Anyone know if this componon lens is good?

Jedidiah Smith · Jan 29, 2010

Hi, I purchased an second enlarger a while back, and it came with a lens: a Schneider Componon marked 1:4/40.
I'm assuming this means it's a 40mm f4. Can anyone let me know if it's worth using say, compared to my standard Nikon 50mm enlarging lens?
Thanks for the tips!
Jed

Allan Swindles · Jan 29, 2010

Schneider enlarging lenses are superb. If my memory serves me correctly there were two versions, the Componar and the Componon, the latter being best used for enlargements over 10x and the former for enlargements up to 10x, or is it the other way round? Puzzled by the 40mm though, my own experience was with 50 and 80mm versions.

Steve Smith · Jan 29, 2010

I don't know about a 40mm version but I have no complaints about my 80mm Componon.

Steve.

ic-racer · Jan 29, 2010

May be a 'half-frame' lens, so if you don't have a need for it, perhaps some Pen-F user would want it. I don't recall that they made a wide angle "Componon." They, of course currently have a 40mm Wide Angle APO-Componon-S, but that is not your lens.

Jedidiah Smith · Jan 29, 2010

Hmmm. Yeah, I'm kind of puzzled by it too. I can't figure out why you'd want a 40mm lens instead of a 50mm one. Here's the exact markings on the front:

Schneider-Kreuznach 14048073 Componon 1:4/40

Aperture ring has detents for 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16. And of course, says "Lens made in Germany" on the side.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Doesn't really seem like something I need, I guess, but maybe I'll try it out and see what the results are just for kicks?
Jed

cowanw · Jan 29, 2010

I believe you would use this to make larger enlargments ( or a larger crop) at a more convenient height than with a 50mm lens

Bob-D659 · Jan 29, 2010

Well the serial number dates your lens to Oct 83-Jan 85 see here: http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/age_of_lenses/index.htm

IIRC there was a wide angle Componon as well, so it's likely to cover a 35mm neg.

Jedidiah Smith · Jan 29, 2010

Thanks Bill - that makes sense; I suspect if someone had a shorter enlarger, they might need the extra...and 40mm is not so far off the "50mm normal" that it would induce any crazy distortions.

Bob, that is a neat chart - thanks for that! Looks like it's an oldie...wonder if it's a goody too?

Jed

Bob-D659 · Jan 29, 2010

I have a 60's vintage Componon f4 50mm, I did some comparison prints with a newer -S f2.8. On B&W prints, you could see slight differences in 11x or larger prints as long as you used a 5x or stronger loupe to look at them, colour prints were even closer. I really tried to justify buying the newer lens, but I wasn't successful.

phenix · Jan 29, 2010

The Schneider 6 elements enlarging lenses are Componon and Componon-S series. Componar are 4 elements lenses, and they also made a triplet I forgot the name. The difference between Componon and Componon-S is that the first (which is also an older model) has a lower contrast and is suited for enlargements over 5(or 6)x. The S model is high in contrast and suited for enlargements up to 5(or 6)x.

Componons are made as f/2.8 lenses, artificially stopped down at f/4 (just look inside with the aperture large open and will see something like a metal ring sized at f/4, not allowing a larger aperture). I suppose they did this compromise just to keep the lens’ body as small as possible (why, I don’t know). But the lens is genuine a f/2.8.

As for the 40mm focal size, it was made for use with 126 size negatives. I think you can try it with 35mm too, one additional stop closed than normal (I mean f/11 instead of f/8).

richard ide · Jan 30, 2010

I have used Componon and Componon S lenses and the S is better for big enlargements. I have used a 360 mm Componon S lens enlarging 8 x 10 negatives up to 16' and it was sharper and cleaner than any of my other lenses for that degree of enlargement without using filters. I have the head of a very expensive camera/enlarger designed for up to 10x magnification and it was designed around a 360mm Componon S.

