The 35mm Componon (CPN35) macro lens is the lesser known sibling of the Componon 28mm macro lens, both are made by the Schneider Optische Werke in Germany. The CPN35 is not very well known, even with macro photographers, definitely a sleeper lens (a sleeper is something that succeeds when no one thought it would), and a great choice for photomacrography.
The CPN35 lens is available in a few different types, all almost impossible to beat performance values. The most common types are above, left to right; CPN35 B-00 iris mount body, the vintage CPN35 Black Chrome 15-blade iris body, the industrial cylinder mount CPN35, the late model BVK-L CPN35 enlarger lens and the latest, the B-V, 2.8/35 Componon machine vision lens on the far right.
All of the lenses in this post were purchased without any discount or commission from anyone. Also it’s important to know that this post which does not contain any affiliate links, ads or visitor tracking as there are on commercial for-profit lens review sites.
Update Feb 9th, 2020: Tube lens compatibility information section has been added below.
Update Feb 15th, 2020: Comparison between the Componon 4/35 vs Rodagon 4/35 at 2.5x added.
4.28x Image sample: Butterfly wing scales
The CPN35 performs best in stacked configuration for work from 2x to 4x. Stacking lenses, also called coupling lenses, is a technique to increase magnification where you mount a longer focal length lens on the camera and a second shorter focal length in reverse and face-to-face on the rear lens which is set to infinity focus. Together the combination has the potential to resolve more than either of the lenses setup for close-focus with extension.
The lens used for these samples was an older 15-blade black CPN35, and was tested at f/2.8 stacked on a Schneider Componon-S 5.6/150 tube lens. This lens is sharp wide-open at f/1.9, but I used the f/2.8 aperture here for better corners. The tube lens was focused at infinity and set wide-open.
Butterfly wing scales at 4.28x with the Schneider Componon 35mm stacked setup on a 150mm Componon-S lens at f/2.8, image stacked at 2 micron steps.
100% view crops
Upper right crop
Edge crop
Lower left edge
Sunset moth wing scales at 4.28x with the Schneider Componon 35mm stacked setup on a 150mm Componon-S lens at f/2.8, image stacked at 2 micron steps.
100% view Crops
Center crop 4.28x
Off-center crop 4.28x
Corner crop 4.28x
Schneider Componon 35mm setup for 4.3x
Front lens: Schneider Componon 35mm lens reverse mounted set to a nominal f/2.8
Rear lens: Schneider Componon-S 5.6/150 lens normally mounted focused at infinity, at f/5.6
Stacked lens nominal test aperture: f/2.8
Stacked lens effective test aperture: f/11.9
Camera: Sony α6300, model # ILCE-6300, also known as: A6300
Lighting: Mixed, Chinese LED ring-light with homemade diffuser, and two Godox TT350s wireless flash x 2 with one Godox X1s 2.4G wireless flash transmitter
Vertical stand: Nikon MM-11 with a Nikon focus block
QUICK REVIEW
The Componon 35 is a personal favorite of mine, I own at least five different versions of this lens, maybe more. This month I picked up a used sample for $30, and a new-old-stock unit in the box for $50. So these lenses can be found on the used market at very low prices, and they are almost impossible to beat with great sharpness and coverage when setup in a stacked configuration for work anywhere from 2x to 5x.
What I like about the CPN35
-Sharpness
-Round 15-blade aperture
-Small compact size
-Excellent performance value
-Good availability on the used market
-Consistent performance from older units to the newest version
-Superb image quality from 2x to 4x in a stacked setup
Things that I dislike about the lens
-The aperture ring protrudes farther than the filter mount, so step-up ring mounted on the filter threads will bind on the aperture ring, causing the aperture to change as you tighten the adapter. The CPN 2.8/35 does not have this flaw, it features a separate, proper, lockable aperture ring.
Things I am disappointed with
-5-blade iris with pentagon shaped aperture
Things I don't need
-Odd-ball thread sizes that Schneider likes to use, the B-00 and cylinder mount features a 30,5mm filter mount.
-Schneider lens cells are normally only hand-tight so they can tend to loosen over time. The 2.8/35 uses a thread locking compound on the rear cell (with shim).
Schneider Componon 4,0/35 new-old-stock lens in the BKV-L type iris mount.
