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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Beck Enlarging Anastigmat 82/4.5
Enlarger lens marked 3.25”

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Bell & Howell Focus-Tronic 100/3.5
Coated slide projector lens marked 4” fitted to B&H Focus-Tronic. Black body with white fascia.

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Bell & Howell Procomat 127/3.5
Metal barrel projector lens with zebra nose marked 5″ Anastigmat.

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Bell & Howell Trionar 100/3.5
Coated slide projector lens marked 4” fitted to B&H Project-Or-View 500. Black body. Some versions white fascia.

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Bell & Howell Trionar 127/4
Coated projector lens in black barrel marked Anastigmat. Fitted to Bell & Howell 708.

bemecron50

Bemecron-EL 50/2.8
Rebadged Hoya Super-EL 50/2.8 black enlarger lens (AKA Osawa Tominon, etc).

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Bemecron-EL 75/4.5
AKA Osawa Tominon / Beseler ColorPro / Omicron EL / Hoya Super-EL / Yashica enlarger lens.

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Bencini Comet Doublestar 85/3.5
Fitted to Bencini Comet M1 35mm slide projector.

bender_85-e

Bender 85/2.8
Zebra lens made by Bender Optical Works (BOW, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK) fitted to Lumaplak Maxilite 300 & 400, Wonderlite 300 and Cool-Lite 400 slide projectors. Later Quartzlite 500 version is identical, but all black knurling.

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Benoist Berthiot 110/2.4
Black multicoated slide projector lens marked Super Star

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Benoist Berthiot 125/2.8
Black slide projector lens fitted to Royale 35mm Twin. Aperture unmarked (estimated).

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Benoist Berthiot 127/3.5
Black slide projector lens marked Inox. Aperture unmarked (estimated).

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Benoist Berthiot 140/2.4
Black multicoated slide projector lens marked Super Star

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Benoist Berthiot 150/3.3
Projector lens. Silver body, black nose. Marked Anastigmat.

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Benoist Berthiot 150/3.5
Black slide projector lens fitted to Kodak Carousel. Aperture unmarked (estimated).

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Benoist Berthiot 180/4
Black metal barrel slide projector lens marked Star.

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Benoist Berthiot 210/3.5
Black slide projector lens fitted to Kodak Carousel. Aperture unmarked (estimated). Marked SIMDA.

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Benoist Berthiot 210/4.5
Projector lens. Silver body, black nose. Marked Anastigmat.

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Benoist Berthiot 250/4.3
Black multicoated slide projector lens marked Super Star 2. Barrel diameter: 52mm

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Benoist Berthiot 60/1.6
Projector lens. Silver body, black nose.

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Benoist Berthiot 60/2.8
Black metal body slide projector lens marked F=60mm. Aperture unmarked (estimated).

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Benoist Berthiot 70-120/2.8
Black multicoated zoom slide projector lens marked SIMDA.

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Benoist Berthiot 75/2.8
Black all-metal projector lens.

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Benoist Berthiot 80-125/4
Black metal-barrel zoom 35mm slide projector lens, made in Paris. Aperture unmarked (estimated).

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Benoist Berthiot 90/2.5
Projector lens.

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Benoist Berthiot 90/2.8
Black plastic barrel slide projector lens marked f:90. Aperture unmarked (estimated). Some versions white fascia. Others marked Inox.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar 110/2
Petzval projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar 115/2
Petzval projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar 120/2.1
Petzval projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar 125/2.1
Petzval projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar 130/2.1
Petzval projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar 235/3.5
Petzval projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar 75/1.9
Petzval projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar 90/1.6
Petzval projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar GC 80/1.5
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot GC

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar N1 40/1.5
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black body.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar N2 100/2.2
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. Silver body, black nose.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar N2 150/2.3
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. Silver body, black nose.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar N2 75/1.9
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black body.

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Benoist Berthiot Cinestar N3 50/1.2
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 105/2.2
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 115/2.4
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 125/2.4
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 135/2.6
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 140/2.2
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 150/2.6
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 160/2.5
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 60/1.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 65/1.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 65/2
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 70/2
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 80/2
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 85/2
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Cinestar 95/2
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black metal body.

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Benoist Berthiot Neo Variastar 80-105/2.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. Black body, silver nose. Aperture unmarked (estimated)

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Benoist Berthiot Panastar 50/2.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black body.

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Benoist Berthiot Panastar 90/2.5
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All black body.

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Benoist Berthiot Simda 85-150/3.2
Black plastic-barrel multicoated zoom slide projector lens.

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Benoist Berthiot Super Cinestar 135/2.1
Multicoated projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Super Cinestar 50/1.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. All metal silver body.

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Benoist Berthiot Super Cinestar 55/1.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Super Cinestar 60/1.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot Super Cinestar.

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Benoist Berthiot Super Cinestar 65/1.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot

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Benoist Berthiot Super Cinestar 70/1.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot

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Benoist Berthiot Super Cinestar 85/1.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Super Cinestar 90/1.8
Multicoated projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot.

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Benoist Berthiot Variastar 65-105/2.8
Projector lens marked Benoist Berthiot. Black body, zebra nose.

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Benoist Berthiot XL 35 125/2.2
Multicoated Petzval cine projector lens. Black barrel.

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Benoist Berthiot XL 35 150/2.6
Multicoated Petzval cine projector lens. Black barrel.

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Benoist Berthiot XL 35 60/1.9
Multicoated Petzval cine projector lens. Black barrel.

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Benoist Berthiot XL 35 65/1.8
Multicoated Petzval cine projector lens. Black barrel.

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Benoist Berthiot XL 35 75/1.6
Multicoated Petzval cine projector lens. Black barrel.

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Berkey EL Omegar 50/3.5
Enlarger lens. Cat. L455-110. Aperture ring. Made in Japan by Komura. AKA Omega.

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Berophot 50/3.5
Enlarger lens made in Germany. Perhaps Rodenstock?

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Berophot 75/3.5
Enlarger lens.

beslar-50-v4-a

Beseler 50/3.5
Japanese enlarger lens marketed by Beseler and still in production. Cat 8650. Marked 4 LENS.

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Beseler 75/3.5
Enlarger lens. Cat 8675

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Beseler Beslar 105/4.5
Enlarger lens. Currently in production.

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Beseler Beslar 135/4.5
Enlarger lens. Currently in production.

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Beseler Beslar 35/3.5
AKA Dyotar, Jessop enlarger lens. 30mm image circle only. [1987 version Cat. 8669]

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Beseler Beslar 50/3.5 [V1]
Japanese zebra enlarger lens marketed in the US by Beseler. Unserialled.

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Beseler Beslar 50/3.5 [V2]
Japanese zebra enlarger lens marketed in the US by Beseler.

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Beseler Beslar 50/3.5 [V3]
All-black Japanese enlarger lens marketed by Beseler, fitted to Printmaker 35 and 67. [Cat 8670]

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Beseler Beslar 75/3.5
Enlarger lens. Currently in production. [1987 model Cat. 8780]

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Beseler Beslar 90/4.5
Enlarger lens. Currently in production. [1987 version Cat. 8782]

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Beseler Beslon 100/4.5
Enlarger lens marked Beseler Wetzlar. Zebra late model.

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Beseler Beslon 100/4.5
Enlarger lens marked Beseler Wetzlar. Silver body, black nose early model.

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Beseler Color Pro 105/4.5
Enlarger lens made in Japan. Probably AKA Kowa/Computar
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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.