Rodenstock Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens
The Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 (LFOV) lens was designed for use in the EverSmart (ES), and the iQsmart (IQS) high-end flatbed scanners. These are out of production now, but when they were sold they featured the highest resolution scanning available using a technology called XY-Stitch. The early versions of the EverSmart scanners were badged Scitex, later the name changed to CreoScitex, then Creo and finally Kodak before production stopped around 2006.
The LFOV was designed for use with scanner CCDs so they were never sold directly to consumers, so unfortunately this means these lenses are very difficult to find on the used market. and lens specifications are just about impossible to obtain. I was able to source some factory training information thanks to the support of a friend that worked for Creo.
Update November 4th, 2020
This week I was lucky to find a Scitex EverSmart scanner for $200 at a graphic arts business that was shutting down. This scanner, a base ES model, came with the same LFOV lens as the top-of-the-line Select and Supreme models. The base model is rated at 3175 DPI, the Select and Supreme, at 5700 DPI, all with the same lens.
Update December 26th, 2020
Test results have been added comparing following lenses:
Rodenstock Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens (LFOV)
Rodenstock Scitex S-3 5.0/110 Scanner Lens (S3110)
Schneider Kreuznach Componon-S 5.6/100 Line Scan Lens (CPN100)
Schneider Kreuznach Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 Line Scan Lens (MS80)
ABOUT THIS test
This test and all the other content on my site, is completely independent and free from industry influence. I will not benefit from your purchases. Most photo sites in the web today are run by corporations for profit. I do not show ads, use any affiliate links, or take money from anyone in the photo industry. I create content for this site for fun in my free time. Instead of making a few dollars from this site, I'm more concerned about teaching people to learn to use what they already have, rather than waste time and money buying more equipment. Most of us, myself included, would make far better pictures if we'd stop buying the wrong equipment and spend more time learning how to use what we already have instead.
Rodenstock Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens with azimuth mark
PROS AND CONS
What I like:
Good chromatic aberration control
Lack of corner shading
Large image circle
Heavy duty all metal design
Best azimuth mark
Used in all EverSmart models, from base to premium
What I dislike:
Uncommon M45 x0.75 threaded mount
Conservative maximum aperture
Uncommon front thread size
Some LFOV lenses do not have front threads
Lack of availability on the used market
Rodenstock Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Rodenstock Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens
Part number: 0703-085-000-20
Type: CCD scanner lens
Focal length: 108mm
Maximum aperture: fixed f/5.6, measured at f/5.8
Iris: None
Magnification: iQsmart scanners use a magnification range from 0.65x to 1.53x (iQsmart3 spec)
Sensor Coverage: 66mm image circle iQsmart, 73mm EverSmart
Lens mount: M45 x 0.75 threads, RafCamera M45 adapters are available online.
Front threads: M29.5 x 0.5mm, not all LFOV have lenses front threads
Source: Rodenstock lens made in Germany
Scanner Source: made in Herzlia Israel by Scitex
Price on the used market: October of 2020, an ES scanner sold on eBay for $495 USD (too much in my opinion). On Nov 4th, 2020 I was able to buy a Scitex EverSmart scanner, in excellent condition, for $200.
Scanner Notes:
-The ES Supreme scanner sold for $48,000 USD new, which is 69,000 in 2020 dollars!
-The IQS and ES units are able to scan originals at maximum resolution, anywhere on the scanning bed.
-With IQS and ES scanners, the distance from the CCD and original plane is fixed, only the lens moves to focus.
-The CCD in the Creo iQsmart3 sensor is a Kodak tri-linear 10,200 pixel CCD with 7 μm x 7 μm (micron) pixels.
-The EverSmart’s Kodak tri-linear 8,002 pixel CCD, uses 9 μm x 9 μm (micron) pixels.
-Three LFOV lenses tested for this post with serial numbers: 11377019, 11429526, and 11521196.
-The top-of-the-line EverSmart supreme scanners featured a CCD cooling system using a thermo-electric cooling plate and fans to control and stabilize CCD sensitivity (unfortunately this feature causes long term reliability issues).