2.6X TEST: SCHNEIDER COMPONON 4/35 VS CANON MP-E 65 MACRO LENS
The Canon MP-E 65 was tested at f/4, the best aperture at this magnification, the MPE was not sharpest at f/2.8. The CPN35 lens was shot at f/2.8.
Front lens: Schneider Componon 4/35 lens reverse mounted set at f/2.8
Rear lens: Mejiro 5.6/90 lens normally mounted focused at infinity set at f/5.6
Stacked lens nominal test aperture: f/2.8
Stacked lens effective test aperture: f/9.5
Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x macro lens setup
MPE nominal test aperture: f/4
MPE effective aperture for this test: f/17.6
Camera: Sony α6300, model # ILCE-6300, also known as: A6300
Sensor size: APS-C 23.5 × 15.6 mm. 28.21 mm diagonal. 3.92 micron sensor pitch
Flash: Godox TT350s wireless flash x 2 with one Godox X1s 2.4G wireless flash transmitter
Vertical stand: Nikon MM-11 with a Nikon focus block
For this test a stack of images was made with 2 micron steps, and was repeated for each aperture. The sharpest frame was then chosen using Photoshop at 100% actual pixel view. Separate images were selected for center, edge, and corner if needed. Each image was processed in PS CC with identical settings with all noise reduction and lens correction turned off, all settings were zeroed out (true zero) and the same settings were used for all of the images.
100% View Crops 2.6x
Click on the image below to view a larger version in a Lightbox viewer. To see an image in a new browser tab, right click, or two-finger press, and select Open in a New Tab or New Window from the menu. You can also right click, or two-finger press, and select Save Image As to save the image.
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens center crop f4
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens off-center crop f4
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens corner crop f4
Schneider Componon 35mm lens center crop f/2.8
Schneider Componon 35mm lens off-center crop f/2.8
Schneider Componon 35mm lens corner crop f/2.8
2.6x Test Results
Both lenses were tested at their sharpest apertures for the 2.6x magnification, the MP-E was best at f/4, the Componon, best at f/2.8. The Componon lens was at least one grade level higher, sharper, cleaner, and more detailed from center to corner than the MP-E, although the latter has a flat field, the Componon does not. The Canon lens retails for about $1000, used about $600-700. I picked up a used Componon for $30 last month, and a new-old-stock unit still in the box for $50. The Mejiro line scan tube lens is a old unit that was picked up on eBay years ago for $300. So as tested the price of the Componon setup cost is about 1/2 to 1/3rd than that of the Canon MP-E. The Mejiros can be hard to find, for less money can pick up a decent copy of a Componon 35 for $50 if you are patient and a 5.6/100 Componon-S for $50, also with some patience, and have a nice 2.8x stacked lens combination for $100 plus adapters.
2500 PIXEL IMAGE SAMPLE
Click on the image below to view a larger version in a Lightbox viewer. The size of the image sent to your device is based on the screen size. To see an image in a new browser tab, right click, or two-finger press, and select Open in a New Tab or New Window from the menu. The full size image will be 2500px across and have 2500w at the end of the image URL. If the image size is anything smaller you can easily change the number to 2500 manually and press enter to bring up the largest image. You can also right click, or two-finger press, and select Save Image As to save the image.
2.6x with the Schneider Componon 35mm at f/2.8 stacked on a 90mm Mejiro scan lens.
SPECS FOR THE MOST COMMON 35mm Componon lenses
The CPN35 was originally designed as a high-performance photo enlarger lens to cover half-frame or sub-35mm film, 18 x 24mm format. Later the lens was sold for macro photography, currently the lenses are marketed for the industrial market for machine vision tasks like quality control inspection.
The easiest way to tell the type of Componon 35 types apart is by looking at the iris. Above are the most common types 35mm Componon, the circular 15-blade f4 in the BK body, the 5 blade f/4 in the B-00 body, the 5-blade BKV-L, and the 2.8/35 Componon with the 5 blade Makro-iris B-V mount. I prefer the circular 15-blade iris, but the Makro-Iris mount is much easier to use, and the lockable aperture ring is great.