Jedidiah Smith · Jan 30, 2010

That's some great info, thank you. I did notice that it looks inside like it should open up more, like the aperture blades are being stopped at the f4 position artificially. At first I thought something was wrong with it, but I eventually realized it must be like that for a reason, because it stops down at every detent ( it works as it should) and you just solved this mystery for me, in that it's really an f2.8 lens that's stopped down from the factory.
I don't have any negs smaller than 35mm, but seems like a neat little lens to have, I guess.
Jed

Rick A · Jan 30, 2010

I have both a Componon and a Componar. The Componon is a 150/f5.6 with a m39 mount,from 1964, and the Componar is a 75/f4.5 with a m25 mount made in 1963. Both give outstanding results up to 11x14, although I rarely print past 8x10. I really enjoy using the older lenses, harkens me back to my early days in the DR. My first lenses were Wollensak, which I still love, but the Schneiders were top shelf and I had worked my tail off to afford them(at the time).

Rick

RalphLambrecht · Jan 30, 2010

Bob-D659 said:
Well the serial number dates your lens to Oct 83-Jan 85 see here: http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/age_of_lenses/index.htm

IIRC there was a wide angle Componon as well, so it's likely to cover a 35mm neg.

You find the lens in question on the same page:

http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?CID=175&IID=2004

Jedidiah Smith · Jan 30, 2010

Hi, thanks for all the info, everyone!
The lens does look like that one, just older, of course.
At this point, I will definitely give it a shot and see how it compares.

Jed

Murray@uptowngallery · Jan 30, 2010

Someone mentioned half-frame 35mm...could that have also been for 126 format?

I think I had a couple 126 cameras with 40 mm lenses.

Murray

edtbjon · Jan 31, 2010

According to this brochure the 40mm lens is intended for 24x24 negs (which is the 126 format I believe), but maybe it's good enough for 24x36 too. There is nothing which indicates that it's a WideAngle design though.

//Björn

ic-racer · Jan 31, 2010

Yes, also for Rollei SL26 users. (ADOX ADC 200 Instamatic still available??)

As with all enlarging lenses, coverage is better at low magnification. So I'll bet it works Ok for 4x6" enlargements from 35mm, but it won't cover the corners on a 11x14" enlargement.

sculptorBradP · Aug 19, 2021

Hope this is ok to add to questions here? Would this lens work well as an enlarger lens - 5x7 Durst 138 S / G139 with CLS-301, and or CLS-1000 Head ? - Prototype Schneider-Kreuznach
Jos. Schneider & Co. Optical works / Kreuznach 2, Prototyp Schneider-Kreuznach Componon Tele Xenar, f: 4,5 / F: 240mm., Normalkorper - mount – shutter, nbr. of. Lens : #7107320, nbr. Of. Shutter: Rb362
Telephoto Lens, Screw thread 74mm, Prime Lens, Manual focus, Product weight: 784g, Type: Fixed focal length, Unique!!! for collectors!
from a collection:
Response from the seller is that the lens is Front side thread is 62mm, Rear thread is around 72 mm. Also from another seller, a fabricator for new Durst Lapla plate to use with a Durst 138 S - Thread should be designated by major diameter and pitch. Commonly used pitch for 72mm diameter is 0.75mm, but this is not guaranteed. We can make such plate, but will not accept return if it does not fit. - thanks, - Brad

Any input appreciated, Thanks, - Brad

Don_ih · Aug 19, 2021

sculptorBradP said:
Hope this is ok to add to questions here? Would this lens work well as an enlarger lens? - Prototype Schneider-Kreuznach Componon 4.5 /240mm #7107320, Rb362 Telephoto Lens, Screw thread 74mm, Prime Lens, Manual focus, Product weight: 784g, Type: Fixed focal length, Unique!!! for collectors!
from a collection:

Response from the seller is that the lens is Front side thread is 62mm, Rear thread is around 72 mm
Another Seller From a fabricator for new Durst Lapla plate to use with a Durst 138 S - Thread should be designated by major diameter and pitch. Commonly used pitch for 72mm diameter is 0.75mm, but this is not guaranteed. We can make such plate, but will not accept return if it does not fit.

