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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Carl Zeiss Apo-Tessar 180/9
German repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss Apo-Tessar 240/9
German repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss Ernostar 120/2
Projector lens for Zeiss Ikon. Silver barrel, black nose. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena 105/4.5
Tessar T enlarger lens |
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Carl Zeiss Jena 165/6.3
Tessar enlarger lens. Black body. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Diotar 165/4.5
Suggested projector lens? https://www.digicamclub.de/showthread.php?t=24022 |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Dokumar 35/2.8
Biometar repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Dokumar 35/2.8
Russar. Repro-magnifying lens for Automator. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Dokumar 35/2.8
Russar. Repro-magnifying lens for Automator. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Dokumar 38/5.6
Russar. Repro-magnifying lens for Automator. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Dokumar 38/8
Biometar repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Dokumar 38/8
Russar. Repro-magnifying lens for Automator. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Dokumar 47/5.6
Russar. Repro-magnifying lens for Automator. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Kipronar 105/1.9
Petzval cine projector lens. All black and silver nose versions. Some Red T. 62.5mm diameter. Field curvature. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Kipronar 120/1.9
Petzval cine projector lens. All black and silver nose versions.Some Red T. 62.5mm diameter. Field curvature. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Kipronar 140/1.9
Petzval cine projector lens. All black and silver nose versions. Some Red T. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Kipronar 180/2.2
Petzval cine projector lens. All black and silver nose versions. 62.5mm diameter. Field curvature. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Kipronar 50/1.4
Petzval cine projector lens. Image circle c35mm. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Kipronar 70/1.4
Petzval cine projector lens. All black version. 42.5mm diameter. Image circle: 35-40mm. Field curvature. Barrel distortion. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Kipronar 90/1.9
Petzval cine projector lens. All black version. Red T. 42.5mm diameter. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Mikrotar 10/1.6
Microscope lens |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Mikrotar 120/6.3
Microscope lens |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Mikrotar 15/2.3
Microscope lens |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Mikrotar 20/3.2
Microscope lens |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Mikrotar 30/4.5
Microscope lens |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Mikrotar 45/4.5
Microscope lens |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Mikrotar 60/4.5
Microscope lens |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Mikrotar 90/6.3
Microscope lens |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Proj.Objektiv 200/2.1
Projector lens. Black body. Rear barrel diameter: 62mm. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena R-Biotar 100/0.73
Biotar X-ray lens for use on the RK70 Röntgenkamera 70 (AKA ‘Jena 70’) for fluorescent screen photographs. Example images by Espen Susort and Media Division. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena R-Biotar 120/1.0
Biotar X-ray lens for use on the RK70 Röntgenkamera 70 (AKA ‘Jena 70’) for fluorescent screen photographs. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena R-Biotar 125/0.8
Biotar X-ray lens for use on the RK70 Röntgenkamera 70 (AKA ‘Jena 70’) for fluorescent screen photographs. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena R-Biotar 45/0.85
Biotar X-ray lens for use on the RK70 Röntgenkamera 70 (AKA ‘Jena 70’) for fluorescent screen photographs. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena R-Biotar 50/0.77
Rare Biotar X-ray lens likely co-developed with the 100/0.73 for use on the RK70 Röntgenkamera 70 (AKA ‘Jena 70’) for fluorescent screen photographs. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena R-Biotar 55/0.85
Rare Biotar X-ray lens likely co-developed with the 100/0.73 for use on the RK70 Röntgenkamera 70 (AKA ‘Jena 70’) for fluorescent screen photographs. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 37.5/3.5
Black slide projector lens with metal body marked Carl Zeiss Jena DDR. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5
Black slide projector lens with metal body marked Carl Zeiss Jena DDR. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 70/3.5
Black slide projector lens with metal body marked Carl Zeiss Jena DDR. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Triplet 100/3.5
Fitted to Zeiss 100W slide projector. Black metal body. Silver nose. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Triplet 140/2.8
Fitted to Zeiss 100W slide projector. Black metal body. Silver nose. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 100/1.6
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 109/1.6
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. Image circle > 55mm |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 119/1.9
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 141/1.9
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 168/1.9
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 183/1.9
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 200/1.9
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 55/1.4
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. Image circle 35-40mm |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 65/1.6
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 71/1.6