Schneider Componon 35mm f/4 Chrome Barrel
Classic chrome finish barrel with the circular aperture 15-blade iris
Filter threads: 30.5mm x 0.5
Mount: 25mm x 0.5mm
Iris: 15 blades
Schneider Componon 35mm black chrome barrel with a 15 blade iris.
Schneider Componon 35mm f/4 Black Chrome Metal Barrel
Black chrome barrel with 15 blade iris
Filter threads: 30.5mm x 0.5
Mount: 25mm x 0.5mm
Iris: 15 blades
Note: This is one of the harder types to find. The serial number dates this lens to 1968.
Schneider Componon 35mm f/4 Black Large Metal Barrel (no image)
Large metal barrel with 5 blade iris and split circle aperture indicator
Filter threads: 40.5mm x 0.5mm
Iris: 5 blade
Mount: 39mm x 26 TPI ( turns-per-inch or threads-per-inch, approximately 0.977mm pitch)
Note: This is the pre-plastic metal barrel with 5 blade iris and the split image circle on the side of the barrel
Schneider Kreuznach 35mm f/4 Componon B00 barrel type
Schneider Componon 35mm f/4 Compact Black Metal Barrel Type B00
Small compact metal barrel with 5 blade iris and split circle aperture indicator
Schneider Optics part number: 10-010340
Also known as:
COMPONON 35/4.0 BARREL #00
Componon 4,0/35
Componon 4,0/35 NORMAL
Filter threads: 30.5mm x 0.5
Mount: 25mm x 0.5mm
Iris: 5 blade
Note: This lens was still available new at Schneider Optics USA in late 2017 for $523.
Schneider Componon 35mm enlarger lens with BKV-L barrel
Schneider Componon 35mm f/4 Black Plastic Barrel Type BKV-L
Plastic enlarger lens style body with green aperture window
Schneider Optics USA part number: 10-037277
Also known as:
COMPONON 35/4.0 LEICA
Componon 4,0/35
COMPONON 35/4.0 BARREL BV-L
Filter threads: 43mm x 0.75mm
Iris: 5 blade
Mount: 39mm x 26 TPI ( turns-per-inch or threads-per-inch, approximately 0.977mm pitch)
Notes: The 4/35 has two types of this iris mount, one with a slightly larger front element, and I’m not sure if this the case with the 4/35. The 4/35 BKV-L that I have will open about 1/2 stop past f/4.
Schneider Kreuznach 35mm f/2.8 Componon in industrial B-V barrel
Schneider Componon Machine Vision Lens Barrel Type B-V 2.8/35 - 0001
Latest all-metal machine vision industrial model with 5 blade iris
Schneider Optics part number: 285-014792
Also known as:
Componon 2.8/35 Machine Vision Lens
35mm f/2.8 Componon Makro Iris
MACRO COMPONON 2.8/35MM
Componon 2.8/35-0001 Macro lens
Filter threads: M37 x 0.75.
Iris: 5 blade
Mount: V38 standard Industrial V-mount on the front and rear allows easy reverse mounting.
Current Retail Price: $895. USD new from Schneider Optics or Edmunds. Used units run about $350 USD.
Note: This is my favorite, the latest and greatest version of the CPN35.
Schneider Componon 35mm f/4 Cylinder Mount
Filter threads: none
Mounting threads: none
Barrel: 25mm OD
Iris: Preset waterhouse stop
Notes: This type is uncommon on the used market but they come up for sale infrequently on eBay.
Tube Lens compatibility with the CPN35
This is a new section that will show what lenses I recommend for use as a main or rear lens when setting up the Componon 4/35 lens in a stacked configuration.
Schneider Componon-S 5.6/100: Very good
Some of the types of the 5.6/100 CPN-S lens have issues with corner shading with various lenses but the newest version, the B-V Makro-iris is issue free. For more info on this lens see the 5.6/100 tube lens test here on Closeuphotography.com: https://www.closeuphotography.com/componon-s-100mm-lens-test
Check out the 2500 pixel sample with the 5.6/100 Componon-S and Componon 4/35 at 2.9x:
Schneider 5.6/100 Componon-S and Componon 4/35 at 2.9x
Rodenstock Scitex S-3 5/110 Scanner lens: Excellent + results.
This output from this combination is just superb with zero drop off in sharpness from corner to corner, edge to edge, even in the deepest corners.
