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.

Reset

boyer-saphir-50-3.5d

Boyer Saphir 50/3.5
French enlarger lens.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir 60/2.8
Double Gauss enlarger lens

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir 65/2.8
Double Gauss enlarger lens

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir 75/2.8
Double Gauss enlarger lens

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir 85/2.8
Double Gauss enlarger lens

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir 95/2.8
Double Gauss enlarger lens

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 100/4.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 105/4.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 110/4.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 135/4.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 150/4.8
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

boyer-saphir-b-210a2

Boyer Saphir B 210/4.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

boyer-saphir-b-50c

Boyer Saphir B 50/3.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11. Reviewed as poor by Photo-ciné Revue Magazin in 1980 when the retail price was 650 francs.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 60/3.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 65/3.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 75/3.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 80/3.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir B 85/3.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

boyer-saphir-b-95a

Boyer Saphir B 95/3.5
Plasmat enlarger lens optimised for 5x enlargement at f11.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir BX 100/5.6
Upgraded version of Saphir enlarger lens. Rebadged Boyer Zircon LF.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir BX 105/5.6
Upgraded version of Saphir enlarger lens. Rebadged Boyer Zircon LF.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir BX 110/5.6
Upgraded version of Saphir enlarger lens. Rebadged Boyer Zircon LF.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir BX 135/5.6
Upgraded version of Saphir enlarger lens. Rebadged Boyer Zircon LF.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir BX 150/5.6
Upgraded version of Saphir enlarger lens. Rebadged Boyer Zircon LF.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir BX 80/5.6
Upgraded version of Saphir enlarger lens. Rebadged Boyer Zircon LF.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir X 170/3.5
Updated version of 1930s Tessar enlarger lens.

boyer-saphir-x-50a

Boyer Saphir X 50/3.5
Updated version of 1930s Tessar enlarger lens.

Placeholder

Boyer Saphir X 75/3.5
Updated version of 1930s Tessar enlarger lens.

Boyer Topaz 105mm f4.5

Boyer Topaz 105/4.5
Triplet enlarger lens. Not the same as the pre-1939 versions with the same name. Product images by Real Camera >

Placeholder

Boyer Topaz 35/3.5
Triplet enlarger lens. Not the same as the pre-1939 versions with the same name.

Placeholder

Boyer Topaz 45/2.8
Triplet enlarger lens. Not the same as the pre-1939 versions with the same name.

Placeholder

Boyer Topaz 50/3.5
Triplet enlarger lens. Not the same as the pre-1939 versions with the same name.

Placeholder

Boyer Topaz 75/4.5
Triplet enlarger lens. Not the same as the pre-1939 versions with the same name.

Placeholder

Braun Color-Autogon 85/2.8
Black plastic body entry-level 35mm slide projector lens for Novmat 502.. Aperture unmarked (estimated).

Placeholder

Braun Color-Paxon 85/2.8
Multicoated lens fitted to Braun Novamat 130AF slide projector. Orange ring. Awarded 2/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine.

Placeholder

Braun Stellar 150/3
Fitted to Braun Novomat 820 slide projector. Black plastic body. Multicoated.

braun-super-paxon-90-2.5a

Braun Super Paxon S 90/2.5 [V2]
Black metal-barrel 35mm slide projector lens. Marked MC (multicoated).

braun_super-paxigon_200a

Braun Super-Paxigon 200/3.5
Black plastic body slide projector lens made by Wilhelm Will (of Wetzlar) fitted to Paxiscope 650.

paxiscope_280_braun_superpaxigon

Braun Super-Paxigon 280/3.5
Multicoated episcope projector lens made in Germany. Red ring. Fitted to Paxiscope XL.

