Does anyone know anything about the Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar f4.5 150mm enlarging lens. Aperature goes to f32. S/N is 8850971. It appears to be uncoated but I'm not sure. There are two odd things about it. First, although it is for a 39mm lensboard opening, the threads appear to be different than standard because it won't thread more than about 1/2 turn into my new Saunders enlarger 39mm lensboard. Second, it has an outside knurled ring for changing aperature separated with about an 1/8th inch gap from the inside threaded ring for filters. By the way, it is completely metal and rather heavy for its size. Doesn't appear to have any plastic parts.

I am thinking of buying an El-Nikkor but would hate to do so and then find out the the Scheider was an absolutely wonderful piece of glass!

-- J.L. Kennedy (jlkennedy@qnet.com), May 22, 1999

Answers

If I recall correctly, the Xenar is a four-element lens which was designed as a "taking" rather than enlarging lens. Also, some of the older lenses were equipped with a different ratio thread for proprietary camera applications so, even though the diameter is 39mm, the number of threads-per-inch are not the same. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. JE

-- Joel Edmondson (jedmon1065@aol.com), June 11, 1999.