For more info on the S-3 110 tube lens, see the full test here on Closeuphotography.com: https://www.closeuphotography.com/scitex-s3-110mm-lens
Click on 2500 pixel sample below with the Scitex S-3 110 and Componon 4/35 at 3.14x:
Componon 4/35 at 3.14x with the Scitex S-3 110 tube lens.
Other tube lenses tested with CPN35 with notes:
Schneider Componon WA 60mm f/5.6: Not recommended. Excellent center but heavy corner shading
Schneider Componon-S 4/80: Not recommended, soft corners and CAs even at f/8.
Schneider M-Componon 4/80: Recommended, very good sharpness and very low CAs.
Schneider APO-Digitar-Colortrac 5.6/80: Not recommended. CAs and poor corners, re-badged Componon-S?
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80: Recommended. Excellent sharpness and no CAs, with some light corner shading
Mejiro 5.6/90 Line Scan lens: Recommended. Excellent
Schneider Componon-S 5.6/135: Recommended. Excellent
Schneider Componon-S 150mm f/5.6: Recommended. Excellent
Schneider Componon 150mm f/5.6: Recommended. Excellent
Rodenstock Rodagon 150mm f/5.6: Recommended. Very good
Nikon EL-Nikkor 150mm f/5.6 A: Average with some mild CAs.
Schneider G-Claron 150mm f/9: Average, a little less sharp but less CAs than the Nikon
Schneider Kreuznach Comparon 150mm f5.6: Poor, not recommended
See this link for more image samples with the Componon 35 with the above tube lenses: https://www.closeuphotography.com/150mm-tube-lens-test
Test: The Schneider Componon 4/35 vs the Rodenstock Rodagon 4/35 at 2.5x
Rodenstock Rodagon 4/35 on the left and Schneider Componon 4/35 on the right.
Both lenses above in this test were used wide open at f/4. This isn’t the first time I have tested the Rodagon 4/35, so I added the Rogonar-S 4/35 that I just picked up just last month, to make things more interesting.
2500 PIXEL IMAGE SAMPLE
Click on the image below to view a larger version in a Lightbox viewer. The size of the image sent to your device is based on the screen size. To see an image in a new browser tab, right click, or two-finger press, and select Open in a New Tab or New Window from the menu. The full size image will be 2500px across and have 2500w at the end of the image URL. If the image size is anything smaller you can easily change the number to 2500 manually and press enter to bring up the largest image. You can also right click, or two-finger press, and select Save Image As to save the image.
Componon 35mm stacked with Entendue Mejiro 90mm tube lens at 2.5x.
2.5x SETUP INFORMATION
Schneider Componon 4/35 setup
Front lens: Schneider Componon 4/35 lens reverse mounted
Rear lens: Etendue Mejiro 5.6/90 line scan lens at f/5.6 normally mounted focused at infinity
Stacked lens nominal test aperture: f/4
Stacked lens effective test aperture: f/14
Rodestock Rodagon 4/35 lens setup
Front lens: Rodestock Rodagon 4/35 lens reverse mounted
Rear lens: Etendue Mejiro 5.6/90 line scan lens at f/5.6 normally mounted focused at infinity
Stacked lens nominal test aperture: f/4
Stacked lens effective test aperture: f/14
Rodestock Rogonar-S 4/35 lens setup
Front lens: Rodestock Rogonar-S 4/35 lens reverse mounted
Rear lens: Etendue Mejiro 5.6/90 line scan lens at f/5.6 normally mounted focused at infinity
Stacked lens nominal test aperture: f/4
Stacked lens effective test aperture: f/14
Camera: Sony α6300, model # ILCE-6300, also known as: A6300
Sensor size: APS-C 23.5 × 15.6 mm. 28.21 mm diagonal. 3.92 micron sensor pitch
Flash: Godox TT350s wireless flash x 2 with one Godox X1s 2.4G wireless flash transmitter
Vertical stand: Nikon MM-11 with a Nikon focus block
For this test a stack of images was made with 5 micron steps. The sharpest frame was then chosen using Photoshop at 100% actual pixel view. Separate images were selected for center, edge, and corner if needed. Each image was processed in PS CC with identical settings with all noise reduction and lens correction turned off, all settings were zeroed out (true zero) and the same settings were used for all of the images.
