Do I need a recessed lens board for a 75mm enlarger lens on a Durst M605?
Asked 1/23/2020
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I bought a Meopta Belar 75mm f/4.5 enlarger lens for use on a Durst M605, but the lens has a smaller M23.5 mount while my existing Durst boards are M39. I’m considering 3D-printing an adapter or new board.
What determines whether an enlarger lens needs a recessed lens board, and would a 75mm lens for 6x6 negatives on a Durst M605 require one? My goal is to make prints up to about 30×40 cm from 6×6 negatives.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
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The recessed board helps in focusing a very short focal lenght enlarging lens (say 30mm, the kind used for enlarging 110 film). A short lens requires such a short distance from the film plane that the bellows extended to minimum would still not suffice, and had to be recessed.
This was common issue only for lenses for smaller format that 35mm, which was obsolete by the 70's or so... These can still be theoretically used for enlarging large details from 35mm film, but today are more of a curiosity item.
On the Durst 605 model neither 50 nor 75 or 80mm focal lens requires a recessed board, the regular is just fine.
On a side note: the Belar is a triplet, and was considered a budget item in the Meopta lineup. It is worse than worthless now, and does not deserve the kind of attention you are considering. You will be better off by throwing it out and getting a decent 4 element lens (Anaret in Meopta lineup) or even better a 6 element lens (Meogon in Meopta lineup, or one of the Germans - Rodagon, Componon, or Neonon by Durst).
Originally by user62463. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user62463
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A recessed enlarger board is mainly needed for very short focal length enlarging lenses, where the lens must sit closer to the negative than the enlarger’s normal bellows/lens stage can reach. This was most common with lenses shorter than those normally used for 35mm.
For a Durst M605, a 75mm (or 80mm) lens for 6×6 negatives does not normally require a recessed board; a flat board is generally the correct choice. Recessed boards are more relevant for unusually short lenses, not for standard medium-format enlarging lenses.
So in your case, the recess depth is not something you need to optimize for print size. What matters is using a board or adapter that securely mounts the M23.5 lens and places it on a normal flat board position so the enlarger can focus through your intended magnification range.
One note from the community: the Meopta Belar 75mm f/4.5 is a basic triplet enlarger lens, so while it should work, it may not deliver the best quality compared with higher-grade enlarging lenses.
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