Welcome to Delta

In 2021 the Digital Enlarger Lens Test Archive (D.E.L.T.A) outgrew its original home at 16-9.net – and its remit. It continues to expand, and is now the most wide-ranging resource for film-makers and photographers seeking and using enlarger, projector, macro, repro, process and cine lenses to create digital work. Spanning more than 170 years, Delta collates information on almost 4,000 universally-adaptable lenses, and contains hundreds of unique reviews and articles.

The quick-browse catalogue below orders every lens by manufacturer and can be filtered by category or keyword.

The primary archive tracks generations of lenses with more in-depth information, and ranks hundreds for sharpness and rendition. Please use the main menu and search function to access further articles, pictures and videos.

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agfa-minilab-d3-a

Agfa 8508 / 370
Variable aperture printer controller lens for Agfa d-3 minilabs. Without close-up lens has 55mm front thread and weighs 427g. Focal length and aperture measured (unmarked).

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Agfa Agolar 85/2.5
Slide projector lens with metal body (silver).

agfa_agolon_90

Agfa Agolon 90/2.5
Multicoated 35mm slide projector lens. Made in Germany.

agfa-agomar-100-2-5-b

Agfa Agomar 100/2.5 [V1]
Slide projector lens. Silver metal barrel. Fitted to 1960’s era Diamator-S model.

agfa-agomar-100-a2

Agfa Agomar 100/2.5 [V2]
Slide projector lens. Silver body. Fitted to 1960’s era Diamator series. Likely identical, optically, to [V1].

agfa-karator-u_agomar_100_2.8

Agfa Agomar 100/2.8 [V1]
Slide projector lens fitted to Agfa Karator U. Marked ‘Agfa Projectionsobjektiv’.

agomar_150_2.8-v1f

Agfa Agomar 150/2.8 [V1]
Fitted to Agfa Karator U medium format slide projector. Marked ‘Agfa Projektionsobjektiv’.

agfa-agomar-150-a

Agfa Agomar 150/2.8 [V2]
Fitted to Agfa Karator 77 medium format slide projector. Silver body. Black nose.

agomar_150_3.2a

Agfa Agomar 150/3.2
Fitted to Agfa Karator U medium format slide projector. Marked ‘Agfa Projektionsobjektiv’.

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Agfa Agomar 60/2.8
Slide projector lens. Silver body AKA Reflecta Agomar.

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Agfa Agomar 70-120/2.8
Multicoated zoom projector lens

agfa_agomar-75-a

Agfa Agomar 75/2.8
Slide projector lens marked ‘Agfa Jgomar’ fitted to Agfa Karator II. Appears to be serialled, but more likely the number applies to the projector.

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Agfa Agomar 85-150/4
Slide projector zoom lens. AKA Reflecta Agomar.

agfa_agomar_2.5c

Agfa Agomar 85/2.5 [V1]
Silver metal barrel lens with black nose fitted to Agfa Opticus 35mm slide projectors. Single coated.

agfa_agomar_2.5d

Agfa Agomar 85/2.5 [V2]
Silver metal barrel lens fitted to 1960s Agfa Diamator H and M 35mm slide projectors.

agfa-agomar-85-v1d

Agfa Agomar 85/2.8 [V1]
Slide projector lens with black plastic barrel fitted to Agfa CP44.

agfa_agomar_85-2.8_v4a

Agfa Agomar 85/2.8 [V2]
Slide projector lens with black plastic barrel fitted to Agfa Diamator 100.

agfa_agomar-85a

Agfa Agomar 85/2.8 [V3]
Slide projector lens fitted to Agfacolor 50, AKA Reflecta Agomar. Aperture unmarked (estimated).

agfa-agomar-85-v3-a

Agfa Agomar 85/2.8 [V4]
Slide projector lens AKA Reflecta Agomar. Fitted to later Diamator 1500.

agfa_agomar-85-3.5

Agfa Agomar 85/3.5
Slide projector lens fitted to Agfa Opticus 100.

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Agfa Agomar 90/2.4
Slide projector lens. Silver body AKA Reflecta Agomar, Braun Ultralit. Multicoated. Awarded 3/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine.

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Agfa Agomar 90/2.8
Slide projector lens AKA Wetzlar, and Reflecta Agomar Multicoated.

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Agfa Color-Agolar 250/4.5
Slide projector lens. Black body

agolar_60-b

Agfa Color-Agolar 60/2.8
Six-element lens for Agfacolor 250 Series. Black plastic barrel. [Cat 4874/100].