100% View Center Crops
Click on the image below to view a larger version in a Lightbox viewer. The size of the image sent to your device is based on the screen size. To see an image in a new browser tab, right click, or two-finger press, and select Open in a New Tab or New Window from the menu. The full size image will be 2500px across and have 2500w at the end of the image URL. If the image size is anything smaller you can easily change the number to 2500 manually and press enter to bring up the largest image. You can also right click, or two-finger press, and select Save Image As to save the image.
Focus was set on the number 10, with the smaller 05 below it. The Componon image on the left is excellent. The middle frame out of the Rodagon is not quite as sharp as the Schneider. The Rogonar-S lens is just very slightly sharper than the Rodagon I think. All 3 lenses did a nice job here.
Focus was again on the number 10 with the small 05 below that. In the corners there is no contest, the Rodagon 4/35 sharpness falls off dramatically, and this is sharpest frame in the stack out of the Rodagon. The Rogonar-S actually does a fine job with just a little fall off in image quality in the corners.
2.5x Test results: Componon 4/35 vs Rodagon 4/35
Final verdict: Componon 4/35 is best, Rogonar-S is runner up and the Rodagon 4/35 is in distant last place in image quality.
The Componon 4/35 and Rodagon 4/35 seem to be similar, they both have 6-element, 4-group designs, and they are designed for industrial line use like line scanning and inspection, but in the real world there is a large gap in performance. The Componon 4/35 has better image quality over a large image circle than the Rodagon 4/35. The Rogonar-S 4/35 also out performs the Rodagon.
Lets take a quick look at some specs with the Rogonar-S:
Componon 4/35, 30mm image circle, -0.5 magnification
Rodagon 4/35, 40mm image circle, -0.05 magnification
Rogonar-S 4/35, 25mm image circle, -0.05 magnification
So the specs say that the Rodagon should have a slight edge in the corners over the Componon, and Rogonar-S, but when you look at the real world performance of the two lenses, the opposite is true. I don’t think the poor performance is due to sample variation, as I own more than one copy of the Rodagon 4/35 (and 4/28) and I’ve tested them all.
Rodenstock didn’t really make a serious effort when it came to the design of the 35mm, Rodagon, the high-end 6-element design comes with a high dollar price tag, but someone forgot to CC the design staff about the high-end optical performance. The Rogonar-S is is available for a fraction of the Rodagon lenses on the used market. I picked up a clean copy last month with a line scan camera and thread mount adapter for a 0.99 asking price, and there is another one sitting eBay, as I am typing this, for $25 complete with lens, adapter and line scan camera! Good luck finding a Rodagon 4/35 for less than $100.
The Rogonar-S was tested here: https://www.closeuphotography.com/rogonar-s-35mm-f4-lens-test
The Rodagon 4/28 does a little better than the 4/35, but corner sharpness is also an issue: https://www.closeuphotography.com/rodagon-28mm-lens-test
Modifying the CPN35 lens for more resolution
Schneider uses a modular, two cell system for their lenses since the 1960s, with front and rear cells to house all 6 elements and 4 groups of lens elements. Rodenstock 28mm and 35mm macro lenses, on the other hand, use only a front cell, the rear two groups are housed in the body of the lens with a retainer ring holding them in place. What’s the advantage to front and rear cells? With 2 cells, you can swap to a larger iris mount in minutes. This is a good thing since the CPN35, and CPN28, are actually sharper at f/2.8, than the factory housing maximum limit of f/4.
The BK iris mounts are really easy to swap. On the left is the 5.6/80 donor lens, in the center is the BK mount without cells ready at accept new cells, and the 4/35 lens cells on the right installed into the larger 5.6/80. This larger iris mount allows the iris to open to f/1.9 with clickstops from f/1.9 - f/16. The 4/35 lens above on the right is using the larger 5.6/80 housing but I also swapped the aperture ring, it takes a bit more work but the aperture rings are marked with the lens focal length, in this case 35, so I spent the extra time. The 5.6/80 donor lens was $15 on eBay.
