Rodenstock Scitex lenses

[John Geerts]

In the early nineties and later Rodenstock made special Scanner lenses for Scitex, an Israelian based company  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scitex_Vision)  and now part of Hewlett-Packard.

That company is specialized in high quality scanners for duplicating large format film in three different sizes.
The scanners are usually named as 'smartscanner' and contain three lenses in the 39mm mount and with a fixed aperture:

• Scitex 67mm f/4.9
• Scitex 89mm f/5.0
• Scitex 110mm f/5.0

 The first batch of scanners  have the extra name Scitex S-2  and later lenses contain the Scitex S-3 label. Probably no changes in the lenses, but there is very little information to be found about these lenses on the internet.  According to the Rodenstock serial numbers, these lenses were made in 1993 and part of the first scanners with the launch of the Scitex company in 1994.

On the Nikon Z camera's all three lenses will reach infinity.
On the F mount camera's the 89 and 110mm will reach infinity.


The website Closeup Photography published some information about these scanner lenses.  https://www.closeuphotography.com/scitex-smart-340-s3-scanner-lenses/

Results with these lenses are very promising.

Here an example with the 89mm f/5 on the Nikon Z6

[golunvolo]

Very promising indeed. Looking forward to more of your work with this lenses.
How are you mounting them in the Z bodies?

[John Geerts]

I use the FTZ adapter (on the Z camera's) and the M39-F adapter together with a focus helicoid adapter.  Depending on the subject extra spacers in between. This will also give infinity for the 89mm and 110mm on the F mount.

For the 67mm (for infinity) the M39-Z adapter and Meike as spacer.  Still need to setup my focus helicoid adapter for the Z mount.

[Fons Baerken]

Very promising indeed. Looking forward to more of your work with this lenses.
How are you mounting them in the Z bodies?

Me too

[Birna Rørslett]

There are good quality M42 - Z helicoids available on eBay. Add the internal 42-39mm step ring and that's it. Alternatively, select a suitable 42-42 helicoid and add one of the ultrathin flat M42-Z mounts.

Since there is no electronics, no need for using up an FTZ/FTZ.2. Follow the easy, and more inexpensive path.

[John Geerts]

Thanks for the advice, Birna.   I have  Z-42 helicoid somewhere , just have to find a 42-39 step ring. That's indeed the simplest way to adapt to the Z-camera.

My first intention was to switch fast between Z and F mount camera, and then you can omit the FTZ-adapter when using the Z-mount setup.

[Akira]

Yeah, the project looks promising.  If the lenses have the ubiquitous M39 mount, attaching them onto the camera should be easy.

[Birna Rørslett]

---just have to find a 42-39 step ring. That's indeed the simplest way to adapt to the Z-camera.
-

They are ubiquitous -- just ensure you get the kind intended to sit inside the threads so it won't add to overall length. An example;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284107740801

They tend to disappear rather quickly on a crowded work table, thus I always buy a handful each time.

[John Geerts]

Thanks Akira and Birna.  I ordered a few of those 39/42 rings on Ebay

[Birna Rørslett]

I assume these scanner lenses are optimised for a restricted range of magnifications. Thus, unless the optics are quite symmetric in design, there is no expectations of 'good' behaviour towards infinity focus, even if the latter can be achieved.  Any insights and experiences on this, John?

This situation contrast sharply with the case of 'X-ray' lenses such as Rodenstock TV-Heligon or Oude Delft Rayxar; those lenses perform optimally for infinity focus and the performance declines when they are focused closer. The decline is gracious into the middle-ground distances to  become massive when these lenses are pushed into the near range.

[John Geerts]

I think results are not too bad

Here on the Nikon Z9 with the Rodenstock Scitex 89mm f/5.0   Lens unprotected without sunhood.

Focus far away
Focus on the tree

[John Geerts]

I assume the optics are symmetric in design.   I also read that some lenses should perform better when reversed.  An interesting point is the 39mm thread on the 3 lenses.  Normal orientation with the 89/5 and 67/4.9 and upside down with the 110/5  probably based on it's original position inside the scanner.

One of the photographs in this link reveal the position of the specific lens inside the scanner:   https://www.closeuphotography.com/scitex-smart-340-s3-scanner-lenses

[Birna Rørslett]

From the article you linked to

"The results have been very good to excellent but it seems to be very sensitive to the magnification ratio and amount of extension needed. "

That is for 67mm lens.

I'm asking because one can get surprises -- in either direction -- when playing around with specialised optics like these scanner lenses, CRT optics etc. For example, the Nikkor CRT 55mm f/1.2 is wonderfully sharp when used for its designated 1:4.4-1:5.5 range, but for infinity it is barely sharp just in the very centre, on the optical axis, everything else is pretty much blurred. For my Rodenstock TV-Heligon or Oude Delft Rayxar 50mm f/0.75 the behaviour is the exact opposite. In neither case the lens is a "generalist" behaving like ordinary lenses across a wide focus range.

All such behaviour makes of course playing with suchlike items more enjoyable and a little exciting. Stock up on the positive experiences and save the others for a rainy day.

[John Geerts]

The results with the Rodenstock Scitex 110mm f/5.0 on the Nikon Z9

[Michael Erlewine]

I have the Rodenstock Scitex S-3 5.0/89 SN11233716

Have used it some, but only for close-up on a rail.