Componon-S 5,6 80 vs 100?

[Contrastique]

I have two enlarger lenses for 120 film. I want to keep only one. I have a Componon-S 5,6/80 and a Componon-S 5,6/100.
I will use them with 6x6 negatives and, as far as I can tell now, my prints won't exceed 50x60 cm (20x24").

Which one will fit the bill better for me? Is there a difference in optical quality between them? Thanks for your input!

 

[jk0592]

If you do only 6x6, then the 80mm will have good coverage of the negative. The 100mm would be necessary to cover 6x9. For 6x6, the 80mm will give you a larger maximum print size than the 100mm.

 

[Contrastique]

Thank you jk0592. I also wonder if there's an optical quality difference between the two?

 

[brian steinberger]

I've used both and found the 100mm slightly sharper and so I sold the 80mm. BUT, for my enlarger the 100mm isn't wide enough for 16x20, so I bought a Rodenstock APO 80/4 (Non-N) and love it. Super sharp. I recommend an 80mm APO lens if you're enlarging to 20x24. They're rather cheap now. I got mine for $200.

 

[Contrastique]

Well, the 80 sounds like the way to go then. I might jump the bullet on an APO in the future, but definitely not on my priority list for now. I just saw an APO-N lens on Tha Bay, darn, that has a perky price tag to it ($595) ;-) It's nice to have f4 for focusing although the lenses I've used so far are all f5,6. Thanks for the comments!

 

[jjphoto]

... It's nice to have f4 for focusing although the lenses I've used so far are all f5,6. Thanks for the comments!

Even so, you need to stop it down to about F8 for optimum image quality with 6x7, so the F4 aperture is rather trivial IMHO. I have the 80/4 APO-Rodagon-N. It's a nice lens.

 

[Contrastique]

Even so, you need to stop it down to about F8 for optimum image quality with 6x7, so the F4 aperture is rather trivial IMHO. I have the 80/4 APO-Rodagon-N. It's a nice lens.

I know but for focusing you have a bit more light to go on than with a max aperture of 5,6. Thanks for the comment on the APO version..I feel tempted but I was actually looking to sell things this time, not to buy ;-)

 

[Ian Grant]

I have both lenses and much prefer the 80mm for 6x6 negatives, I keep the 100mm for 6x9.

Ian

 

[Contrastique]

Thanks Ian.

The Componon-S 100 is up for sale in case anyone is interested:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)