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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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. AKA Astron, Arista, DOI, Prinz Autocrat, Ilford (?).

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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.

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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 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 Series II a 114/6.3
Enlarger lens marked 4.5”

Aldis Star Anastigmat 100mm f2.8

Aldis Star Anastigmat 100/2.8
English triplet projector lens. FFD measured from end of barrel – rear element is recessed 1.5mm.  

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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.
   

amitar-anastig-135-4.5a

Amitar 135/4.5
Rebranded Japanese enlarger lens fitted to Magnalux Super. Marked Anastigmat.
   

amitar-50-4.5a

Amitar 50/4.5 [V1]
Japanese enlarger lens with black body and wide aperture collar marked Anastigmat. AKA Phago and Astron.
   

amitar-anastig-50-4.5a

Amitar 50/4.5 [V2]
Widely rebranded Japanese enlarger lens with black body, silver mount and red dot on aperture ring. Amitar’s offering closely mirrored the Phago range. AKA many others . . .
   

amitar-anastig-90-4.5-v2a

Amitar 90/4.5 [V1]
Japanese zebra enlarger lens with black body and silver mount. Marked Anastigmat.
   

amitar-anastig-90-4.5a2

Amitar 90/4.5 [V2]
Japanese enlarger lens with silver body but black mount and fascia. Marked Anastigmat.
   

ampro-125-a

Ampro 125/3.5
American slide projector lens marked Ampro Corporation 5″ Coated Anastigmat. Seems related to SVE 125/3.5.

andere-50mm_f4.5-a

Andere 50/4.5
Chinese enlarger lens AKA VTEC, FirstCall.

Andere 75mm f3.5 enlarging lens

Andere 75/3.5
Chinese enlarger lens AKA VTEC, FirstCall. Still available new in 2024.

angenieux-100-3.5a

Angenieux 100/3.5 [Cine]
French cine projector lens. Some versions marked Kodak and/or Anastigmat.

angenieux-100-2.8a

Angenieux Anastigmat 100/2.8
French cine projector lens. Some versions marked Kodak and/or Anastigmat.

angenieux-100-3.5c

Angenieux Anastigmat 100/3.5
French slide projector lens marked Kodak Anastigmat. Silver metal barrel, black plastic nose.

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Angenieux G-0.75 85/1.68
Projector lens marked P. Angenieux No 7176463. Per-pixel Sharp poor. Some CA.

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Angenieux G-10 48/4
Post-war Gauss enlarger lens.

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Angenieux Type 65 156-164/3.5
Zoom projector lens marked P. Angenieux St. HEAND AX. Black body. Aperture unmarked (estimated)

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Angenieux Type 75 164-172/3.5
Zoom projector lens marked P. Angenieux Black body. Aperture unmarked (estimated)

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Angenieux Type 75 90-95/3.5
Zoom projector lens marked P. Angenieux St. HEAND. Silver body. Aperture unmarked (estimated)

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angenieux-u2-135a

angenieux-u2-88-c

Angenieux Type U2 88/4.5
French enlarger lens marked P. ANGENIEUX PARIS.

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Angenieux Type Z2 50/2.9
Enlarger lens.

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Angenieux Type Z7 50/2.9
Enlarger lens marked P. Anegnieux Paris. Apertures marked 1-32.

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Ansco 127/3.5
Fitted to Anscomatic slide projectors. Marked 5”. Silver nose. By Wollensak?

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Apollo 100-150/3.5
Multicoated zoom black plastic-bodied lens made in W. Germany with worm gear for Kodak slide projectors.

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Apollo 85-150/3.5
Multicoated zoom black plastic-bodied lens made in W. Germany with worm gear for Kodak slide projectors.

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Apollo 90/2.8
Multicoated black plastic-bodied slide projector lens made in W. Germany.

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Appro 100-225/4
Zoom slide projector lens. Black body. Aperture estimated.

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Argus 50/3.5
Enlarger lens.

