Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 17

Thread: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

  1. #1
    Do or do not. There is no try.
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Northeastern USA
    Posts
    983

    When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    I've read many times about Schneider's poor quality control "long ago", and their later improvement. While many speak authoritatively about this, I don't recall ever seeing an actual date cited, or even an approximate one. Any hints?

  2. #2
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,338

    Re: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    Depends what specific category of lenses you're referring to. There was
    a relatively brief era when Rodenstock's and Fuji's facilities or tooling were updated before Schneider's were. At that time, the general purpose
    plasmats put out by these other two companies seemed to be a tweak
    sharper or more modern. That was around the 70's. But I'd hardly call
    Schneider's lenses poor at that time, or substandard per quality control.
    They were excellent, but not "state of the art". Now if you're going way
    back to the 1930's or something ... can't comment there.

  3. #3
    funkadelic
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Yadkinville, NC, USA
    Posts
    1,300

    Re: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    I haven't worked with any Schneider lens newer than a Symmar-S. I can say that I've seen several of these ranging from perfect glass to some with severe "Schneideritis". When did they quit making this line of lenses?
    Do any of the APO Symmar or newer designs have this problem?

  4. #4
    IanG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Aegean (Turkey & UK)
    Posts
    4,122

    Re: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    Schneider seem to have become more prominebt when they began supplying lenses to Nagel in 1928 who'd just left Zeiss Ikon to set up on his own again. Then 3 years later Kodak bought Nagel and you see Schneiders on Kodak cameras particularly in Europe.

    Quality control seems to have neen increased in the late 60's and early 70's but some issues like variations in 90mm f6.8 Angulons may well be down to poor quality of the Compur shutters affecting lens cell spacing rather than the optics themselves.

    Ian

  5. #5
    Do or do not. There is no try.
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Northeastern USA
    Posts
    983

    Re: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    Thanks Ian, that's what I wanted to know. FWIW I have a very late 90mm Angulon (11,3xx,xxx) in a Copal 0 that performs quite well, it's going onto my Ben Syverson camera once those are in production.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    9,487

    Re: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    I think the paint problem that causes Schneideritis still exists or did until recent times, as I have seen a 110XL with Schneideritis. I know the explanations are fair and all that but I'd still be upset if my >$1000 was flaking paint internally.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Portland, OR USA
    Posts
    747

    Re: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    All of my Schneiders are late 1970s to early 1990s. My 1970x lens does not exhibit paint problems, but a 1980x 150mm Symmar-S and a 1980x G-Claron both have problems of varying degrees. All of my other 1980s lenses are fine, as is an early 1990s 90mm SA. I have yet to find a situation where paint flaking or bubbles have caused a problem with an image.

    Peter Gomena

  8. #8
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,338

    Re: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    I don't know if Schneideritis actually affects the image at all, since it's peripheral. And it's
    not unique to Schneider. I've gotten it with severe swings in temperature or humidity over
    short cycles - first time was on a long autumn backpack trip in Utah canyons where the
    day/nite temps swings were literally 80 degrees. The quality variations of Angulons are
    pretty well known since this series of lenses was made over several decades, until repl by
    the Super Angulon.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    3,142

    Re: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Gomena View Post
    All of my Schneiders are late 1970s to early 1990s. My 1970x lens does not exhibit paint problems, but a 1980x 150mm Symmar-S and a 1980x G-Claron both have problems of varying degrees. All of my other 1980s lenses are fine, as is an early 1990s 90mm SA. I have yet to find a situation where paint flaking or bubbles have caused a problem with an image.

    Peter Gomena
    I have a 1960~ convertible Symmar that has minor Schneideritus. I've been telling folks that Scneideritus means you have an extra good lens, like the bubbles used to mean. When the internal haze gets a bit worse, I'll take it apart and repaint the edges.

    Except for the Angulons, I wasn't aware they had any QC issues.
    One man's Mede is another man's Persian.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
    Posts
    14,409

    Re: When did Schneider's quality control improve?

    Which Schneider?

    "In 1922 the name was changed to Jos. Schneider & Co., Optische Werke, Kreuznach, and in 1998 to the current Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH."

    In between they went into liquidation, that was when Isco was spun off, and the company was bought by Mandermann.

Similar Threads

  1. Schneider lens quality question
    By Norm Buchanan in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 18-Jan-2007, 21:35
  2. Quality Control, Schneider XL Lenses, Input Please
    By Andre Noble in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 15-Feb-2006, 12:22
  3. Anyone know if Wisner quality control and delivery has improved?
    By Don_4019 in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 4-Mar-2004, 20:55
  4. Today's Quality Control on Large Format Equipment Manufacturing
    By Ling Z in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 8-Dec-2003, 13:39
  5. Schneider Xenar 210mm f/4.5 Quality
    By Toby Chey in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 13-Aug-1998, 11:50

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •