Is there any chance of saving this Schneider Componon-S 5.6/150 f5.6 150mm Enlarging Lens?

henryyjjames · Jul 13, 2023

This is a lens I got for free (I think). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to save this? I unscrewed the two parts and cleaned that, but there's fungus in the bottom portion. I double it is savable, but just in case I thought I would ask.

mshchem · Jul 13, 2023

The white dots around the edges is " Schneideritous" the black paint on the edges of the elements is defective, this shouldn't cause major problems.
I can't really see but if you have fungus on the center of the lens elements it's not likely going to be repairable.

mshchem · Jul 13, 2023

Schneider lenses are notorious for looking like this. Someone else here probably knows the whole story. Most of the lens fungus I've looks like clear or white tendrils or branches in the lens. The fungus eats the cement used to glue the elements together, originally Canada Balsam. This usually etched the glass. Not good.

Kino · Jul 14, 2023

Can you touch the fungus? Is the glass etched?

Try a cotton tip swab with equal parts household ammonia and hydrogen peroxide on any areas you can physically touch. Follow with distilled water and lens cleaning solution. It may take several applications to be effective...

Use some common sense; mix and apply a small portion of this mixture-up outdoors or in a well ventilated room.

Unless the glass is etched or it is in the cement in between elements, it should remove the fungus.

(Clarification; I am NOT talking about the "Schneideritous", but the white spots outside of the edges of the element)

henryyjjames · Jul 14, 2023

What I am seeing is not the white specks on the black edges of the inside but rather the white fungus dots in the glass. It's definitely between the glass in the cement so I think the lens is done for. Any suggestions on what to replace it with?

Kino · Jul 14, 2023

Have you tried printing with it? The results may not be as bad as you fear!

It could wind-up being that "secret weapon" for contrasty negatives that need a bit of flashing.

Give it a shot; only cost you a few sheets of paper...

henryyjjames · Jul 14, 2023

Kino said:
Have you tried printing with it? The results may not be as bad as you fear!

It could wind-up being that "secret weapon" for contrasty negatives that need a bit of flashing.

Give it a shot; only cost you a few sheets of paper...

Depending on the enlargement size, I notice some blurred/grey areas, only slightly noticeable. I am not going to get rid of it, like you said, I can always use it to fog, but I would like to have a clean lens that I know will produce prints without any marks.

Kino · Jul 14, 2023

OK, good; you've tried it at least!

The only other option beyond just buying a replacement lens would be to try to disassemble the lens, dissolve the glue and re-cement the elements with fresh UV curing optical adhesive, but that's a pretty big job with a very large possibility of failure.

I seem to remember several threads on Photrio where some people have tried this with varying degrees of success, but I personally think just biting the bullet and buying a good example of this lens would be more cost effective.

greg zinselmeier · Jul 14, 2023

Have you used this lens? What do results look like

greg zinselmeier · Jul 14, 2023

I’ll bet you , a gentlemen bet, that with b+w , 4x5 neg. On 20/24 paper you can not tell the difference with a brand new APO, color probably

cowanw · Jul 14, 2023

I have such a lens, which I disassembled in a straight forward way and removed the elements, which had partially separated. I had some old fashioned paint remover (?Methyl Hydrate) which dissolved the cement and separated the lenses. I cleaned the lenses and pending my ability to get a few drops of Canada Balsam, I put the lenses together and back in the housing. Yes there is an airspace instead of a cemented space and no I cannot tell the difference.

Doremus Scudder · Jul 14, 2023

I good-quality 150mm enlarging lens is not that expensive on the used market these days. Weight that against the time and effort of disassembly and re-cementing as well as the not-knowing-for-sure if your prints would be better with a lens in top performing shape.

Best,

Doremus

GregY · Jul 14, 2023

Agreed, A used enlarging lens in good condition likely costs less than a box of 11x14" fiber based paper.

RalphLambrecht · Jul 15, 2023

henryyjjames said:
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This is a lens I got for free (I think). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to save this? I unscrewed the two parts and cleaned that, but there's fungus in the bottom portion. I double it is savable, but just in case I thought I would ask.

You would have to take it apart andclean each lens element with hydrogen peroxide.

Is there any chance of saving this Schneider Componon-S 5.6/150 f5.6 150mm Enlarging Lens?

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