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Agfa Color-Agolar 85/2.8
Slide projector lens. Black body

agfa-color-agolon90-c

Agfa Color-Agolon 90/2.5
Single coated 35mm slide projector lens fitted to Agfacolor 250 Series (including AV, AVD, S and D models). Metal body. Black plastic nose. Made in Germany. [Cat 4875/100].

agfa-color-agomar-45b

Agfa Color-Agomar 45/2.8
Black plastic-barrel lens marked Color-Agomar fitted to Agfa Pocket 35mm slide projector.

agfa-105-4.8a

magnolar-105-c

Agfa Color-Magnolar 105/4.5
Heliar lens made by/with Steinheil. Fitted to Agfa Varioscop enlargers. Silver body, black nose. Optically identical to Agfa Magnolar [V2].

agfa_color_magnolar60c

Agfa Color-Magnolar 60/4.5
Heliar lens made by/with Steinheil. Fitted to Agfa Varioscop enlargers. Silver body, black nose. All upper-case lettering indicates five-element version identical to Agfa Magnolar [V2].

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Agfa Color-Magnolar 75/4.5
Fitted to Agfa Varioscop enlarger.

agfa_color_magnolar2_105

Agfa Color-Magnolar II 105/4.5
Upgraded version of the Steinheil-made Color-Magnolar fitted to Agfa Varioscop enlargers. Heliar construction, improved coatings.

Agfa Color-Magnolar II 60/4.5
Upgraded version of the Steinheil-made Color-Magnolar fitted to Agfa Varioscop enlargers. Heliar construction, improved coatings.

Agfa Color-Solagon DI 70mm f4.5

Agfa Color-Solagon DI 70/4.5
Premier six-element ‘C-Series’ lens fitted to various industrial Agfa imaging devices, including enlargers. Probably rare earth glass. Perhaps made by/with Steinheil.

Agfa Color-Solagon DII 60/4.5
Six-element premier ‘E-Series’ lens fitted to the Agfa Recording Camera and other industrial imaging systems. Standard lens (labeled ‘Solagon DII’ only) for Varioscop 35/44 enlarger in 1962. Rare-earth glass.

Agfa Color-Solagon DII 80/4.5
Six element premium ‘B-Series’ fitted to various industrial imaging devices, including enlargers. No aperture markings. Fine-pitch (0.5mm) thread. Probably rare-earth glass made by/with Steinheil.

Agfa Color-Solagon DII 90/4.5
Premum lens fitted to industrial imagers, including enlargers. Aperture markings on reverse. Probably rare-earth glass. Early serials have black nose; later models all-silver.

Agfa Color-Solagon-D 60/4.5
Rare six-element enlarger lens from Agfa’s premier Color-Solagon line. Silver metal body, black fascia ring.

Agfa Colostar 150/4.5
German enlarger lens. Silver metal body with long thread. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

agfa_colostar_n_100-c

Agfa Colostar N 100/4.5
‘F-Series’ Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. Low serial, all silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. High serial versions have large black aperture rings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’. No aperture markings.

agfs-colostar-n-105a

Agfa Colostar N 105/4.5
‘F-Series’ Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. Commonly seen fitted with varying strength close-up adaptors. Post-Steinheil all-black versions only. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’. No aperture markings.

agfa_colostar_n_110

Agfa Colostar N 110/4.5
‘F-Series’ Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. Low serial, all silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. High serial versions have large black aperture rings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’. No aperture markings.

agfa_colostar-130a

Agfa Colostar N 130/4.5
Late model six element lens fitted to Agfa industrial imaging systems such as Variograd and Colormator.

agfa-colostar-38d

Agfa Colostar N 38/4.5
Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. Same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

Agfa Colostar N 42/4.5
Heliar ‘M-Series’ lens marked ‘M.3210 3/2’ fitted to Agfa industrial imagers such as Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and Labomator systems. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. All-black versions perhaps post-Steinheil production. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

colostar-n-47a

Agfa Colostar N 47/4.5
Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. All-black versions may be post-Steinheil production. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

Agfa Colostar N 48/4.5
Industrial lens with fixed aperture for unknown application. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

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Agfa Colostar N 52/4.5
Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. All silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. Later versions all black. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

colostar-n-57a

Agfa Colostar N 57/4.5
Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. All silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. Later versions all black. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

