Linhof 135mm f5.6 Schneider-Kreuznach Componon

John Wiegerink · Feb 17, 2010

I bought two enlarging lenses for a very cheap price of $20.00 and have a question about one of them. It is a Schneider-Kreuznach 135mm f5.6 Componon lens with Linhof engraved in red on the lens barrel. It appears to be and enlarging lens, but I'm puzzled about the Linhof engraving and was wondering what the two have in common. Was it for bellows work, enlarging or copy. It looks just like a normal 135mm f5.6 Componon. JohnW

Ian Grant · Feb 17, 2010

The Componon was also sold as a Macro lens, and they weren't unusual. In fact Schneider still sell Macro-Componon's but no longer that focal lenght. they mak Makro Symmar's as well.

The cells fit a Copal or Compur 0 shutter.

Ian

John Wiegerink · Feb 17, 2010

Ian,
I thought that might be what it was used for as I didn't think Linhof had any link to enlarging/printing. I would also assume it is the same exact design of the regular 135mm f5.6 Componon lens as it looks identical. Do I assume right? JohnW
Oh, and the two Meopta Meogon 80mm f2.8 lenses are really first rate and every bit as good as my black 80mm f5.6 Componon so I'm happy.

Ian Grant · Feb 17, 2010

The Meogon Optics were made by Schneider so they should be identical quality

Yes the 135mm Macro Compono is the same cells as the enlarger lens, I have used ny spare 135mm Componon cells in a shutter for close up work, and it's excellent. I've also seen them fitted to a Sinar shutter.

Ian

John Wiegerink · Feb 17, 2010

Ian, I'm now even more confused! Reading what you have just said leads me to another question. How did this lens get used for macro work on a Linhof? Was the whole unit mounted into a Linhof shutter? I'm guessing it must have been or there would be no reason to have Linhof engraved on the barrel if the cells were to be removed and placed into another shutter. JohnW

df cardwell · Feb 17, 2010

Linhof made a LOT of macro stuff.

They even made a hyper-mega-super-duper macro camera for Zeiss.

It was common for macro lenses to screw into the front of a shutter mounted on the front standard of the macro camera. Visualise the child of a 4x5 enlarger and a nuclear submarine.

Ian Grant · Feb 17, 2010

Macro Componon's were sold as barrel lenses or in shutters.

It's quite possible that someone has bought it in shutter second-hand then used the shutter for something else, and put theLinhof Componon cells in a barrel. Sometimes you see pairs of lens cells for sale with no shutter, I bought a coated CZJ 150mm Tessar that way.

The Linhof shutter was a Compur, but then Deckel who owned Compur was a partner in Linhof, so Compur/Linhof had close historic ties.

Ian

John Wiegerink · Feb 17, 2010

135mm Linhof Componon

:rolleyes:Ian, this particular lens looks just like a Schneider Componon 135mm f5.6, but it has Linhof red-engraved on the outer barrel. Maybe the whole lens screwed into some sort of shutter. I'll take a picture of it later and post it. JohnW

Ian Grant · Feb 17, 2010

That's unusual* as it's a Linhof barrel, so it's original - I was wrong. It's also unusual as the Linhof name is usually on the ring inside the filter thread, I have similar age Durst Componons marked that way and Linhof select LF lenes

You'd need to look at what else Linhof made in the 60's/70's, try the CammeraEccentric website he has a few Linhof catalogues online. I know that my CZJ 150mm Tessar was being sold at one time as a Linhof lens (rebadged by Zeiss West Germany).

Ian

* or is it ? some things nagging telling me my old 135mm Componon might be similarly marked, but it's in the UK
It is possible Linhof supplied the barrels.

John Wiegerink · Feb 17, 2010

Ian, I'm thinking more along the lines of a mutual partnership. Maybe Schneider was contracted to produce the lens with the Linhof trade mark. The reason I say this is because the barrel certainly looks "Schneider" to me. Of course I could be wrong? Being wrong is certainly possible for me and my wife is quick to point that out. JohnW

Ian Grant · Feb 17, 2010

Why would Schneider necessarily make all the barrels etc, all their camera lenses fit shutters, at that time mostly Compur or Prontor, although some for Sinar shutters are non standard.

The first Schneider made lens I saw in a composite barrel (nin metal) was actually a Vivitar 150mm f5.6 VHE, the lens cells are marked Made in Germany, and soon after that Scneider switched as well, but they may have had the barrels made elsewhere.

Deckel/Compur came up with the modern shutter standard sizes, still in use today, in 1929 so maybe they made matching barrels in the same size for Schneider,

It's a strange one, but companies s do & did sub contract, the only camera/optical company that made every single component was VEB Pentacon.

Ian

goodfood · Feb 17, 2010

Linhof make enlarger long ago. I saw it on Linhof magazine around 1960.

John Wiegerink · Feb 18, 2010

goodfood, I've been reading photo mags for, well since the late 50's and I must have missed that one. I would love to see that Linhof enlarger. If it's anything like their cameras it would be one overbuilt enlarger and probably a dream to use. It also could be the answer to our question about this lens. JohnW

Kirk Keyes · Feb 18, 2010

You could also buy a cold light back for the Technika 4x5 to make it an enlarger.

goodfood · Feb 19, 2010

John Wiegerink said:
goodfood, I've been reading photo mags for, well since the late 50's and I must have missed that one. I would love to see that Linhof enlarger. If it's anything like their cameras it would be one overbuilt enlarger and probably a dream to use. It also could be the answer to our question about this lens. JohnW

This is from the Technical News section of the Linhof International Photo Technik, January 1973 issue.

John Wiegerink · Feb 19, 2010

goodfood,
That looks like one awesome enlarger and built in the typical Linhof tradition. It even has those creamy large knurled knobs that Linhof used on almost everything. Wonder what that baby list priced for? Probably half a knew car at the time. I bet they didn't sell many as you never see them for sale used or on the big auction site. I still wish I had one to go with my knew lens. Ya, right! JohnW

Linhof 135mm f5.6 Schneider-Kreuznach Componon

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