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.
QUICK-BROWSE CATALOGUE
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Simmon Enlarging Anastigmat 165/4.5
Silver enlarger lens. Black nose. Marked 6.5” |
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Simmon Enlarging Anastigmat 75/4.5
Silver enlarger lens. Black nose. Marked 3” |
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Simmon Omega Anastigmat 50/4.5
Silver enlarger lens. Likely triplet. Marked 2” |
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Simpson Optical /4.9
Anastigmat projector lens made in Chicago. Black body. AKA Somco. |
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Simpson Optical 50/1.6
Petzval projector lens marked 2”. Black over brass body. Rear barrel diameter: 52.4mm. |
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Singer 152/3.5
Japanese projector lens marked 5” Anastigmat coated. Silver metal body, black nose. |
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Singer Super Sestar 100/1.2
Japanese projector lens marked 4”. |
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Singer Super Sestar 50/1.2
Japanese projector lens marked 2”. AKA Telex 50/1.2. Image circle: 30-35mm. |
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Solar 135/4.5
American enlarger lens with silver metal body marked 5.25″ Anastigmat. |
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Soligor 105/4.5
Japanese enlarger lens. |
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Soligor 135/4.5
Japanese enlarger lens. |
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Soligor 35/3.5 [V1]
AKA AICO, Perfex, Prinz, Vivitar enlarger lens. 30mm image circle only. Perhaps Kowa or Tokina? |
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Soligor 35/3.5 [V2]
AKA Vivitar, AICO-PSL, Samigon enlarger lens. 30mm image circle only. Perhaps Kowa or Tokina? |
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Soligor 50/3.5 [V1]
Japanese enlarger lens. Silver body; black mount and fascia. |
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Soligor 50/3.5 [V2]
Japanese enlarger lens. All-black metal body. AKA . . . |
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Soligor 75/3.5 [V1]
All silver Japanese enlarger lens AKA Alpex 75/3.5. Distributed by AIC Photo Inc (AKA Allied Impex Corporation). |
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Soligor 75/3.5 [V2]
Silver body, black mount Japanese enlarger lens (no serial version 2). |
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Soligor 90/4.5
Japanese enlarger lens. |
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SOM Berthiot 105/2.8
French enlarger lens. Marked SOM Berthiot. |
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SOM Berthiot 105/4.5
French enlarger lens. Marked SOM Berthiot. |
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SOM Berthiot 50/1.7
Projector lens. Image circle: <35mm |
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SOM Berthiot 90/4.5
French enlarger lens. Marked SOM Berthiot. |
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SOM Berthiot Anastigmat 105/4.5
French enlarger lens marked SOM Berthiot. Huge aperture adjustment ‘gearstick’ |
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SOM Berthiot Cinor 125/2.1
Metal body projector lens. Image circle: c45mm. |
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SOM Berthiot Cinor 170/2.6
Projector lens. Cooke triplet. Lanthanum glass. Marked SOM Berthiot See also Gnome Maginon. |
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SOM Berthiot Cinor 40/3.5
Aerial gun sight. Black over brass body. Unknown thread mount – perhaps M39 |
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SOM Berthiot Cinor P 115/2.4
Metal body projector lens. Image by Peter Cripps > |
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SOM Berthiot Cinor P 70/1.8
French projector lens. |
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SOM Berthiot Flor 105/4.5
French enlarger lens. Marked SOM Berthiot. |
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SOM Berthiot Flor 105/4.5
French enlarger lens. Marked SOM Berthiot Paris. |
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SOM Berthiot Flor 135/4.5
French enlarger lens. Marked SOM Berthiot. |
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SOM Berthiot Flor 50/3.5
French enlarger lens marked SOM Berhiot. |
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SOM Berthiot Flor 75/3.5
French enlarger lens marked SOM Berhiot. |
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SOM Berthiot Hermagis 100/2.8
Projector lens |
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SOM Berthiot Hermagis 130/3.2
Projector lens. Silver barrel: 52.5mm. Image circle > 50mm. Aperture unmarked (estimated). |
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SOM Berthiot Hermagis 140/2.5
Petzval cine projector lens marked LUMINEUX MAGISTER. Metal body. Black nose. Aperture unmarke. Meniscus lens? |
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SOM Berthiot Hermagis 140/2.8
Petzval cine projector lens marked SOM only. White metal body. Black nose. Aperture unmarked (estimated). |
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SOM Berthiot Hermagis 155/2.8
