Enlarger Lens Features

[TheFlyingCamera]

I'm trying to figure out which modern enlarging lenses have both click-stops for apertures and the ability to disable click-stops for stepless aperture adjustment. Most specifically, I'm interested in Schneider and Rodenstock lenses, in the 80mm-105mm range.

 

[Pierre Barrellon]

To my knowledge, modern Rodagons and Componons both have this feature.
Rodagon : you have to pull down the aperture ring to disable click stop.
Componon : you have a lever that allows you to go from full aperture to the F stop you selected (nice feature). if you push the lever further, you disable click stops.

Hope it helps...

 

[jimjm]

Componon : you have a lever that allows you to go from full aperture to the F stop you selected (nice feature). if you push the lever further, you disable click stops.

I've got a fairly new 80/4 Schneider Componon-S which has this feature. Very convenient in use.

 

[Pierre Barrellon]

I have Componon-S 80/4 and 80/5.6 (a little older). Both show the lever. As Jimjm says, it is really a pleasure to work with, much more convenient than my other lenses (rodagons, El-nikkor, focotar, older schneider...

But I must admit I never use their ability for step less adjustment of the aperture. I even wondered why it could be useful. Maybe the OP will solve this mystery (to me)...

 

[MartinP]

But I must admit I never use their ability for step less adjustment of the aperture. I even wondered why it could be useful. Maybe the OP will solve this mystery (to me)...

I think that is/was intended for matching an exposure via an enlarging-meter -- turn the aperture until the dial/light/number is as indicated, without any clicks being involved.

 

[tedr1]

Yes I believe this was the case with some color enlarging papers that had to be exposed using near constant exposure times to minimize color shift due to reciprocity issues in the paper. The solution was variable intensity light and constant exposure times. This was the original purpose of the Ilford EM10 exposure monitor tool I believe.

My Rodagons and Apo Rodagons all have the facility to disengage the click-stops, I think it is standard on the more recent Rodenstock lenses.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I think that is/was intended for matching an exposure via an enlarging-meter -- turn the aperture until the dial/light/number is as indicated, without any clicks being involved.

What MartinP said. It is a pain when trying to adjust my exposures via my darkroom meter when the aperture ring wants to click over to more open or more closed than I want.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I have the 50 2.8, 100 5.6 and 150 5.6 Componon S lenses. The 50 and 100 both have the lever with the stepless function, as does the 80mm, the 150 does not have that stepless feature.

Be aware that there are two 100mm Componon S enlarging lenses, one with the stepless lever, another without that lever.

All of them have ½ stop clicks, The 50 and 100 that I have, also have an illuminated f/stop window.

I used Rodenstock and Schneider darkroom lenses in a professional lab, my personal preference in formats under 4x5" was for the Schneider Componon S units, they were the fastest and easiest to use in a rushed situation. So I eventually acquired a trio of enlarging lenses that had near identical colour output and enlarging factor designation.

Mick.

 

[dpurdy]

My 150 Componon-S from the mid 1980s has both options.

 

[Mick Fagan]

What MartinP said. It is a pain when trying to adjust my exposures via my darkroom meter when the aperture ring wants to click over to more open or more closed than I want.

This is where the Schneider lenses are better than the Rodenstock units. That lever is so much easier to use, in fact it makes one wonder how you could enlarge without one.

When I was enlarging colour at home, that lever was perfect. Now when doing B&W I still use the lever when using my Colorstar analyser for exposure (density) changes. Brilliantly accurate, there are no fudge factors at all.

Mick.

 

[Pierre Barrellon]

Ok, thanks a lot! As a B&W only printer, I didn't know the use of the stepless adjustment!