Is the old chrome Schneider componon good?

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I guy asked me if I'm interested in this lens he has for sale. It's a chrome finish Schneider Componon 105/5,6 lens. Is it as good as the new componons, or is it a mediocre enlarging lens with todays standards?

-- Curious (tmxtmy@hotmail.com), March 26, 2000

Answers

This variety of Componon was installed on the enlargers in a studio where I worked 25 years ago, and they were excellent. The question is in what application will you be using the lens? If, like me, you are a serious amateur printing at home, this lens may be just great and a bargain to boot. If for some reason, you need even higher resolution, I am sure you will receive experienced guidance from others on this site on the most recent lenses -- e.g., the Componon- S, etc --Sam Elkind.

-- Sam Elkind (sselkind@home.com), March 26, 2000.

Thank you for your answer. I coughed up $190 and ordered a Componon-S 100/5,6 instead. I want to get all the sharpness out of my negatives, so I decided to try the newer lens.

But I must say that the chrome componon sure is a beautiful looking lens! There are too much plastic today. It's almost that I want to buy one just for the fun of it. I wonder if there are collectors of enlarging lenses?

-- a little curious (tmxtmy@hotmail.com), March 27, 2000.


Yes, me! I seem to collect enlarging lenses, though not intentionally. I'm just kind of a magnet for them. I've been given them, inherited them, and come across them at junk sales at giveaway prices that I couldn't resist. My collection includes Komuranon-s (excellent), Hoya (panned by the critics unfairly in my view, the 40 and 60mm samples I have are very good), Rokkor f/4.5 (over-rated), Componon-s (my workhorse lens), Focotar (as yet untested), and numerous Ross, TTH, Dallmeyer and assorted stuff collecting dust in a drawer.

Incidentally enlarger lenses make excellent taking lenses for close-up work; most of them beat even specialist macro lenses at the end of a bellows.

The "old" Componon in either chrome or blackenend mount will still give most modern lenses a run for their money. I use one in 80mm focal length for all my medium format stuff, and don't really see how it could be improved. I've got both Componon and Componon-s lenses for 5 x 4, and to be honest there's very little detectable difference between 'em. I wish that Schneider would standardise their damn mounts though!

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), March 29, 2000.


I've got a Componon-S 100/5,6 from 1978. I wonder if it is the same formula as the same lens made today? Will I do better if I sell my lens and buy a new Apo-componon?

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), March 29, 2000.

Keep in mind that to see the difference between the old and new Componon (assuming the glass is in good shape) you need a glass carrier and a well aligned enlarger.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), March 29, 2000.


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