Rodenstock Rodagon 2.8/50 or Schneider Componon-S 2.8/50?

[RedSun]

Both are popular modern enlarger lenses, I do not know which one to choose. I have both. The Rodenstock is heavy. Which one has a better performance?

 

[ic-racer]

The one that is not foggy.

 

[BMbikerider]

I would go for the Rodenstock. Far better build quality and doesn't feel quite so 'plasticky'. If you can get the APO version they are tremendous.

 

[Jesper]

They are both excellent.

 

[RedSun]

I would go for the Rodenstock. Far better build quality and doesn't feel quite so 'plasticky'. If you can get the APO version they are tremendous.

I do have the APO 50mm lens. I'll put it on and give it a try. Not sure if I can tell the differences. I'm not making very large prints now.

 

[craigclu]

Both good glass (I have them, too). I'd stick with the APO if it seems clear and solid. These are known to be best performing at relatively open apertures and I use mine at 5.6 mostly as with my equipment and materials, it gives me about the right exposure times, allowing for some dodging/burning. You will have very little depth of field forgiveness at open apertures, so aligning your enlarger becomes doubly important for extracting what that good APO lens can deliver.

 

[eddie]

If you already have an APO 50mm, why are you looking at getting another 50mm lens?

 

[RedSun]

I have multiple enlargers. They use different mounts. The APO is already mounted on another enlarger. For this one I just received a new mount and is going to replace the Nikkor 50mm with either the Schneider or Rodenstock. Both are good and I have no opinion...

 

[eddie]

Now I understand. I have a few enlargers, too, but I use the same lenses on the different enlargers. I just mount the lens on the appropriate board.

 

[MattKing]

If any of your enlargers are Omega D series, some of the 50mm lenses work better than others with some of the mounting systems.

 

[RedSun]

D5XL is one of them. D5500/ProLabII is another. Both have the turrets.

 

[MattKing]

You have probably seen this resource from KHB, but in case you haven't ...

http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/LensMountD5.htm

 

[Darkroom317]

Already been there

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[sandermarijn]

As for the APO vs. non-APO matter, I once looked up and compared their respective performance data (MTF, distortion, fall-off, chromatic aberration). If one thing I learned it would be that stopped down (f/5.6) and at moderate enlargement (10x) there is no discernible difference between the regular Rodagon 50mm f/2.8 and the Apo-N version. The non-APO is a superb lens.

Have a look at the graphs yourself in (there was a url link here which no longer exists).

 

[Adrian Twiss]

I have both and cannot tell them apart.

 

[RedSun]

Yes, they may not make any difference in the range that we do most often. We can't even tell if there is any difference. The difference may show when you try to stretch to large enlargement. But at least we know that both lenses mentioned are superb lenses, or the best in this category.