Enlarger Lenses

[Annibale G.]

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Hi,

I'm a 35mm black and white photographer. I'm going to buy some lenses for my enlarger to print myself. I've got to decide between the SCHNEIDER COMPONON-S 50/2.8 and the SCHNEIDER APO-COMPONON 45/4,0.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Thanks awfully.

[budrichard]

No suggestions about which lens but just remember that the smaller the f stop of the enlarger lens, the longer the exposure time. The 4.0 will require at minimum twice the exposure time of the 2.8. Where will you enlarger be located and how insulated from vibrations because the more vibration, the shorter the exposure time you want.-Dick

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[Annibale G.]

yeah I know, I was just talking about quality. Mailny one is Apo lenses, the other not.

[LeonardT]

Hi,

I'm a 35mm black and white photographer. I'm going to buy some lenses for my enlarger to print myself. I've got to decide between the SCHNEIDER COMPONON-S 50/2.8 and the SCHNEIDER APO-COMPONON 45/4,0.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Thanks awfully.

 

You are looking at two high quality lenses. It might be very difficult to see a difference in normal 8X10 prints. The 2.8 vs 4.0 aperture would not bother me. I focus with the lens wide open and then stop down for the exposure anyway. The 45mm lens will allow you to make larger prints or tighter crops for the same post extension. That would sway my choice more then anything else.

 

Len

[gesper]

I have the APO and it is first rate.

[piero]

Apo is good for color printing.

Componon-S are good, but see if you can test a few before buying.

At the time I tested a Componon-S, a Rodagon and a Nikkor and the best performer was the Nikkor.

The shop only had one sample each so I picked the sharpest of the three.

Bare in mind that a big difference is the light source of the enlarger if condensed, diffused or cold. Cold light is the best for B&W printing, Aristo makes interesting kits.

Also, the enlarger that can be easily adjusted is convenient.

 

Hope that helps!

[waterlenz]

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Hi,

I'm a 35mm black and white photographer. I'm going to buy some lenses for my enlarger to print myself. I've got to decide between the SCHNEIDER COMPONON-S 50/2.8 and the SCHNEIDER APO-COMPONON 45/4,0.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Thanks awfully.

 

 

The Componon-S series has been around for decades. The Apo is newer. I have found the EL Nikkors to be just as good and better made. I want a good feel to the aperture ring to make it easier to adjust in the dark. However, I have not printed in years.

[christer]

What enlarger are you going to use? If it has autofocus (highly recommended) like the Leitz V35, then you should get a lens with a corresponding focal length. For the V35, that is generally 40 mm - but not always.

[Annibale G.]

well now I have a durste then I'd like to change it for a new one. I was just to compare the 50 and the 45 apo.

That's it. I suppose schneider is a good company.

[xjr]

Go google and type SDS....

[Annibale G.]

well SDS? what's that . Appear to me videosurveillance staff and similar

[tobey bilek]

Don`t get the 45 APO for a condenser enlarger unless you like soft light corners.

 

I have tried mine on my 7 enlargers and it not worth beans on any condenser including Focomat IC, Omega D with 35mm condensers, and two Phillips tricolor models, but the diffusion machines are decent.

 

My advice, get the APO if you have a diffusion set up, otherwise you will tear your hair out.

[Fernmelder]

Maybe it is a totally dumb question, but why are there different lenses for enlargers and what effect does the apperture have here? I'm a self-printing newbie.

[piero]

for the same reason there are different lenses for shooting, mainly.

Some lenses are for B&W printing, some for accurate color reproduction.

Shorter focal lengths for smaller formats or for different enlarging machinery.

A slightly longer focal length for a given format to use the best part of the lens, with the drawback of longer distance between paper and negative, longer exposure times, more space required...

Some choices are dictated by the goal, and goals can be two type:

 

the best quality achievable

or

printing without hating to do it

 

printing, seriously, requires the same amount of skills and knowledge of shooting seriously.

The lens is only part of the production line required for quality printing. Like shooting.

It can be very enjoyable or a total nightmare, depending on choices made.

[Annibale G.]

well I'm a black and white photographer , the best choice, I think, would be a coldlight diffuser enlarger with a schneider componon lenses. Suggestions about that?

[piero]

did you try the Nikkor lenses? or the Rodenstock Rodagon?

What enlarger do you plan on using?

What kind of paper? Fiber base or speed?

 

There is no such a thing as the right lens, Componon-S are usually very good, but as I sayd before not all of them are top quality. I had a perfect 50, once. Then I bought another one and it was very poor compared to the previously owned. So I picked the best between the three available in the shop, after testing them. It was the Nikkor.

[Annibale G.]

well, mainly I'll print on warmtone paper, either rc or fb with a diffuser enlarger, Il'be glad to obtain a coldlight ones in the future.