The KOWA Vari Focal Computar dL 105-150mm f /4.5-5.6 lens (Kowa 105-150) was produced by Kowa Optical Corporation in Japan and designed by a team of American opticians for the Chugai Boyeki Corporation and sold under the two labels Computar dL, and Kowa. Found this Kowa 105-150 copy in 2021 for less than $50, so I couldn’t resist picking it up, even though I have had poor luck with Computar dL lenses in the past.

Although I appreciate the effort and design that went into the Kowa/Computar dL lenses I’ve been burned more than once with one of these lenses. In 2020 I found a new-old-stock 55mm f/1.9 that was sealed and new-in-the-box, never touched by human hands sample, with a patch of haze in the center of the biggest front element. Completely and totally useless for photography, tons of ugly glowing CAs and veiling glare at all apertures. I’ll spare you the other Kowa/Computar dL lens horror stories but this type of outcome is typical, and It’s not the age of the lens since I older Schneider lenses that are perfectly sharp. This Kowa 105-150 lens is the only one of the series I’ve ever bought that was at least usable! Maybe the Kowa branded version have less optical issues?

ABOUT THIS TEST

This test and all the other content on my site is completely independent and free from industry influence. I do not show ads, benefit from your purchases, use any affiliate links, or take money from anyone in the photo industry. Almost all photo sites on the web today are run for profit. I create content for this site for fun in my free time. Instead of making a few dollars from this site, I'm more concerned about teaching people to learn to use what they already have, rather than waste time and money buying more equipment. Most of us, myself included, would make far better pictures if we'd stop buying the wrong equipment and spend more time learning how to use what we already have instead.

For scale, L-R; Schneider Componon-S 5.6/100, Schneider Componon-S 5.6/135 and the KOWA Vari Focal Computar dL 105-150mm f /4.5-5.6 lens

facts first: KOWA 105-150

Round 12 blade iris
Godzilla size: 84.5mm x 76.4 diameter and 710g (25 ounces) !
9 element, 6 group design, including 6 low dispersion type glass elements
Big 100mm - 150mm diagonal image circle
Standard M39 x 1 mm mount
Standard 67mm front threads

According to Marco Cavina this lens this lens was designed to be used as a enlarger lens and a macro lens when used in reverse. The best sources for information on the Vari Focal 105-150mm are from Macro Cavina, these pages are in Italian, so will need a translation plug-in for your browser to read these but its well worth it:

http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Janpol-Color_Vega-22_Vari-Focal_Computar/00_pag.htm

http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Chugai_vario_Computar_105-150mm/00_pag.htm

KOWA Vari Focal Computar dL 105-150mm f /4.5-5.6 lens

Model: Vari Focal 105-150mm f /4.5-5.6 lens
Type: medium to large format enlarging lens
Focal length: 104.7mm - 150.2mm
Lens mount: M39 x 1mm
Coverage: 6 x 9 to 4 x 5 film formats
Correction: 400-700nm
Iris: round 12 blade type
Maximum Aperture: f/4.5 - f/5.6
Filter threads: 67mm
Recommended magnification: 6 - 9x

WHAT I LIKE

Unique design
Very useful focal length range
All metal body
Deep blue multi-coating
Heavy-duty construction

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

The Computar dL designs do not age well and almost all used copies have element de-lamination
The M39 mount seems too small for a 25 ounce (710g) lens!

Chugai Boyeki Corporation History

2020: CBC celebrates 50 years in the USA!

2015: CBC relocated their North American Headquarters from Commack, New York, to Cary, NC (headquarters) and Mebane, NC (Production, Sales & Distribution Center).

1999: Chugai Boyeki (AMERICA) Corp. changes its name to CBC (AMERICA) Corp.

1986: Commack (Long Island, NY) office and warehouse facility established, and the sales and distribution center moved from Plainview, NY.

1981: Chugai International Corp. established a third sales & distribution center in Los Angeles, CA.

1980: CBC introduced a line of high-end professional enlarging lenses under the newly acquired brand name "Computar".

1979: Chugai Boyeki (AMERICA) Corp opened a sales & distribution center in Plainview (Long Island), New York.

1974: Chugai Boyeki (AMERICA) Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chugai Boyeki Co., Ltd. established an office in Manhattan, New York.

1970: Representative office of Chugai Boyeki Co., Ltd. (Japan) opened in Manhattan, New York.

Source: https://www.cbcamerica.com/history

Industrial Kowa 105-150 lenses on Surplus Shed website

Industrial market Kowa 105-150 lenses are available via the links below but these are much too expensive for what they are in my opinion.

https://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/L10517.html

https://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/L10514.html

https://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/L10549.html

KOWA Vari Focal Computar dL 105-150mm f /4.5-5.6 Lens Test