To swap aperture rings on the 15-blade iris BK housing, you will need a spanner tool to unscrew the thread adapter ring that keeps the aperture ring in place. Just be careful not to lose the bearing that is used for the click-stops. The focal length of the lens is stamped on the back of the aperture ring, right above the iris lever notch you can see in the image above. The older Schneider 15-blade iris lenses are beautifully made with a near circular aperture shape.
F/1.9 high performance IRIS MOUNT UPGRADE FOR THE 15-BLADE IRIS type LENS
Take the 15-blade BK iris mount for example, from the CPN 5.6/80 and the CPN 4/35 have the same dimensions and threads, but the apertures are set to open to different diameter apertures, even though they are both labeled a nominal f/4. The 4/50 iris is set to about 14.3 mm when set to wide open, while the CPN 4/35 iris is set to open to only 8.75mm at f/4. Moving the 4/35 lens cells into the 4/50 iris housing with the larger 14.3mm aperture will allow the lens to open up to f/2. Swapping the older 15-blade iris housings from the 4/35 and 5.6/80, the lens will open to f/1.9 when measured with the cells in place, f2.4 in reverse.
Schneider Componon 4/35 at the maximum aperture of f/4 on the left, and upgraded iris mount on the right, open to f/1.9.
Modifying the iris mount for a faster aperture
You can modify the older 15-blade iris mounts to open wider than f/4 by disassembling the lens and removing the pin that limits travel of the iris actuation tab. The B-00 iris mounts can also be modified to open to f/2 but it requires opening up the lens iris housing and moving the limiter tab to open wider. For the time involved I think its a better plan to spend $20 and buy housing set to open to a larger aperture, and swap cells in a minute or two and be done with it.
QUICK LOOK AT the Schneider IRIS MOUNTS
These are the most common types of Schneider iris mounts, including the front and rear lens cell tread sizes. Between all the lenses below Schneider uses only two front cell sizes, 22 and 27mm, and only one rear cell, 22mm.
Note that the original lens cells found on the Preset, BKV-L, and B-V iris mounts included a shim on the rear cell. I have tested the CPN 4/35 with these iris mounts, without a shim, and didn’t see any sharpness problems or issues with CAs. The Componon 35mm in the B-V mount has a tread-locking compound, and shim, on the cells. Also the measurements above are for comparisons only, the exact measurements are rounded off, the actual thread sizes are 22.9 x 0.5mm and approximately 27.5 x 0.5mm (28 OD and 27 ID).
Componon 35mm f4 vs Componon 35mm f/2.8 data FROM THE MANUFACTURER
There isn’t much reliable information online for the CPN35, and almost all of what I have found comparing the f4 version to the f/2.8 version is wrong. The f/4 version and f/2.8 version are the same optically the only differences are the iris housing. This information comes directly from Schneider.
SCHNEIDER LENS DATA FROM THE MANUFACTURER
Jos. Schneider Optische Werke headquarters closed the Schneider Optics USA website in 2017 so some of these documents are no longer available online.
Lens data PDF LINKS
Official lens data for the Componon 4/35 on the Schneider site:
https://schneiderkreuznach.com/download_file/force/428/1085
Official lens data for the Componon 2.8/35 lens on the Schneider site:
https://schneiderkreuznach.com/download_file/force/439/1085
OTHER 30-35MM LENSES
All the lenses below have been tested, at least one sample, for this site, some like the Canon MP35, at least 3, the Tominon, at least 5 samples have been tested. The Componon 35? I’ve tested almost a dozen samples.
Spiratone, Vivitar, Prinz, 35mm f/3.5 Lens: Below average perfomance compared to the Rogonar-S, Rodenstock or Schneider 35mm lenses. Leica thread mount.
Canon MacroPhoto MP 35mm f/2.8 Bellows lens: Sharpest at f/3.5, flat field and full frame coverage, lateral CAs. Used prices vary widely on eBay. RMS mount.
Minolta 30mm Rokkor CE: Not recommended. M39 x 26 tpi, Leica thread mount. No filter threads. Excessive chromatic aberration problems. Can be expensive.
Minolta E. Rokkor 30mm F4.5 enlarger lens: Expensive, hard to find. Chromatic aberration. Rogonar-S is better. No filter threads. Leica thread mount.
Noritsu 32mm f/4: Very good performer, highly recommended. Not common on the used market. M40 x 0.75 mount.
