses. But Schneider\'s shortest lens was 28mm. Rodenstock made a 25mm. Well, actually, there were a few of them. Optically, they were all the same lens, but they differed slightly with variations in their names in part because Rodenstock\'s lenses were marketed by different firms. This was common practice way back when, and it sometimes made it difficult to determine what company actually made the photographic product in question. Bell & Howell, Honeywell, Sears and Vivitar are just a few of the marketing firms that, at first, put their own names on the products made by other companies, such as Canon, Pentax, Ricoh and Kiron, respectively. Rodenstock lenses had a similar history. At first they were marketed in the USA by Berkey Marketing Company (BMC). This company also marketed Konica cameras, Tamron lenses, Ascor flashes, Gossen meters, Toyo view cameras, and more. Their line of darkroom equipment was called Omega (see photo #2) and their enlarging lenses were made by Rodenstock. Berkey marketed these Rodenstock enlarging lenses under several names, such as: Rodenstock-Omegaron, Rodenstock Rogonar and Rodenstock Rogonar-S. When Rodenstock started doing their own marketing in the US, the Rodenstock-Omegaron lenses were mostly renamed Rodenstock Rogonar-S -- along with some very minor cosmetic changes. Specifically, the original Omegaron version of the 28mm f4 would not open wider than f4. But the later Omegaron and the Rogonar-S versions do, but at most they only open to f3.9 (just a guess) as it is not marked. Also, the Omegaron versions are slightly tapered while the Rogonar-S version is straighter (see photo #3). In addition, the f-stop ring is slightly different on each -- it is finer milled on the Rogonar-S -- but it makes no difference in operation. FYI, there are some supposedly reputable websites that clearly state that the difference between Rogonar and Rogonar-S lenses is that the Rogonar lenses are three element and the Rogonar-S lenses are four element. They also claim that the Rogonar-S lenses are designed for higher magnification. I can assure you that neither of these claims are true. Most Rogonar lenses are four element and designed for the same magnification as their Rogonar-S brethren.The Rodenstock 25mm f4 enlarging lenses were designed for subminiature formats such as 13x17mm (Kiev), 12x17mm, 110 (Instamatic), 14x14mm (Hit), and 10x14 (16mm). But it can also be used with even smaller formats such as Minox and even 8mm, and will probably work fine for Tessina (14x21mm), as well.. The lens features an f4.0 maximum aperture and click stops on each full f-stop. It has a four-element, three-group design with f-stops to f16. It\'s optimum magnification is 20X but it is perfectly at home with other magnifications (see below). It does not have an illuminated aperture scale (that makes it great for macro use -- see below), click-stop over-ride, or a preset aperture. It has three blades in the diaphragm / aperture. It weighs 2 ounces (55 grams), diameter is 1.5\" (40mm), length is 1\" (25mm). It\'s mounting thread is 32.5mm. This thread was used on four of Rodenstock\'s lens and many enlarger companies make (or made) lensboards for these lenses -- some threaded, some not. So here are your options for attaching this lens to an enlarger:
- A lensboard with a hole cut with a 32.5mm thread.
- A lensboard with a 35mm hole. You supply a 32.5mm jam nut / retaining ring. (FYI, the jam nut / retaining ring for the Copal #1 shutter is the same size.)
- A lensboard with a hole cut with a 39mm (Leica) thread. You supply a 39mm-to-32.5mm step-down ring / adapter.
- A lensboard with a 40mm hole. You supply a 39mm-to-32.5mm step-down ring / adapter and a 39mm jam nut / retaining ring.
Another thing to be aware of is that this lens is NOT a recessed design, but you might not need a recessed lensboard for your enlarger. It all depends on how much your enlarger bellows can collapse. If you do need a recessed board, these are cheap and easy to get for most enlargers. A 1/2” recession might be all you need. That\'s what mine is -- for a Beseler 4x5 enlarger (see picture #8 -- NOT included).
While this lens was designed for enlarging work it also makes, like most enlarging lenses, a perfect macro/micro lens and can be used on any size film or digital camera with interchangeable lenses – from subminature / pocketable to large format sheet / panel cameras. Depending on your setup and the amount of extension that you have available, you can go from about 1:1 life size to about 30 times life size -- or higher! The f4 maximum aperture produces a very bright image in the viewfinder / ground glass -- for EASY focusing, but like all lenses, it is best to stop down to about f8 during the exposure for the best possible resolution. You might want to stop down even more to get more depth of field -- which is pretty darn thin at high magnifications.But in order to use this lens as a micro or macro lens you will need a couple of things. First, you will need a means of creating extension between the lens and your camera. This can be a bellows or a set of extension tubes -- or both! If your camera has a TTL (Through the Lens) meter, like most do, it will do the necessary exposure correction for you -- or you can do it yourself. Secondly, you will also need an adapter to place this lens on your extension device. The easiest way to do this is to adapt the lens to the standard 39mm Leica thread (see above). Just about every camera company in the world made a Leica adapter and these are pretty easy to get and pretty inexpensive -- usually about $10-20. They are typically available in plastic or metal, but if you have a more unusual camera they might be a little more difficult to find. The last photo is of an enlarger lens, on a Leica adapter, on a bellows, on a camera -- this is just an example of what you can do, but NONE of the items in the picture are included in this sale.This lens, up for sale -- the ORIGINAL version of the Rodenstock Omegaron 25mm f4 lens, is in excellent shape. It is a FOUR element lens with f-stops to f16. Optimum magnification is 20X but it works fine outside of that. The glass is like new -- no dust, fungus, separation, scratches, etc., but please examine the pictures for more detail. The f-stop ring turns like new. The detents are perfect and snap into place easily in the dark. It does NOT come with a lensboard, a jamnut / locking ring (one of these should be easy to get or contact SKGRIMES.COM), case, box, or instructions. It DOES include the original Rodenstock lens cap.So with this lens, you are really getting TWO lenses in one -- a great enlarging lens for the smaller film formats from Tessina (maybe) down to 110 (12x17mm), 16mm (10x14mm) and even Minox. IN ADDITION, you get a fabulous macro/micro lens for superb details of tiny subjects for film or digital cameras of ANY format.While I would not call this lens RARE, but it is pretty darn hard to find. The last three that were sold through all went for around $300. You can check that out for yourself. This lens had a list sales price of $175 in 1989 -- that\'s $340 today! But keep in mind that the Rodenstock-Omegaron and Rodenstock-Rodagon 25mm f4 lenses are both the same exact lens, optically, and they usually sell for less because people think they are somehow different -- due to their ignorance. But these \"alternative\" lenses are also hard to find -- if not harder. FYI, in your search for a 25mm enlarging and/or macro lens, there were a few other companies that have made 25mm enlarging lenses. Most of them are three-element optics, some are four, and a few are six! But good luck finding any of them. Here is a list of the ones I know about:
- Beseler (probably made by (same as the Rodagon, but sold in Europe)
Finally, returns are HAPPILY accepted for ANY reason.If you have a problem or question, please contact me directly FIRST -- BEFORE CONTACTING .