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 71/1.6
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 84/1.6
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 92/1.6
Fitted to TK35 film projectors. AKA ROW Visionar. |
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Carl Zeiss Luminar 100/6.3
Bellows lens. |
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Carl Zeiss Luminar 16/2.5
Bellows lens. |
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Carl Zeiss Luminar 25/3.5
Bellows lens. |
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Carl Zeiss Luminar 40/4.5
Bellows lens. |
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Carl Zeiss Luminar 63/4.5
Bellows lens. |
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Carl Zeiss P-Distagon 75/3.5
Reference medium format slide projector lens fitted to Hasselblad PCP 80. |
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Carl Zeiss P-Planar 150/3.5
Reference medium format slide projector lens fitted to Hasselblad PCP 80. |
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Carl Zeiss P-Planar 90/2.5
Reference 35mm slide projector lens. Black metal body. Silver nose. |
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Carl Zeiss P-Sonnar 250/4 [V2]
Medium format slide projector lens fitted to Hasselblad PCP 80. |
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Carl Zeiss P-Sonnar 90/2.5
Multicoated (T*) slide projector lens fitted to Zeiss Ikon Royal AF Selectiv. |
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Carl Zeiss P-Tele-Tessar 400/5.6
Medium format slide projector lens fitted to Hasselblad PCP 80. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Biogon 40/5.6
Microfilm documentation lens with reputation for reference-grade optical performance. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Orthoplanar 105/5.6
Microfilm documentation lens |
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Carl Zeiss S-Orthoplanar 50/4
Microfilm documentation lens |
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Carl Zeiss S-Orthoplanar 60/4
Microfilm documentation lens with a reputation for reference-grade close-up performance. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Planar 120/5.6
Repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Planar 32/4
Repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Planar 60/4
Repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Planar 74/1.4
Industrial lens marked M1:5 nA=0.30 436mm. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Planar 74/4
Repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Sonnar 62/2.5
High resolution macro lens, optimised for 1:2.12 magnification. Early versions have all-white lettering on fascia ring. Image circle < 30mm. Example images by simple.joy. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Tessar 105/5.6
Lens for microdocumentation. Optimized for: 1:30 to 1:5 |
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Carl Zeiss S-Tessar 120/5.6
Repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Tessar 40/3.5
Lens for microdocumentation. Optimized for: 1:∞ to 1:10 |
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Carl Zeiss S-Tessar 50/3.5
Lens for microdocumentation. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Tessar 60/3.5
Lens for microdocumentation |
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Carl Zeiss S-Tessar 67/5.6
Repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Tessar 75/4.5
Repro lens. |
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Carl Zeiss S-Tessar 80/5.6
Lens for microdocumentation. Optimized for: 1:30 to 1:5 |
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Carl Zeiss S-Tessar 89/5.6
Repro lens. |
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Ce-Nei Anastigmat /3.6
Brass lens fitted to Carl Neithold Episcope (unknown focal length). Image circle likely < 25mm. |
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Chalier 105/4.5
Enlarger lens made in France |
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Cherry TL 50/4.5
Enlarger lens. |
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Chibanon 50/3.5
Compact black enlarger lens. Likely triplet. |
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Chibanon 75/3.5
Japanese grey metal enlarger lens marked ‘E-CHIBANON’. Likely triplet. |
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Cindo 85/2
Petzval cine projector lens made in Paris. Aperture estimated. Barrel: 62.5mm |
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Complan 15/3.5
Fitted to Minox 8-16mm enlarger. Sub-35mm image circle. |
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Computar 50/2.8
AKA Lumetar 50/2.8 enlarger lens (pre-‘dl’ version). |
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Computar 50/3.5
AKA Perfect, Prinz, Soligor enlarger lenses |
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Computar DL 105-150/4.5
AKA Kowa 105-150/4.5 enlarger lens. |
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Computar DL 105/4.5
AKA Kowa / Beseler Color Pro 105/4.5 enlarger lens. |
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Computar DL 135/5.6
AKA Kowa 135/5.6 enlarger lens. |
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Computar DL 30/2.8
Superseded the aborted 25/2.8 enlarger lens. 43mm image circle. AKA Kowa 30/2.8 |
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Computar DL 50-80mm 50/4.5
Enlarger lens with strong warm cast |
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Computar DL 50-80mm 63/4.5
Enlarger lens with strong warm cast. Tested here at 63mm. |
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Computar DL 50-80mm 80/4.5
Enlarger lens with strong warm cast |
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Computar DL 50/2.8
Enlarger lens made in Japan AKA Kowa 50/2.8 and marketed as Beseler Color Pro from 1985-89. Beware very high incidence of balsam separation. |
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.