# Whats the best lens for super8? **URL:** \ **Category:** Machine Design\ **Created:** [March 17, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://forums.kinograph.cc/t/whats-the-best-lens-for-super8/2508 "2023-03-17T17:30:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 2
**Author:** ![PM490](https://forums.kinograph.cc/user_avatar/forums.kinograph.cc/pm490/32/3176_2.png) [@PM490](https://forums.kinograph.cc/u/PM490)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 10:55pm UTC](https://forums.kinograph.cc/t/whats-the-best-lens-for-super8/2508/2 "2023-03-17T22:55:10Z")
Thank you for sharing this post, great information. I have used, the Componon-S, and Nikkor EL, both 50mm f2.8 lenses. I found the Schneider performed slightly better away from the center than the Nikkor EL, with f4. In both cases, the lenses were reversed mounted with a 23.2 x 15.4 mm CMOS sensor (Nikon DSLR D3200). Both lenses definitely resolved enough to see the grain, and even minimum scratches/dust. In general, for this use case, enlarger lenses are designed to best focus at a flat surface (paper) and from a flat subject (the film). And have the added value of being relatively inexpensive for the use case. A few items I found extremely critical for best quality away from the center, with both lenses: - Select the best aperture for sharpness **and** resolution. This was specially critical with the larger sensor, one stop less was not as noticeable with the smaller sensor. The [coinimaging](https://coinimaging.com/s50comp.html) site provides a great reference, and it also shows the significant loss of resolution on the corners. - The depth of focus is very small, and any misalignment between the target, the lens, and the lens and the sensor is highly noticeable. - Check the IR filter of the HQ camera for spots… there are some postings on the subject at the camera forum. I no longer have a filter in the sensor, so cannot provide a reference. > [@PixelPerfect](#): > > and I don’t see the filmgrain detail I would like to have With both the Componon and Nikkor grain was nicely preserved, [here is an example of the Nikkor EL on an earlier post](https://forums.kinograph.cc/t/scan-examples-of-super-8-material/1970/8)., the Schneider is slightly better on the corners. The film was shot with the emulsion-side to the lens, using the 1/2 stop between f4 and f5.6, and D3200 DSLR. The illuminant configuration is also a very significant part of how the grain looks, and it took multiple iterations to get to something decent (an oversized ping pong ball). --- _[View the full topic](https://forums.kinograph.cc/t/whats-the-best-lens-for-super8/2508)._