Durst Neonon

[mono]

Does anybody here know who is the original manufacturer?
A friend of mine wants to know whether he should buy one and I could not answer his question.
Thank you!

 

[titrisol]

I think that was a FUJINON lens, and some people considered it one of the unknown jewels in enlarger lenses.

 

[mono]

Others told me they were made by Pentax or they really were Rodenstock lenses!?

 

[Ian Grant]

They were made by Pentax.

Durst also used Schneider lenses for commercial photorinters and these often were labelled Durst Schneider just as Linhof marked Schneider LF lenses. I have a 105 Durst Componon.

Ian

 

[titrisol]

there maybe a family of lenses made by several manufacturers fro Durst, just like some of their other equipment

 

[df cardwell]

The Neonons I've seen were all componons.

 

[Blighty]

I believe that they are (were) made by Pentax. Your friend should buy one. I use the 50mm f2.8 and it's a very good lens. BLIGHTY

 

[Ian Grant]

My Neonon's are nothing like any of my Componons.

Also my Durst Componon, is not marked Neonon. It is of course possible that Durst in the US sold different lenses to Europe.

Ian

QUOTE=df cardwell]The Neonons I've seen were all componons.[/QUOTE]

 

[Nige]

I had a 50/2.8 Durst Neonon that was made by Schneider... was printed on it. Sold it with the enlarger as I thought a EL-Nikkor 50/4 that came with another enlarger would be a match... never did any direct comparisions but for ease of use the Durst wins hands down (lighted aperture scale and brighter image viewing)

 

[Sunnysixteen]

I have a Durst Neonon 50mm f2.8 which I use on a Kaiser enlarger (hybrid diffuser/condenser illumination). For medium format I use 80mm & 105mm Rodagons. The Neonon produces superb black & white prints (I don't print colour) & I rate it very highly and would wholeheartedly recommend it.

I used to use a 50mm f2.8 Nikkor and I prefer the results from the Neonon. I was given a 50mm f2.8 Rodagon as a present, and frankly I don't think it is superior. Here in UK I have seen Neonons selling for 1/3 to 1/4 of the price of a Componon or Rodagon.....representing very good value.

A Pentax collector told me that the 50mm f2.8 Neonons were made for Durst by Pentax, and that in Japan they were distributed with the Pentax name on them - but that all the lenses exported to Europe carried the Durst badge. Apparently the Pentax-badged lens is a serious collector's item....

Either way I would recommend the lens - whoever made it!
Good luck!

 

[Tom Stanworth]

I just popped on an old neonon (50, 2.8) I won on ebay at the same time as a new model schneider componon S and the Neonon is the better lens. On a 17 inch print from 35mm (f5.6, nicely aligned enlarger), the Neonon has better centre sharpness and corners and a MUCH nicer tonal scale. The mid tones are meatier (with a number of negs, off different films, and the prints just look a lot richer. It also has a touch higher contrast but Z5-7 are just much nicer to the eye even when the low and high values fall the same. Razor sharp.

Interesting as this eaxmple came in for about ten quid and turned out to have a tiny chip in the rear element. wont be letting this lens go....

 

[Tom Stanworth]

two neonons (50mm) going on ebay.co.uk at 99p starting bid....

 

[LorenzoS]

someone have the optical scheme image of the durst neonon 50mm f2,8 ?
tanks