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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Schneider Xenar 150/4.5
Bellows macro lens. Silver body.
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Schneider Xenar 150/4.5
Bellows macro lens. Silver body.
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Schneider Xenar 180/4.5
Bellows macro lens. Silver body.
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Schneider Xenar 60/3.5
Tessar bellows macro lens.
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Schneider Xenar 75/3.5
Tessar bellows macro lens.
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Schneider Xenon 125/2
Bellows macro lens (1940-50s)
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Schneider Xenon 28/2
25mm image circle.
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Schneider Xenon 35/2
Cine and bellows lens (various versions). Image circle < 35mm.
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Schneider Xenon 50/2
Cine and bellows lens (various versions)
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Schneider Xenon-Diamond 106/2.9
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors and 2.6x magnification
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Schneider Xenon-Diamond 111/2.7
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors and 2.6x magnification
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Schneider Xenon-Diamond 116/2.3
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors and 3.5x magnification
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Schneider Xenon-Diamond 117/2.2
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors and 3.5x magnification
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Schneider Xenon-Diamond 80/1.6
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors and 5.2x magnification
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Schneider Xenon-Diamond 82/1.5
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors and 5.2x magnification
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Schneider Xenon-Emerald 100/2.9
Macro lens optimised for 1:10 marked Xenon-E. Also available in F-mount. 400 to 1,000nm broadband coating
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Schneider Xenon-Emerald 50/2.2
Macro lens optimised for 1:10 marked Xenon-E. Also available in F-mount. 400 to 1,000nm broadband coating
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Schneider Xenon-Emerald 60/4
Macro lens optimised for 1:10 marked Xenon-E. Also available in F-mount. 400 to 1,000nm broadband coating
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Schneider Xenon-Emerald 80/4
Macro lens optimised for 1:10 marked Xenon-E. Also available in F-mount. 400 to 1,000nm broadband coating
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Schneider Xenon-Emerald L 28/2.8
Macro lens optimised for 1:10. Available in F-mount. 400 to 1,000nm broadband coating. Long range version.
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Schneider Xenon-Emerald S 100/2.8
Macro lens optimised for 1:10. Available in F-mount. 400 to 1,000nm broadband coating. Short range version.
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Schneider Xenon-Emerald S 28/2.8
Macro lens optimised for 1:10. Available in F-mount. 400 to 1,000nm broadband coating. Short range version.
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Schneider Xenon-Sapphire 88/3.2
Industrial line scan lens resolving 100 lp/mm
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Schneider Xenon-Sapphire 95/4.5
Industrial line scan lens resolving 100 lp/mm
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Schneider Xenon-Sapphire 96/3.2
Industrial line scan lens resolving 100 lp/mm
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Schneider Xenon-Sapphire 96/3.5
Industrial line scan lens resolving 100 lp/mm
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Schneider Xenon-Sapphire 97/3.2
Industrial line scan lens resolving 100 lp/mm
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Schneider Xenon-Zirconia 104/4
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors.
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Schneider Xenon-Zirconia 89/2.8
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors.
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Schneider Xenon-Zirconia 90/3.3
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors.
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Schneider Xenon-Zirconia 91/3.1
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors.
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Schneider Xenon-Zirconia 91/3.2
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors.
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Schneider Xenon-Zirconia 92/3.2
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors.
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Schneider Xenon-Zirconia 92/3.3
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors.
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Schneider Xenon-Zirconia 92/3.3
Line scan lens optimised for 5 micron sensors.
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Seiki-Kogaku [Canon] 50/3.5
Silver Japanese enlarger lens.
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Sestar 100-150/3.5
Zoom 35mm slide projector lens.
shinker-105a
Shinker 105/4.5
Black Japanese enlarger lens.
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Shinker 50/2.8
Black Japanese enlarger lens.
shinker-50-3.5
Shinker 50/3.5
Black Japanese enlarger lens AKA Voss, P.R.O and Vivitar 50/3.5.
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Shinker 75/3.5 [V1]
Black Japanese enlarger lens.
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Shinker 75/3.5 [V2]
Silver Japanese enlarger lens.
Sigma-105-Art
Sigma Art DG 105/1.4
Reference taking lens
sigma-50-art-a
Sigma Art DG 50/1.4
Reference taking lens. Performance is uniformly excellent, but deteriorates approximately 5% at 50-70mm working distance, where the best enlarging lenses peak. At 80mm and longer it remains an affordable benchmark. However, post-production correction of barrel distortion reduces corner performance by c.3%.
simda-85-150-a
Simda Zoom Special 85-150
Black metal-barrel multicoated zoom slide projector lens. Variable aperture. Concave front element.
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Simmon Enlarging Anastigmat 165/4.5
Silver enlarger lens. Black nose. Marked 6.5”
simmon-enlarging-75a
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.
solar-135-b
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?
soligor-50-d
Soligor 50/3.5 [V1]
Japanese enlarger lens. Silver body; black mount and fascia.
soligor-50mm-v2a
Soligor 50/3.5 [V2]
Japanese enlarger lens. All-black metal body. AKA . . .
soligor-75-a
Soligor 75/3.5 [V1]
All silver Japanese enlarger lens AKA Alpex 75/3.5. Distributed by AIC Photo Inc (AKA Allied Impex Corporation).
soligor-75-v2-b
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.
som-berthiot-105a
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
SOM Berthiot Cinor P 115mm f2.4
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.
som-berthiot-flor-105a
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 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).
som-berthiot-monital-50b
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
sovis-precinax-100a
Sovis Precinax F100
French 35mm slide projector lens in metal barrel. Aperture unmarked.
sovis-precivar-a
Sovis Precivar 105-150
French 35mm slide projector zoom lens in zebra-finish metal barrel. Also marked f=70-120
sovis-prexinar-127a
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.
spic-50-a
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
spiratone-75-v1c
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.
spiratone-75-v2a
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
spiratone-75-anastig-a
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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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.