Agfa_Colostar_N_60_4-5b

Agfa Colostar N 60/4.5
Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. All silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. Later versions all black. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

colostar_n_65

Agfa Colostar N 65/4.5 [V1]
Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. Silver ‘Steinheil-style’ casing with black fascia.

agfa_colostar_n_65-e

Agfa Colostar N 65/4.5 [V2]
Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. All-black version with front filter thread.

agfa_colostar_n_70b

Agfa Colostar N 70/4.5
Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. All silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. Later versions all black. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

agfa-colostar-n-75b

Agfa Colostar N 75/4.5
‘F-Series’ Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. Low serial, all silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. High serial versions have large black aperture rings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’. No aperture markings.

agfa-colostar_n-77a

Agfa Colostar N 77/4.5
Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. Low serial, all silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. High serial versions have large black aperture rings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’. No aperture markings.

agfa_colostar_n_80-b

Agfa Colostar N 80/4.5
‘F-Series’ Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. Low serial, all silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. High serials have large black aperture rings. No aperture markings. Focal length handwritten on rear.

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Agfa Colostar N 85/4.5
German enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

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Agfa Colostar N 90/4.5
German enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

agfa-colostar-n-95a

Agfa Colostar N 95/4.5
‘F-Series’ Heliar lens fitted to Colormator rollhead printers, Variograd belt copying machines and other Agfa industrial imagers. Optimised for 3.5x magnification. Low serial, all silver versions have same tooling/casing as Steinheil enlarger lenses. High serial versions have large black aperture rings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’. No aperture markings.

Agfa Colostar N 95/5.6
‘M-Series’ Heliar(?) lens fitted to unknown imaging system, complete with prism.

colostar_u_105

Agfa Colostar U 100/4.5
Enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

agfa-colostar-u-65-v2-a2

Agfa Colostar U 65/4.5 [V1]
Enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

colostar_u_65

Agfa Colostar U 65/4.5 [V2]
Enlarger lens. No aperture markings. [V2] has Steinheil-style barrel. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

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Agfa Colostar U 70/4.5
Enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

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Agfa Colostar U 75/4.5
Enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

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Agfa Colostar U 80/4.5
Enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

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Agfa Colostar U 85/4.5
Enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

colostar_u_90b

Agfa Colostar U 90/4.5
Enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

Agfa Colostar_u_95

Agfa Colostar U 95/4.5
Enlarger lens. No aperture markings. Commonly mis-spelt ‘Colorstar’.

agfa_100_3.3_a

Agfa K III 100/3.3
Silver Metal-barrel lens marked ‘AGFA PROJEKTIONSOBJEKTIV’ fitted as standard to entry level Karator III slide projector.

Agfa M.3054
Agfa ‘M-Series’ lens of unknown application marked M.3054 5/1. Focal length around 50 mm

Agfa_M3421_6-2r

Agfa M.3421
Agfa ‘M-Series’ lens of unknown application marked M.3421 6/2. Focal length around 50 mm.

Agfa_M3525_6-3r

Agfa M.3525
Agfa ‘M-Series’ lens of unknown application marked M.3525 6/3. Focal length around 50 mm.

agfa-magnolar-105-v1

Agfa Magnolar 105/4.5 [V1]
Enlarger lens fitted to Agfa Varioscop. Version 1 with lower-case lettering (pre-c.1957) seems to be rebadged Tessar (4-element) Solinar-S.

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Agfa Magnolar 105/4.5 [V2]
Enlarger lens fitted to Agfa Varioscop. Version 2 with upper-case lettering (post-c.1964) seems to be AKA Color-Magnolar.

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Agfa Magnolar 105/5.6 [V2]
AKA Durst Neonon enlarger lens. Made in Japan (Pentax?)

agfa-magnolar-50-v1a

Agfa Magnolar 50/2.8 [Pentax V1]
AKA Durst Neonon enlarger lens. Made in Japan (probably Pentax). Single-coated.

agfa-magnolar-50-v2a

Agfa Magnolar 50/2.8 [Pentax V2]
AKA Durst Neonon enlarger lens. Made in Japan (probably Pentax). Single-coated.

agfa-magnolar-60-v1b

Agfa Magnolar 60/4.5 [V1]
Early serials of this enlarger lens (eg, VO1006) are pre-1961 Tessar designs AKA Agfa Solinar-S 60/4.5.

Agfa Magnolar 60/4.5 [V2]
High serial (ie V01684) Magnolar 60/4.5 enlarger lenses from at least 1961 are five-element designs AKA Color-Magnolar. Identify by upper case lettering on sloped black fascia.