1.1x Test
Rodenstock Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens
Rodenstock Scitex S-3 5.0/110 Scanner Lens
Schneider Kreuznach Componon-S 5.6/100 Line Scan Lens
Schneider Kreuznach Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 Line Scan Lens
All lenses were tested wide open at 1.1x for best results. Lenses were tested in both directions. The LFOV, MS80, and S3110 were tested forward mounted. The CPN100 was tested mounted in reverse.
L to R: Schneider Componon-S 5.6/100, Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80, Rodenstock Scitex S-3 5.0/110, Rodenstock Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 lens.
The Target
Center, edge and corner areas highlighted in blue, the CA crop area highlighted in red.
Center crop 100% view
Schneider Componon-S 5.6/100 vs Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 at 1.1x
The micro-lettering is slightly sharper in the LFOV crop than with the CPNS100, but the biggest difference is the handing of chromatic aberrations. The LFOV does a lot better with CA control.
Scitex S-3 5.0/110 vs Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens at 1.1x
The S3110 and LFOV lenses are both optimized for the same magnification range, 0.6x - 1.5x, but the 110 is slightly faster, measured f/5.8 vs f/5.2. The LFOV does have a big advantage with CAs, the S3110 has some very obvious red fringing, the LFOV is CA free. In the center the S3110 is slightly sharper with fine details, no surprises.
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 vs Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 at 1.1x
The Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 (MS80) is a very well corrected lens with low dispersion glass optimized for work at 1x or life-size. Here the two lenses are too close to call, excellent results from both lenses at 1.1x.
Center Results: 1.1x is too far out of range for the CPN100, but the other 3 lenses were very sharp with the smallest details well reproduced. The Makro-Symmar and LFOV were almost too close to call in terms of image quality at 100% view at 1.1x.
Edge crop 100% view
Schneider Componon-S 5.6/100 vs Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 at 1.1x
Both lenses are shaper here but the CPN100 shows red fringing, the LFOV results are color fringe free.
Scitex S-3 5.0/110 vs Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens at 1.1x
The edge results are similar to the center, the S3110 is slightly sharper but does not control CAs as well as the LFOV.
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 vs Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 at 1.1x
The Makro-Symmar crop does show some additional details but is not as clean as the LFOV.
Edge crop results: LFOV lens is best overall.
Corner crop 100% view
Schneider Componon-S 5.6/100 vs Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 at 1.1x
Sharp results from both lenses, the CPN100 shows slightly more CAs.
Scitex S-3 5.0/110 vs Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens at 1.1x
The S3110 lens is slightly sharper but also has more red fringing.
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 vs Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 at 1.1x
The Makro-Symmar is a little sharper but the LFOV shows cleaner blacks with nearly the same sharpness.
Corner crop results: LFOV output is cleanest of all with very slightly less sharpness.
Chromatic Aberration at 200% view
The Componon 5.6/100 (CPN100) is rated down to 0.5x, so 1.1x is outside that range. The test is within the range of the LFOV, 0.6x to 1.5x, so it should have an advantage in image quality at 1.1x.
1.1x Test Final Results
The S3110 lens was the sharpest lens in the group, that’s good, but also had the highest levels of CAs, not good. The LFOV had the best balance of sharpness and CA correction of any lens in the test.
Best overall at 1.1x: Scitex LFOV 5.6/108
Notes: The lenses below were tested but the results are not being posted due to poor results. The test tested magnification was too far outside the designed range of the lens.
Linos Inspec.x L 5.6/105 0.33x-3x version: IQ drop-off in the corners
Fujinon-EFC 5.6/108: IQ drop-off in the corners
Noritsu E90C 9.5/105: IQ drop-off in the corners
Scitex LFOV 2500 pixel sample image
Excellent results at 1.1x, sharp and detailed without any CAs. Click on the image to open a larger version. Check the URL, it should end in 2500, if not change it and hit enter. You can always right button or two-finger click and save-as to view on an image viewing app.
LFOV Tube Lens Test
To test LFOV in a stacked setup I mounted a Componon 2.8/35 line scan lens reversed and in front of the Scitex lens. The results at 3x at f/2.8 were fantastic. Sharpness was excellent from edge to edge without any fall off at all, even at f/2.8.