Any input appreciated, Thanks, - Brad

Well, I'd actually have difficulty getting that on my 5x7 enlarger, it's so big. Not impossible. It might be for 10x10 enlargers - enlarging aerial photos or something. It would be virtually impossible to mount and use this on a small enlarger.

wiltw · Aug 19, 2021

sculptorBradP said:
Hope this is ok to add to questions here? Would this lens work well as an enlarger lens? - Prototype Schneider-Kreuznach Componon 4.5 /240mm #7107320, Rb362 Telephoto Lens, Screw thread 74mm, Prime Lens, Manual focus, Product weight: 784g, Type: Fixed focal length, Unique!!! for collectors!
from a collection:

Response from the seller is that the lens is Front side thread is 62mm, Rear thread is around 72 mm
Another Seller From a fabricator for new Durst Lapla plate to use with a Durst 138 S - Thread should be designated by major diameter and pitch. Commonly used pitch for 72mm diameter is 0.75mm, but this is not guaranteed. We can make such plate, but will not accept return if it does not fit.

Any input appreciated, Thanks, - Brad

getting a 75mm threaded lens mounted to an enlarger lens board...how to do that?

My Beseler 45V-XL turret was M39 thread, and I used a Beseler adapter cone to tit 50mm thread of my 150m Schneider Componon.

Pieter12 · Aug 20, 2021

sculptorBradP said:
Hope this is ok to add to questions here? Would this lens work well as an enlarger lens - 5x7 Durst 138 S / G139 with CLS-301, and or CLS-1000 Head ? - Prototype Schneider-Kreuznach
Jos. Schneider & Co. Optical works / Kreuznach 2, Prototyp Schneider-Kreuznach Componon Tele Xenar, f: 4,5 / F: 240mm., Normalkorper - mount – shutter, nbr. of. Lens : #7107320, nbr. Of. Shutter: Rb362
Telephoto Lens, Screw thread 74mm, Prime Lens, Manual focus, Product weight: 784g, Type: Fixed focal length, Unique!!! for collectors!
from a collection:
Response from the seller is that the lens is Front side thread is 62mm, Rear thread is around 72 mm. Also from another seller, a fabricator for new Durst Lapla plate to use with a Durst 138 S - Thread should be designated by major diameter and pitch. Commonly used pitch for 72mm diameter is 0.75mm, but this is not guaranteed. We can make such plate, but will not accept return if it does not fit. - thanks, - Brad

Any input appreciated, Thanks, - Brad

The fact that it is mounted in a shutter tells me it was not intended for enlarging, but for a view camera. The field may not be flat enough to use as an enlarger lens.

sculptorBradP · Aug 21, 2021

Pieter12 said:
The fact that it is mounted in a shutter tells me it was not intended for enlarging, but for a view camera. The field may not be flat enough to use as an enlarger lens.

Thank you for your response, Pieter12. I actually didn't realize that the Rb362 indicated a shutter until after I looked more carefully at the accompanied picture of the posted item next to an old box that it was originally packed in. I added that info from the box on an edit here with my question after I had initially posted. I am the proud owner of this lens now though. It's in transit from Germany. So, perhaps it will prove useful as a lens for photos of my traditional charcoal figure drawings - generally 18 inch x 30 inch or so. Or maybe a good lens for another use on my 4x5, or 8x10 view camera of my sculpture photos?, - Brad

sculptorBradP · Aug 21, 2021

wiltw said:
getting a 75mm threaded lens mounted to an enlarger lens board...how to do that?

My Beseler 45V-XL turret was M39 thread, and I used a Beseler adapter cone to tit 50mm thread of my 150m Schneider Componon.

thanks for your response, wiltw.

sculptorBradP · Aug 21, 2021

Don Heisz said:
Well, I'd actually have difficulty getting that on my 5x7 enlarger, it's so big. Not impossible. It might be for 10x10 enlargers - enlarging aerial photos or something. It would be virtually impossible to mount and use this on a small enlarger.

Thanks for your response, Don Heisz

Anyone know if this componon lens is good?

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