Rodenstock Eurygon 1:4 F=35MM: Used market prices are too high for this below average performer, the Rogonar-S, or Tominon 35mm are better choices. M40 x 0.75 mount.
Rodenstock Linos Rogonar-S 35mm f/4 Line Scan Lens: Better than the high-end Rodagon 4/35. Good value. https://www.closeuphotography.com/rogonar-s-35mm-f4-lens-test
A test of this lens, the Rodagon 4/35 and the CPN 4/35 has been added to this page, see the section above for image samples from all three lenses.
Rodenstock Rodagon 1:4 f=35mm Enlarging Lens: Too expensive for performance that is not as good as the Rogonar-S 35mm. See the test results, above this section, on this page.
Rodenstock Ysaron 35mm f/4 Enlarging Lens: Ysaron is same design as the current 4 element Rogonar-S design. Don’t pay too much for this lens on the used market.
Schneider Super 30mm f/2 projector lens: M43 mount. Not recommended. Extreme blue chromatic aberrations.
Schneider Xenon 35mm f/2: Excellent performance, highly recommended. Hard to find. 25mm x 0.5mm mount.
Tominon 35mm f/4.5: Highly recommended, especially for a stacked setup, but sample variation is an issue. M40 x 0.75 mount. https://www.closeuphotography.com/tominon-35mm
SCHNEIDER ENLARGER LENS LIST
Componon lens lineup
6-element, 4-group design
The Componon is the high-quality enlarging lens line. Some models have been superseded by units the Componon-S line. Some of these models have older coatings that results in less contrast than you would see from newer models.
・16mm F2.8 (cylinder mount)
・25mm F4 (cylinder mount)
・28mm F4 (for 18×24 mm)
・35mm F4 (for 126 film)
・40mm F4 (for 24x24 mm)
・50mm F4 (for 24x36 mm)
・60mm F5.6 (for 4×4 cm)
・80mm F5.6 (for 6×6 cm)
・100mm F5.6 (for 6×7 cm)
・105mm F5.6 (for 6×9 cm)
・135mm F5.6 (for 4×5 in)
・150mm F5.6 (for 4×5 in)
・180mm F5.6 (for 5×7 in)
・210mm F5.6 (for 5×7 in)
・240mm F5.6 (for 8×10 in)
・300mm F5.6 (for 24×30 cm)
・360mm F5.6 (for 30×40 cm)
Componon-S lineup
6-element, 4-group design
Some of these units are updated versions of lenses in the Componon line. They are corrected for flatness of field, contrast, and color rendition. The CPN-S lenses are very good and also make excellent tube lenses.
・50mm F2.8 (for 35 mm)
・80mm F4 (for 6×6 cm)
・80mm F5.6
・100mm F5.6 (for 6×9 cm)
・105mm F5.6
・135mm F5.6 (for 4×5 in)
・150mm F5.6 (for 4×5 in)
・180mm F5.6 (for 5×7 in)
・210mm F5.6 (for 5×7 in)
・240mm F5.6 (for 8×10 in)
・300mm F5.6 (for 24×30 cm)
・360mm F6.8 (for 10x12 in)
WA-Componon lenses
6-element, 3-group design.
Personally I stay away from WA-Componon lenses since I have seen centering issues with the two samples I’ve tested.
・40mm F4 (for 35 mm)
・60mm F5.6 (for 6×6 cm)
・80mm F5.6 (for 6×9 cm)
G-Componon lenses
6-element, 4-group design.
Uncommon on the used market, designed for extra-large sized printing.
・100mm F5.6 (for 6×9 cm)
・150mm F5.6 (for 4×5 in)
・210mm F5.6 (for 5×7 in)
・240mm F5.6
・300mm F5.6 (for 8×10 in)
・360mm F6.8
・480mm F9.4 (for 24×30 cm)
APO-Componon HM lineup
6-element, 4-group optical design.
Schneider gives the lenses in this line the Apochromatic label but in my experience, few of the APO-Componons designs are actually apochromats, the 120mm and 150mm are excellent. Designed for use wide-open but this is not something I would recommend on the 40 and 45mm, these are definitely not apochromats.
・40mm F2.8
・45mm F4
・60mm F4
・90mm F4.5
・120mm F5.6
・150mm F4