Front lens: Schneider Kreuznach 2.8/35 Componon lens reverse mounted
Rear lens: Rodenstock Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 normally mounted focused at infinity
Stacked lens tested aperture: f/2.8
Stacked lens effective aperture: f/8.4
Click on the image below to open in a new window, the image should open at 2500 pixels. You can also right click or two finger click and save as and view the image in another image viewing app.
Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 + Schneider Componon 2.8/35 at f/2.8 stacked at 3x
Mounting the LFOV
The LFOV has an uncommon mount, M45 x 0.75 but Raf Camera sells more than a dozen M45 thread adapters on their web store: https://rafcamera.com/ so adapting the LFOV lens to your setup should not be a problem. I personally use the M45x0.75 female to SM2 male thread adapter, $29.00, PN: 0711332407640. With this adapter the LFOV lens threads right into my SM2 studio setup.
M45 x 0.75 just happens to match the female front thread mount for the Linos (Rodenstock) Modular Focus helical focus unit that is an off-the-shelf solution that adds about 1 inch of fine focus ability to the LFOV lens.
Rodenstock Scitex LFOV 5.6/108 Scanner Lens with Linos Modular Focus helical focus mount
The LFOV lens will thread right into the front of the LMF so all you need is some extension tubes and the proper camera or thread adapter at the rear. The LMF uses a V-55 V-mount at the rear.
For this test I used the easy-to-adapt M42 x 1 mount adapter that I picked up a Digikey.com for about $30 plus $10 shipping (See below for a link to Digikey). Linos offers rear mount adapters in different mounts for the LMF unit from C-mount, F-Mount, M42, M48, M58, M72, M90 and M95.
The Linos Modular Focus helical focus unit is available on the used market on eBay but buyer beware, sometimes eBay used prices are higher than the new retail prices. You can buy direct from the manufacturer on the Qioptiq (Excelitas) website: Qioptiq Webstore Another site is Digikey, they ship same day and offer $10 second day Fedex service: DigiKey.com Linos products Digikey also stocks other adapters like the M45 > V45 V-mount adapter and the hard to find M40.5x0.5 > M39 reverse ring for Rodenstock enlarger lenses ($29 USD).
XY Stitch Vs XY Zoom
The ES and IQS scanners, use a scanning technology called XY-Stitch. This means that the highest resolution and sharpness is used regardless of the size of the original on the scanning bed. This technique effectively narrows the width of each scan pass using multiple passes, each covering a narrow strip of the bed at a high resolution. Software stitching is used to line up and reassemble the scanned strips.
Other scanners that cannot perform stitching use a different technology called XYZoom (also called XYZ scanning). This effectively narrows the width of the scanner bed for increased resolution with the use of what the manufacturers call a zoom lens. By focusing only on the image being scanned, the scanner can fill the entire width of the CCD chip with the image, instead of parts of the bed that contain no image. One of the limitations with zoom technology is that maximum resolution is still only available in a band at the centre of the bed so resolution drops as image size is increased. With batch scanning, the resolution is determined by the width of the entire batch of scans. The Fuji Lanovia Sprint C550 flatbed is an example of an XYZoom scanner.
The EverSmart scanner optical assembly below shows the N shaped optical path using two stationary mirrors with the LFOV lens in the center. The LFOV lens faces the CCD sensor and is controlled by a stepper motor with 63mm of travel for focus. The ES CCD sensor faces upwards, Mirror 1 is a normal type mirror and folds the light path, Mirror 2 is a cold type mirror that reflects VIS light and transmits or passes IR and UV light.
LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION
Scitex S-3 5.0/110 lens test:
https://www.closeuphotography.com/scitex-s3-110mm-lens
Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 lens test:
https://www.closeuphotography.com/makro-symmar-80-test
Componon-S 5.6/100 tune lens test page:
https://www.closeuphotography.com/componon-s-100mm-lens-test
Linos Modular Focus and accessories directly from distributor on the Qioptiq online shop:
The Linos Modular Focus on the Digikey Website: