360mm Gerogon Enlarging lense? Opinions Please

[Torontoamateur]

I found one for sale and am thinking of changing from my ancient Schneider Componon 360mm The Gerogon is current ( well at least recent) . Is this a worthwhile change? I usualyl enlarge 8x10 to 30x40 max.

[ic-racer]

I don't know that lens, but if the glass surfaces are cleaner than your 360 Componon, maybe better.

I don't know if it just me, but I have six COMPONON lenses in SILVER barrels and all of them have some degree of haze that won't clean off. This includes my 'ancient' 360 silver Componon.

I did find that it is easier to find COMPONON-S lenses that are clearer and have better condition. Is this just based on age? Or did they improve the coating? I don't know.

Componon vs Componon-s

Silver Componon 360 AFTER cleaning. Still with permanent haze.

[Drew Wiley]

It's considered a budget grade lens, so hard to say if it will be any better. Componon S would be a better choice.

[Bob Salomon]

It was a wide field process lens. Optimized at f22.

[Dan Fromm]

Hmm. The Apo-Gerogon is an f/9 w/a process lens for small process cameras. Its recommended operating range is 1:5 to 1:1. The Componon-S Drew suggested is half a stop faster.

[Drew Wiley]

Process lenses can work wonderfully unless you need a wider max aperture. But I'd opt for a top notch one like a 4-element f/9 Apo Nikkor. These were originally very expensive, but tend to be quite affordable on the used market. I use these quite a bit, and they're better than any official enlarging lens. These are remarkably sharp and apochromatic from f/11 down, unlike wide-angle versions marketed mainly for cheap stat cameras like those once used by T-shirt silkscreening shops. But the regular 360/5.6 El Nikkor is a heavy monster that won't even fit most enlargers. I use mine for a proportionately huge 8x10 additive color enlarger 14ft tall.

[Luis-F-S]

What size negatives are you enlarging with a 14”lens?

[Drew Wiley]

I use both 305 and 360 for 8x10 format. But I'm curious what specific enlarger is involved in the original query.