Petzval cine projector lens marked SOM only. White metal body. Black nose. Aperture unmarked (estimated). 58mm barrel. |
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SOM Berthiot Hermagis 160/3.5
Petzval cine projector lens. Brass body. Aperture unmarked (estimated). |
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SOM Berthiot Hermagis 80/2.8
Projector lens. Aperture unmarked (estimated) |
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SOM Berthiot Hermagis 95/2.8
Projector lens. Silver barrel: 50mm. Image circle > 45mm. Aperture unmarked (estimated). |
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SOM Berthiot Monital 50/0.95
Post-1964 lenses branded Sopelem. Cine lens AKA SOM Berthiot Cinor and Rank Taylor Hobson Monital. Image courtesy Breguet Camera Ltd. |
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Sony 225/2.3
Projector lens |
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Sovis Precinax F100
French 35mm slide projector lens in metal barrel. Aperture unmarked. |
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Sovis Precivar 105-150
French 35mm slide projector zoom lens in zebra-finish metal barrel. Also marked f=70-120 |
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Sovis Prexinar 127/3.5
French 35mm slide projector in silver metal barrel. |
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Spic 105/4.5
Silver Japanese enlarger lens. |
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Spic 50/3.5
Silver Japanese enlarger lens. |
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Spiratone 150/4.5
Enlarger lens |
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Spiratone 35/3.5
Enlarger lens. 30Mm image circle only. Review: https://coinimaging.com/spir35.html |
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Spiratone 50/3.5
Enlarger lens |
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Spiratone 75/3.5 [V1]
Japanese-made (likely by Hama) triplet enlarger lens imported to the US by Spiratone. Black body, silver aperture ring and mount. |
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Spiratone 75/3.5 [V2]
Japanese-made (likely Hama) triplet enlarger lens imported to the US by Spiratone. All black body. Probably AKA Flat Field Macro 75/3.5. |
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Spiratone 90/4.5
Enlarger lens |
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Spiratone Anastigmat 75/3.5
Japanese-made (probably by Hama) triplet enlarger lens imported to the US by Spiratone. Earliest version. |
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Spiratone Flat Field Macro 75/3.5
Japanese-made (likely Hama) triplet enlarger lens imported to the US by Spiratone. All black body. Probably AKA Spiratone 75/3.5 [V2]. |
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Spiratone Macrotar 35/3.5
Japanese-made bellows lens imported by Spiratone. 30mm image circle. |
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Spiratone Macrotel 150/4.5
Japanese-made bellows lens imported by Spiratone. |
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Spiratone Resomax 50/2.8
Japanese enlarger lens AKA Vivitar 50/2.8, Phago 50/2.8 and probably Jessop 50/2.8 [V1], Fujimoto 50/2.8 [V1]. |
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Staeble 213/9.25
German process lens. Good resolution. AKA Agfa Super-Intergon 213/9.25. |
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Staeble Braun-Halogon 85/2.8
Fitted to Braun slide projector. Probable triplet. Aperture estimated. |
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Staeble Kata-P 85/2.8
Fitted to Braun Paximat slide projector. Silver barrel and nose |
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Staeble Katagon 40/4
Enlarger lens. |
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Staeble Katagon 40/4
Industrial lens. |
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Staeble Katagon 60/4
All black enlarger lens. Silver rings. Bellows lens. Branded Novoflex Balflex. |
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Staeble Katagon 60/4.5
Macro/copy Tessar lens. Marked Novoflex Staeble Katagon. |
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Staeble Katagon 75/3.5
Zebra. Copy/macro lens. Later version branded Novoflex Noflexar |
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Staeble Paxar 100/2.8
Fitted to Braun Paximat 1700 slide projector. All black. |
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Staeble Paxar 85/2.8
Fitted to Braun Paximat 1500 slide projector. All black. |
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Staeble Proj-Katagon 85/2.8 [V1]
Fitted to 1950s Braun Paximat and Noris Trumpf slide projectors. Silver body. Zebra nose. |
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Staeble Proj-Katagon 85/2.8 [V2]
Fitted to 1950s Braun Paximat and Noris Trumpf slide projectors. Silver body. Black nose. |
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Staeble Proj-Trigon 38/2.0
Fitted to Bell & Howell Unoscop N24 16mm slide / film-strip projectors. Aperture estimated (unmarked). |
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Staeble Stellagon 85/2.8
Black plastic body slide projector lens. White fascia. |
