135 Componar ok for printing with classic lenses?

[Ben Smith]

I finally got a 4x5 enlarger (on ebay) but it came with a 135 4.5 Schneider Comp onar lens which the previous owner warned me was less than stellar above 11x14. As my lens kit consists of a Schneider 90/6.8 and two graflex optars (a 135/4.7, and a 203mm/7.7), is it worth it to drop a mess of cash for a new enlarging len s? i.e. will I see a difference printing black and white negatives from old glas s?

[pat j. krentz]

If you are worried about the 135 (I don't see why), try your 203 lens, old time photographer's always used the taking lens for projecting the same image. Pat

[Michael S. Briggs]

With Schneider enlarging lenses, one has to pay very close attention to the vowels. The Componar is Schneider's budget model, with 3 glass elements in 3 groups. The more expensive lenses are made with 4 elements in 3 groups (Comparon) or 6 elements in 4 groups (Componon). A top quality 6 element lens will probably have noticably better performance, particularly in the corners. These can be found used at reasonable prices: Schneider Componon, El-Nikkor, Rodenstock Rodagon. Any of these from the past several decades should be a good performer, and the older ones with older styling can sometimes be found at bargin prices. Why not buy one from a seller who will let you return it and give it a test drive? Use both lenses to make the largest size print you intend making, from a negative will good detail in the center and in at least some corners, using a reasonable f-stop, like about 2 stops down from maximum aperture. Compare the prints, examining the center and corners. Then you will know. Be sure to check the alignment of your enlarger.

[Alan Gibson]

The only way to be sure is to try it. I suspect that if you compared the results with a Componon-S 150mm (which isn't very expensive), you wouldn't want to return the Componon-S.