Placeholder

Braun Super-Paxigon 350/2.8
Multicoated episcope projector lens made in Germany. Fitted to A4/XXL.

braun_super_paxon_85_2.5a

Braun Super-Paxon 85/2.5
Fitted to Braun Paximat projectors. Marked MC (multicoated).

braun_super-paxon-85_2.8_v1b

Braun Super-Paxon 85/2.8 [V1]
Fitted to Braun Paximat 1850 / Special Novomat projectors. Awarded 2/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. Marked MC (multicoated).

braun_super-paxon-85_2.8_v2b

Braun Super-Paxon 85/2.8 [V2]
Fitted to Braun Paximat / Special Novomat projectors. Awarded 2/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. Marked MC (multicoated).

braun_super-paxon-85_2.8_v3a

Braun Super-Paxon 85/2.8 [V3]
Fitted to Braun Novomat projectors. Awarded 2/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. Marked MC (multicoated).

braun_super-paxon-85_2.8_v4a

Braun Super-Paxon 85/2.8 [V4]
Fitted to Braun Novomat projectors. Awarded 2/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. Marked MC (multicoated).

braun_super-paxon-s-90a

Braun Super-Paxon S 90/2.5 [V1]
Black metal-barrel 35mm slide projector lens fitted to Braun Paximat Multimag 250 C-AF. Marked MC (multicoated). [V1] has shorter barrel, smooth nose, and different coatings to [V2]. Uncertain whether formula is identical.

braun-ultralit-110-200mm-a

Braun Ultralit PL 110-200/3.5
Multicoated zoom lens fitted to Paximat Multimag slide projectors. Part of the Profiline range.

braun_ultralit_pl-55-2.8-a

Braun Ultralit PL 55/2.8
Multicoated slide projector lens from Braun Profiline series.

braun-ultralit-70-120mm-a

Braun Ultralit PL 70-120/3.5
Multicoated zoom slide projector lens awarded 3/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. Product image by FotoMarkt.

braun_ultralit_85-150-a

Braun Ultralit PL 85-150/4
Multicoated zoom slide projector lens. Example image by simple.joy

braun_ultralit_85-bmc3

Braun Ultralit PL 85/2.8 B-MC
Profiline series projector lens with integral iris for Paximat Multimag. Multicoated. Despite difference in advertised focal length, likely identical to Reflecta Agomar 90/2.8 B-MC. Example images by Delta Lenses and simple_joy.

Braun Ultralit PL 90/2.4
Metal-bodied slide projector lens from Sonnar Profiline series. Multicoated. Awarded 4/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. [Cat. 82260]. Example images by simple.joy.

braun_vario_paxar-70-120-a

Braun Vario-Paxar 70-120/3.5
Zoom lens fitted to Braun Paximat Multimag 2025AF projector. Black plastic barrel. Single-coated.

Placeholder

Braun Zoom Special 70-120/3.5
Zoom lens fitted to Braun Paximat Multimag projector.

braun-axat-85

Braun-Axat 85/2.8
Fitted to Braun 50H projector. Aperture unmarked (estimated at f2.8). By Wilhelm Will (Wetzlar).

Placeholder

British Optical Lens Co Achromat 127/5.6
Enlarger lens made by Corfield marked 4.25”

Placeholder

British Optical Lens Co Achromat 50/4.5
Enlarger lens made by Corfield marked 2”

Placeholder

British Optical Lens Co Achromat 82/5.6
Enlarger lens made by Corfield marked 3.25”

Placeholder

British Optical Lens Co Apo Lumar 50/3.5
Enlarger lens made by Corfield

Placeholder

Buhl 100/1.6
Multicoated projector lens made in Pittsbugh marked 4”. Image circle c55mm.

Placeholder

Buhl 175/2.5
Multicoated projector lens made in Pittsbugh.

Placeholder

Buhl 200/2.5
Multicoated projector lens made in Pittsbugh.

Placeholder

Buhl 240/2.5
Multicoated projector lens made in Pittsbugh.

Placeholder

Buhl 255/2.7
Projector lens. Also available as triplet. Marked 10”

Placeholder

Buhl 255/2.8
Projector lens. Also available as triplet. Marked 10”

Placeholder

Buhl 255/2.9
Projector lens. Also available as triplet. Marked 10”

Placeholder

Buhl 89/1.6
Multicoated projector lens made in Pittsbugh marked 3.5”. Image circle c55mm.

buhl_1.4in-2.5-b

Buhl Optical 36/2.5
Multicoated wide angle slide projector lens made in Pittsburgh, USA. Marked 1.25″ Superwide.

Placeholder

Burke & James Solar Anastigmat 90/4.5
Enlarger lens marked 3.5”. Silver body. Very small.

cabin_100c

Cabin 100/3.2 [V1]
Fitted to Cabin 35mm slide projectors. Silver metal body with zebra nose. The monstrous adaptation shown in the gallery isn’t necessary if you buy the recommended version (SKU #0395) with M39 mount.

cabin-100c

Cabin 100/3.2 [V2]
Fitted to Cabin Auto Ace and Automat 35mm slide projectors. Black plastic body. White fascia. Automat version fitted with M39 thread.

Placeholder

Cabin 150/3.5
Japanese 35mm slide projector lens.

Placeholder

Cabin 210/4.5
Japanese 35mm slide projector lens.

cabin-60

Cabin 60/2.8
35mm slide projector lens with black plastic barrel.

cabin_75_2.5

Cabin 75/2.5
Fitted to Cabin Walz and Electromatic 35mm slide projectors.

cabin_85c

Cabin 85/2.8
Fitted to Cabin 2000R slide projector.

cabin_ernolux

Cabin Ernolux 75/2.5
Projector lens fitted to Cabin Sunlit. Some versions marked Cabin only. Diameter 35mm.

calumet-caltar-se-100a

Calumet Caltar-SE 100/5.6
Thinly rebadged Schneider Componon-S [14022] enlarger lens. Similarly prone to spotty balsam separation (‘Schneider-itis’).

Placeholder

Cambridge World El Cambron 105/4.5
Enlarger lens made in Japan (Vivitar?)

Placeholder

Cambridge World El Cambron 135/4.5
Enlarger lens made in Japan (Vivitar?)

Placeholder

Cambridge World El Cambron 150/4.5
Enlarger lens made in Japan (Vivitar?)

Placeholder

Cambridge World El Cambron 25/4.5
Enlarger lens made in Japan (Vivitar?). 30mm image circle only

Placeholder

Cambridge World El Cambron 35/3.5
Enlarger lens made in Japan (Vivitar?). 30mm image circle only

Placeholder

Cambridge World El Cambron 50/3.5
Enlarger lens made in Japan (Vivitar?)

Placeholder

Cambridge World El Cambron 75/3.5
Enlarger lens made in Japan (Vivitar?)

Placeholder

Cambridge World El Cambron 90/4.5
Enlarger lens made in Japan (Vivitar?)

cambridge_el_pro-50a

Cambridge World El Pro Cambron 50/2.8
Enlarger lens made in Japan (Vivitar?). AKA Spiratone Resomax, Fujimoto [V2], Jessops, etc.

Placeholder

Cambron 100-200/3.5
Zoom 35mm slide projector lens.

Placeholder

Cambron 102/2.8
35mm slide projector lens. Perhaps AKA Kodak Ektanar.

Placeholder

Cambron 70-120/3.5
Zoom 35mm slide projector lens. Perhaps AKA Doctaron 70-120/3.5.

Placeholder

Camerz Axinon 90/4.5
Enlarger lens made in Germany. Zebra

Placeholder

Canon 120/1.4
Projector lens

Placeholder

Canon 35/2.8
Bellows lens.

Canon_E-50mm_F3-5-a

Canon E 50/3.5
Tessar enlarger lens. Transparent ring with aperture markings on front.

canon_f03-p_a

Canon F03-P
Multicoated microfiche optic designated 23.5X for Canon Microprinter 60 and similar models.

Placeholder

Carl Zeiss Apo-Germinar 240/9
German repro lens.

Placeholder

Placeholder

Placeholder

Placeholder

Carl Zeiss Apo-Tessar 140/9
German repro lens.
1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 36

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.