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Staeble Telexon E 85/5.6
Listed by Camerawiki as enlarger lens but probably taking lens for Braun Paxette. |
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Staeble Ultragon 150/8
Also sold as Agfa, Helioprint enlarger lens. |
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Staeble Ultragon 210/8
Symmetrical Plasmat AKA Agfa, Eskofot, Helioprint. Process lens also suitable as enlarger and large format taking lens. |
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Staeble-Werk Paxigon 85/2.8
Fitted to Braun Paximat Triumph slide projector. White fascia. Black body. |
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Staeble-Werk Stellar 150/3.5
Fitted to Braun Paximat-S slide projector. Black/silver barrel, zebra nose |
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Staeble-Werk Stellar 85/2.8 [V1]
Fitted to Braun Paximat-S slide projector. Metal barrel. Zebra nose. |
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Staeble-Werk Stellar 85/2.8 [V2]
Fitted to Braun Paximat-S slide projector. Metal barrel, black nose |
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Staeble-Werk Super-Stellar 100/2.5
35mm slide projector lens. Metal barrel, zebra nose. Probably AKA Roschlein-Kreuznach / A. Schacht Super Stellar 100/2.5. Images by Forest Sprite. |
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Staeble-Werk Super-Stellar 85/2.5
35mm slide projector lens marked Staeble-Werk. Metal barrel, zebra nose. |
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Star-D 50/3.5
Japanese enlarger lens. AKA Voss, Prinz etc |
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Steinheil Cassar 105/4.5 [V2]
German enlarger lens, also fitted to bellows for use as macro optic (see [V3] with minimum aperture of f32). |
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Steinheil Cassar 105/4.5 [V3]
German enlarger lens, also fitted to bellows for use as macro optic (see [V2] with minimum aperture of f22). |
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Steinheil Cassar 50/3.5 [V1]
Silver German enlarger lens with black nose and mount. Fitted to Durst 404 and R-305 Reporter in 1962. Also sold as cine lens. |
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Steinheil Cassar 50/3.5 [V2]
German enlarger lens with black plastic barrel. Product images by Foto Koebel Graz > |
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Steinheil Cassar 75/3.5-4.5
Silver enlarger lens with c.30mm mount, marked f3.5/4.5. Also sold as cine lens. |
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Steinheil Cassar 75/4.5
Enlarger lens. Also sold as cine lens |
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Steinheil Cassar 75/4.5
Enlarger lens. Triplet or reverse Tessar? Earlier lenses marked VL to denote multicoating. |
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Steinheil Cassar 90/4.5
German enlarger lens. Silver metal body; black nose. |
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Steinheil Cassar P 80/2.8
German slide projector fitted to Steinheil Magnalux. Metal body/fascia marked VL. Appears to be later rebrand of Steinheil Magnostar. |
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Steinheil Cassar VL 105/4.5 [V1]
Enlarger lens fitted to Durst 609 in 1962. |
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Steinheil Cassar VL 75/3.5
Enlarger lens fitted to Durst 606 in 1962. Apertures 1-8. Lens shows f3.5/4.5. Considered v. sharp. Triplet or reverse Tessar? |
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Steinheil Culminar 105/4.5 [V1]
Tessar enlarger lens marked ‘Steinheil München’ and “f=10.5cm’. Early [V1] models have a maximum aperture of f32 like bellows macro version [V3]. Post-1945 lenses until c.#2,xxx,xxx are marked VL to denote multicoating. Supplied with upper-tier Primos enlargers. |
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Steinheil Culminar 105/4.5 [V2]
Tessar enlarger lens marked ‘Steinheil München’. Early examples are marked “f=10.5cm’; late examples are marked “f=105mm”. Multicoated samples are marked VL. [V2] models have a maximum aperture of f22. Supplied with upper-tier Primos enlargers and as bellows macro lens (more commonly the f32 version). |
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Steinheil Culminar 105/4.5 [V3]
Enlarger lens marked ‘Steinheil München’ and “f=105mm’. Late [V3] models have a maximum aperture of f32 and are more commonly seen in camera mounts for use as a bellows macro lens. Probably reverse Tessar. |
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Steinheil Culminar 135/4.5
Münich-made enlarger lens also sold as M39 rangefinder lens. Considered v. sharp. Triplet or reverse Tessar? Post-1945 lenses designated VL are multicoated. |
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Steinheil Culminar 210/4.5
Enlarger lens made in Münich. Post-war lenses until c.#2,xxx,xxx were marked VL if multicoated. |
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Steinheil Culminar 60/4
Enlarger lens marked ‘Steinheil München’. Probably reverse Tessar. Post-1945 lenses designated VL are multicoated. Supplied with upper-tier Primos enlargers. |
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.