Schneider or Rodenstock Enlarging Lens?

[clayne]

Aren't they owned by the same parent company these days or am I confusing that with something else?

I have and use both. All are good. In general I'd spring for the -S or Apo if available.

[PKM-25]

I have and use a 50mm 2.8 Apo-Rodagon and a 90mm 4.0 Apo-Rodagon and love them, especially the 90 for 6x6. I was mulling around the idea of getting an 80 F/4 for 6x6 prints larger than 16 x 20 but since I already have a 90, is there any real reason to have it?

And what about the 80 F/4 Componon-S compared to the Rodagon Apo 80 F/4?

[clayne]

And what about the 80 F/4 Componon-S compared to the Rodagon Apo 80 F/4?

Probably extremely little difference other than externals.

[Leigh B]

All my enlarging lenses are Schneider APO-Componon HM.

They're absolutely superb.

- Leigh

[John Austin]

Just buy one or the other of them and make prints

If anyone here can correctly identify whether an enlarging lens was made in Kreuznach or Munchen from looking at a well made print I will give them all my Leica camera bodies for free

John

[PKM-25]

Right, but my other question is if I have a 90 for 6x6, would I get any benefit out of adding an 80 to the kit?

[clayne]

Not really.

[MattKing]

Right, but my other question is if I have a 90 for 6x6, would I get any benefit out of adding an 80 to the kit?

Elsewhere you had mentioned that you forsaw in the future having the need to do larger (20x24?) enlargements. The 80 would make a difference there, especially if you are limited in space.

[Tom Stanworth]

While this approach has its merits, I would argue that playing with a few different lenses and choosing the ones you 'like' has its merits too. There is sample to sample variation, as well as differences in performance between lenses (tho not necessarily between brands overall, with one being better than the other).

The 50mm componon-s I have is reputedly a great lens and it is fine in use.... but when I print from my 63 Nikkor or 50 Neonon (cost about £10) I prefer the prints and I can pick them out quite easily when they are intermingled. Equally my 135 componon-s and 150 rodagon are effectively interchangeable.

Buying a few lenses and experimenting is not that time consuming and if you buy wisely you get your money back when you sell.

Just buy one or the other of them and make prints

If anyone here can correctly identify whether an enlarging lens was made in Kreuznach or Munchen from looking at a well made print I will give them all my Leica camera bodies for free

John

[PKM-25]

Probably extremely little difference other than externals.

So the non Apo Componon S doing equally as well as the Rodagon Apo? Since this might be the lens I do bigger than 20 x 24 with, won't I see an improvement in using an Apo?