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.
QUICK-BROWSE CATALOGUE
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Yashica 75/4.5
AKA Hoya / Osawa Tominon / Bogen / Beseler ColorPro / Omicron EL enlarger lens. |
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Yashica E-Yashinon-DX 21/3.5
Enlarger lens likely made by Tomioka. Part of Atoron ENLA-Unit |
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Yashica Yashinon 32/3.5
Industrial lens likely made by Tomioka. |
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Zeiss-Ikon Super-Talon 90/2.5
Multicoated lens for Zeiss Ikon Royal slide projectors. Appears to be early single-coated version of Zeiss Super Talon (note different hyphenation). Images by Vintageglas. |
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Zenobia E.Hesper 50/3.5
Japanese enlarger lens. After 1956, Daiichi Kōgaku K.K became known as Zenobia Kōgaku K.K. |
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Zett Fafix Anastigmat 80/3.5
Projector lens marked Zett-Projektion Braunschweig. Black body. |
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Zett Super Talon 60/2.8
Multicoated lens for Zeiss Ikon Ikolux / Perkeo slide projectors |
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Zett Super Talon 90/2.5
Multicoated lens for Zeiss Ikon Ikolux / Perkeo slide projectors |
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Zett Super Zettar 85/2.5
Slide Projector lens marked Zett-Projektion Braunschweig. Silver body, black nose. |
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Zett Talon 85/2.8 [V1]
Multicoated lens for Zeiss Ikon Ikolux / Perkeo slide projectors. Probably AKA Zeiss Ikon Talon. |
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Zett Zettar 100/2.8
Slide projector lens. Silver metal body marked Zett Projektion Braunzweig. |
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Zett Zettar 150/3.0
Medium format slide projector lens fitted to Zett 66. Silver metal body marked Zett Projektion Braunzweig. |
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Zett Zettar 85/3
Slide projector lens with black plastic body marked Zett Projektion Braunzweig. White fascia. |
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ZKBK OKP2 60/2
Russian projector lens. |
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.