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Durst Componon lens plate information

robonfilm

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Hi, I stumbled upon this lens and ended up placing the winning bid for it.
I mainly bought it because the price was very low, and I was curious about the plate it comes with.

Does anyone have experience with this lens? Is the plate detachable? I’d like to use it to mount another Componon to an M39 plate if it’s suitable. Currently, I’m lacking the proper adapter ring, so I’ve been relying on a makeshift contraption that I’m not too proud of!
 

MattKing

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Looks like a Componon lens screwed into a Durst extension tube.
The tube may have been intended for another focal length lens, in a different application.
But it certainly is pretty - in a very Durst sort of way .
 

ic-racer

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Remove the locking screw and unscrew the lens from the cone. Based on other Durst lens cones, I have measured, you may find 0.75 pitch threads.
 

Ian Grant

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It's probably from a Durst roll head printer, these were made in Epsom in the UK. Durst bought Dr Curt Jacobson's Pavelle company, which made equipment for colour photofinishing.

When I was given two turrets full of Schneider/Durst lenses 50mm to 135mm the lenses were screwed into tubes threaded internally and externally with lock screws. Focus was set and locked when the machines were installed.

Ian
 
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robonfilm

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ic-racer said:
Remove the locking screw and unscrew the lens from the cone.
Click to expand...
Ian Grant said:
the lenses were screwed into tubes threaded internally and externally with lock screws
Click to expand...
That’s great news! I only paid $20 for the lens and cone, so I’m not too concerned about the condition of the lens itself—I don’t plan on using it anyway.

My intention is to use the cone to mount a 50mm Componon on the Seimar tube I use with my Durst 609. If the lens turns out to be in good condition, I might consider selling it.
 

MattKing

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The biggest problem with using an extension tube with a 50mm lens on an enlarger is that with most enlargers the lens ends up being too far from the negative to be of much use.
 

Ian Grant

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Durst enlargers use recessed lens boards about an inch for 50mm lenses. An exception is the M609 which needs a recessed board for 75/80mm lenses and a much deeper one for a 50mm lens.

Durst enlargers like the M609 and later models could also be used as copy cameras. There was a Dutub II extension tube made for the M609 for extreme reduction & macrophotography. That's maybe what you have. I'd guess around 1965.

Ian
 
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robonfilm

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MattKing said:
lens ends up being too far from the negative
Click to expand...

Ian Grant said:
An exception is the M609 which needs a recessed board for 75/80mm lenses and a much deeper one for a 50mm lens.
Click to expand...
I have the same enlarger (a later model Durst M609). Currently, I’m using my 50mm Componon with the proper deep recessed Seimar tube, but due to the lack of a proper M25 to M39 adapter, I’m struggling with alignment issues.

I’m hoping to use the plate that comes with this lens as an adapter in the Seimar tube, without letting the lens sit too close to the negative.
 
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