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 130 years, Delta collates information about almost 3,500 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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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.

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

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 [V1]
AKA Durst Neonon enlarger lens. Made in Japan (probably Pentax). Single-coated.

agfa-magnolar-50-v2a

Agfa Magnolar 50/2.8 [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.

ahel-50-a

Ahel 50/3.5
Japanese-made enlarger lens AKA Prinz, Soligor, Imura etc.

ahel-75-3.5a

Ahel 75/3.5
Japanese-made, single-coated enlarger lens.

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AICO 105/4.5
Enlarger lens.

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AICO 35/3.5
Black enlarger lens. Some versions marked Anastigmat.

aico_50-v1a

AICO 50/3.5 [v1]
Version 1 black enlarger lens marked AICO only, similar to Oxley, Palar etc.

aico50-v7-b

AICO 50/3.5 [v2]
Version 2 black enlarger lens marked AICO only, similar to Oxley, Palar, Jessops, etc. No serial.

aico_75_3.5_early

AICO 75/3.5 [v1]
Japanese-made enlarger lens with black body sold by Allied Import Company (AICO) UK. Not to be confused with the later f16 version with 6-digit serials.

aico_75_3.5b

AICO 75/3.5 [v2]
Version 2 enlarger lens with silver body marked Anastigmat. Serials from 3xxxx to 11xxxx have a rather crude circular 10-blade aperture like Dia 75/3.5. The London-based Apparatus & Instrument Company Ltd were importers of various German and Japanese products.

aico_75_3.5

AICO 75/3.5 [v3]
Version 3 enlarger lens with silver or black body. Serials from 12xxxx (still marked Anastigmat) have a curved 5-blade aperture like Phago 75.3,5, which may indicate a revised optical formula vs Version 2. Later versions dropped the ‘Anastigmat’ marking. All versions made in Japan, including a black model marked AICO-PSL.

aico_anastigmat-50-v2a

AICO Anastigmat 50/3.5 [v2]
Silver enlarger lens with black fascia similar to Oxley, Palar. Serial 5xxx with square aperture.

aico_75-3.5b

AICO Anastigmat 50/3.5 [v3]
Silver Japanese enlarger lens with black fascia similar to Oxley, Palar, Unistigmat, etc. Circular ten-blade aperture.

aico_50_v4a

AICO Anastigmat 50/3.5 [v4]
Silver Japanese enlarger lens with black fascia similar to Oxley, Palar. Sold by Apparatus & Instrument Co. Ltd. Curved five-blade aperture version (Serial 8xxxx)

aico-s-aico-50-a

AICO S-AICO 50/3.5
Black enlarger lens marked S-AICO imported and sold by Apparatus & Instrument Company Ltd.

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AICO-PSL 35/3.5
Black single-coated enlarger lens. AKA Perfex, Prinz, Soligor [V2], Vivitar. 30mm image circle.

aico_psl_50-a

AICO-PSL 50/3.5
Black enlarger lens marked AICO only, similar to Oxley, Palar etc. Late model (1981-1989)

airequipt-4in-luminac-a

Airequipt Luminac 100/3.5
Entry-level lens fitted as standard to Airequipt Superba and Automatic projectors made in Rochelle, NY, USA. Marked 4”. Some versions marked only ‘luminac anastigmat’ or have revised lettering.

airequipt-4in-luminal-a

Airequipt Luminal 100/3.5
Triplet lens fitted to Airequipt 125 2×2 slide projector, made in Rochelle, NY, USA. Marked 4”.

airequipt-4in-luminon-a

Airequipt Luminon 100/2.8
Triplet lens fitted as standard to flagship Airequipt 950 and Avventura slide projectors made in Rochelle, NY, USA. Marked 4”.

airequipt-zoom-a

Airequipt Zoom 100-150/3.5
Non-standard zoom lens available for various Airequipt slide projectors made in Rochelle, NY, USA. Marked 4-6″.

albinar-50-a

Albinar 50/3.5
Compact black enlarger lens. Likely triplet.

aldis_350a

Aldis 350/4
Metal barrel projector lens for Epidiascope marked 35c.m.

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Aldis Anastigmat 100/2.8 [V1]
English triplet projector lens with black metal barrel and silver nose. Fitted to Aldis 505 projector.

aldis_anastigmat-100-2.8-a

Aldis Anastigmat 100/2.8 [V2]
English triplet projector lens with black plastic barrel and zebra nose.

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Aldis Anastigmat 146/4.5
Enlarger lens marked 5.75”

aldis_anastigmat-150-2.8-a

Aldis Anastigmat 150/2.8
Slide projector lens with green and silver body metal body.

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Aldis Anastigmat 152/4
Projector lens. Silver body. Fitted to Aldis 303. Aperture unmarked (estimated).

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Aldis Anastigmat 85/2.5 [V1]
Silver metal body. Fitted to Rank Aldis QI24 projector.

aldis_anastigmat-85-2.5-a

Aldis Anastigmat 85/2.5 [V2]
Black plastic body with zebra nose. Fitted to Rank Aldis 303 slide projector. Single coated. Images by Blythe Hill Photography.

aldis-micro-2

Aldis Micro 35/3.5
Very small format projector lens. Image circle c.35mm. Focal length and aperture estimated. Product and sample images by Real Camera Co.

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Aldis Projection 100/3.2
Single-coated Petzval projector lens.

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Aldis Series 2a 114/6.3
Enlarger lens marked 4.5”

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Aldis Series 2a 178/6.3
Enlarger lens marked 7”

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Aldis Series 2b 190/4.5
Enlarger lens marked 7.5”

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Aldis Series 2b 190/6
Enlarger lens marked 7.5”

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Aldis Series 2b 190/6.3
Enlarger lens marked 7.5”

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Aldis Tele-Projection 250/3.5
Projector lens. Silver body.

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Aldis Uno 200/4.5
Projector lens. Silver body. Aperture estimated (unmarked)

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Aldis-Butcher Anastigmat 186/4.5
Enlarger lens marked 7.25”

alpex75a

Alpex 75/3.5
Japanese enlarger lens with silver metal body and black fascia. AKA Soligor 75/3.5.
   

alto-50-4.5a

Alto 50/4.5
Japanese enlarger lens with black body. AKA Jessop 50/4.5.
   
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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; defrauding by shady eBay sellers and dodgy Japanese auction agents; the re-branders; the same 50/3.5 seen in a thousand guises; the entirely unhelpful attitide of extant manufacturers who jettisoned their history without a backward glance (I would specially like to mention Schneider, Rodenstock and Agfa); the disregard of librarians and archivists who no longer view photographic publications as important; the museums that have failed to digitise their collections and who  refused to grant permission to grant access to relevant 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; 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; a notable number of 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.