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Argus 75/3.5
Enlarger lens.

argus-100-a

Argus Projection 100/2.8
Black slide projector lens marked 4”. Zebra nose.

argus_100_3.5a

Argus Projection 100/3.5
US-made black slide projector lens marked 4” Anastigmat fitted to Argus 5068.

argus-85mm-f2.9a

Argus Projection 85/2.9
35mm slide projector lens marked Projection Anastigmat.

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Argus Projection Anastigmat 100/3.3
Black slide projector lens marked 4” with castellated front ring.

arista-50-a

Arista 50/3.5
Black body. Made in Japan. Likely triplet enlarger lens. AKA Beslar [V3].

arista-75-b

Arista 75/3.5
Black body. Made in Japan. Likely triplet enlarger lens. AKA Ahel, Astron, Ilford (?), DOI, Prinz Autocrat.

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Arsenal Triar-1 150/3.5
Russian multicoated slide projector lens. Black body. 52mm barrel.

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Arsenal Triar-3 85/2.8
Russian multicoated slide projector lens for Kiev 66. Black body. 52mm barrel.

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Asahi Bellows-Takumar 100/4
Pentax macro/bellows lens.

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Asahi Repronar 50/3.5
Pentax Takumar macro lens fitted to Heiland Repronar.

Asahi Repronar 50/4
Pentax Takumar macro lens fitted to Honeywell Repronar 805-A. Product image by Paul M Provencher.

Askania 105mm f1.8 Kino projection lens

Askania 105/1.8 Kino
Early German (Berlin-made) 35mm film projection lens. Black metal body. Petzval.

Askania 125mm f2.5 Cine projection lens

Askania 125/2.5
German (Berlin-made) 35mm film projection lens. Black metal body; silver nose. Likely pre-Askinar model.

Askania Askina 100mm f1.9 cine projection lens

Askania Askinar 100/1.9
German (Berlin-made) 35mm film projection lens. Black metal body; silver nose. Product images by Kutozov >

Askania Askinar 110m f1.9 projector lens

Askania Askinar 110/1.9
German (Berlin-made) 35mm film projection lens. Black metal body; silver nose.

Askania Askinar 120mm f1.9 cine projection lens

Askania Askinar 120/1.9
German (Berlin-made) 35mm film projection lens. Black metal body; silver nose. Product image by Marek Fišer >

Askania Diastar 400mm cine projection lens

Askania Diastar 400
German (Berlin-made) 35mm film projection lens. Metal body. Aperture unmarked.

Askania Diastar 550mm

Askania Diastar 550
German (Berlin-made) 35mm film projection lens. Metal body. Aperture unmarked.

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Astragon 135/4.5
Enlarger lens. Marked 5.25” Made in Japan

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Astragon 50/3.5
Enlarger lens. Made in Japan and supplied in the US by Luminos Photo Corp.

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Astragon 75/3.5
Enlarger lens. Made in Japan and supplied in the US by Luminos Photo Corp.

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Astragon 90/4.5
Enlarger lens. Made in Japan and supplied in the US by Luminos Photo Corp.

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Astranar 135/4.5
Entry-level enlarger lens made in Japan and supplied in the US by Luminos Photo Corp.

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Astranar 50/3.5
Entry-level enlarger lens made in Japan and supplied in the US by Luminos Photo Corp.

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Astranar 75/3.5
Entry-level enlarger lens made in Japan and supplied in the US by Luminos Photo Corp.

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Astranar 90/4.5
Entry-level enlarger lens made in Japan and supplied in the US by Luminos Photo Corp.

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Astro-Berlin Pan-Tachar 125/2.3
Gauss enlarger lens.

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Astro-Berlin Pan-Tachar 50/1.8
Projector lens in black body marked Astro-Gesellschaft

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Astro-Berlin Pan-Tachar 50/2.3
Projector lens in black body marked Astro-Gesellschaft

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Astro-Berlin Pan-Tachar 75/1.8
Cine projector lens in silver metal body marked Astro Germany. Pat Pending.

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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.