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Agfa Magnolar 75/4.5
AKA Durst Neonon enlarger lens. Made in Japan (probably Pentax)

agfa-magnolar-80b

Agfa Magnolar 80/5.6
AKA Durst Neonon enlarger lens. Made in Japan (probably Pentax)

agfa-opticus-100_4.5a

Agfa Opticus 100/4.5
Standard lens for original black Agfa Opticus slide projector marked ‘AGFA-PROJEKTIONSOBJEKTIV’.

agfa_protelinar-250c

Agfa Protelinar 250/4
Long throw lens for Agfa Karator 77 medium format slide projector.

Agfa Repromaster 135/9
Plasmat repro lens made by Staeble AKA Eskofot, Helioprint

agfa-repromaster-150a

Agfa Repromaster 150/9
Plasmat repro lens made by Staeble AKA Eskofot, Helioprint

agfa-repromaster-210-9a

Agfa Repromaster 210/9
Plasmat process lens made by Staeble AKA Eskofot, Helioprint. Also suitable as enlarger, macro and large-format taking lens.

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Agfa Repromaster 240/9
Plasmat repro lens made by Staeble AKA Eskofot, Helioprint

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Agfa Repromaster 270/9
Plasmat repro lens made by Staeble AKA Eskofot, Helioprint

Agfa Solinar S 105/4.5
Tessar enlarger lens.

Agfa Solinar S 60/4.5
Tessar enlarger lens.

agfa-super-intergon-105a

Agfa Super-Intergon 105/5.6
German process/enlarger lens. Symmetrial Plasmat made by Staeble. AKA Eskofot / Helioprint.

agfa-super-intergon-210-9a

Agfa Super-Intergon 210/9
Compact German process lens also suitable for use in enlargers. Symmetrical Plasmat. Made by Staeble (AKA Eskofot / Helioprint and perhaps Repromaster).

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Agfa Super-Intergon 305/11
German process lens. Good resolution.

agfa_super_intergon_305-a

Agfa Super-Intergon 305/9
German process lens. Good resolution.

agfa-super-intergon-213e

Agfa Super-Intergon WA 213/9.25
German process lens. Good resolution. AKA Staeble 213/9.25.

agfa-super-intergon-213e

Agfa Super-Intergon WA 213/9.25
German process lens. Good resolution. AKA Staeble 213/9.25.

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Agfa Variomar 80-125/3.1
Zoom projector lens.

agfa-varion-a

Agfa Varion 0.8-1.3x
Wide/zoom teleconverter (0.8-1.3x) for Agfa Agomar 85mm f2.8 [V1] slide projector lens.

Agfa-Gevaert 107 mm f/4

Agfa-Gevaert 107/4
German scanner lens marked Agfa-Gevaert AG. Probably used in the Agfa Horizon scanner. Good resolution.
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Acknowledgements: The DELTA project wouldn’t have been possible with the naysaying of experienced lens collectors; the death of film; the opposition of my wife; the embezzlement of shady eBay sellers and Japanese auction agents; the re-branders; the same 50/3.5 seen in a thousand guises; the unhelpful attitide of extant manufacturers who jettisoned their history without a backward glance (Schneider, Rodenstock et al); the corporations who swallow the legacies of decades without concern for their preservation; the disregard of librarians and archivists who no longer value photographic publications; the copyright laws prohibiting reproduction of adverts advertising things no longer made, once made by people and companies that no longer exist; the museums failing to digitise their collections and refusing to grant access to material rotting unseen in their basements; the sheer bloody-mindedness of Agfa serial numbers; the arrogance of those who have previously written about alt.lenses and imagine their sayings to be unalterably definitive, despite being patently erroneous;  widespread dementia and death befalling a generation of those with inside knowledge of the industry; widespread withering of the information internet and the rise of regurgitated AI gobbledygook; the majority of used camera dealers who regard these lenses as pointless relics and have no interest in deploying them as taking lenses and regard their slow-moving stock as an irritation; clueless marketing people devoid of specific product knowledge; an overwhelming majority of photographers apathetic about the benefits and possibilities of alt.lenses; the publishers who failed to express an interest in a book deal; the army of DIY botchers who took their lenses apart and didn’t know how to put them back together again; a postal system that loses packages as a normal happenstance;  and all the fungus. Against this tide stand we few. You know who you are. Thank you.