Lens: Schneider Componon-S 50mm f/2.8
Vintage: current
Lens Mount: M39.
Needed Adapters: 43mm - 52mm step-up ring. Camera specific reversing ring (52mm threads).
Preferred Mounting: Reversed.
Filter Thread: 43 mm.
Controls: This lens has an aperture control and an aperture preset ring.
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Resolution vs Aperture:
The sharpest aperture is f/4.7, better than
average for a lens of this focal length. Most are
sharpest at about f/5.6, with the exception of the
Nikon 55/2.8 micro at f/4.
The most resolving aperture is also f/4.7.
This means that f/4.7 is a good aperture to shoot
at for sharpness and resolution. The only
drawback to using f/4.7 is the not so hot corner
sharpness at lower magnification (see next
section).
The sharpest aperture is f/4.7, better than
average for a lens of this focal length. Most are
sharpest at about f/5.6, with the exception of the
Nikon 55/2.8 micro at f/4.
The most resolving aperture is also f/4.7.
This means that f/4.7 is a good aperture to shoot
at for sharpness and resolution. The only
drawback to using f/4.7 is the not so hot corner
sharpness at lower magnification (see next
section).
Corner Sharpness vs Aperture:
the corner sharpness of the lens is OK at the
sharpest aperture of f/4.7 although you will likely
be able to see a little fuzziness on the periphery
at this aperture, especially at low magnification.
If you want sharper corners you can shoot
images at f/5.6 or f/6.7 although you will pay a
small price in sharpness and resolution. If you
are shooting images at the lowest magnification
(no bellows), clicking the aperture closed a notch
or two will significantly improve things.
(Testing done at 1.36:1 magnification.)
the corner sharpness of the lens is OK at the
sharpest aperture of f/4.7 although you will likely
be able to see a little fuzziness on the periphery
at this aperture, especially at low magnification.
If you want sharper corners you can shoot
images at f/5.6 or f/6.7 although you will pay a
small price in sharpness and resolution. If you
are shooting images at the lowest magnification
(no bellows), clicking the aperture closed a notch
or two will significantly improve things.
(Testing done at 1.36:1 magnification.)
Sharpness and Resolution vs Magnification:
This lens show the best resolution and
sharpness of any 50mm enlarging lens that I
have yet tested and provides very good
resolution and sharpness from 1:1 to 4:1.
The MTF50 (sharpness) stays above 1000 lp/ph
up to about 2:1. There aren't very many lenses
that will outperform this lens across this range.
Above 2:1 you will have to go to significantly
shorter focal length lens to outperform this lens,
giving up significant working distance to improve
the performance.
The corner sharpness is not so hot below 1:1
and OK to very good above 1:1. Below 1:1 you
will likely benefit from stopping the lens down a
notch or two.
This lens show the best resolution and
sharpness of any 50mm enlarging lens that I
have yet tested and provides very good
resolution and sharpness from 1:1 to 4:1.
The MTF50 (sharpness) stays above 1000 lp/ph
up to about 2:1. There aren't very many lenses
that will outperform this lens across this range.
Above 2:1 you will have to go to significantly
shorter focal length lens to outperform this lens,
giving up significant working distance to improve
the performance.
The corner sharpness is not so hot below 1:1
and OK to very good above 1:1. Below 1:1 you
will likely benefit from stopping the lens down a
notch or two.
Street Price: About $40-100 in good used condition.
Chromatic Aberration: This lens show minimal color fringing in the center
(less than 0.25 pixels) and minimal to moderate on the periphery (0.10 - 1.5
pixels). The moderate is seen at magnifications below 1:1. Anything below 1.0
pixel is good.
(less than 0.25 pixels) and minimal to moderate on the periphery (0.10 - 1.5
pixels). The moderate is seen at magnifications below 1:1. Anything below 1.0
pixel is good.
Image Contrast: Image contrast is good across the magnification range.
Flare: No significant flare is evident during lens testing
Conclusion:
This is an easy to find and relatively inexpensive enlarging lens that preforms better than any
50mm enlarging lens that I have yet seen (I have 6 different ones).
This lens has very good sharpness and resolution across the magnification range of about 1:1 to
4:1 and performs at its best at f/4.7. There is good working distance for the magnification and no
visible distortion. Chromatic aberrations are well controlled. Corner sharpness is the only real
downfall of this lens and it isn't so bad at f/4.7, at least above 1:1. The corner sharpness improves
significantly at f/5.6 and f/6.7 although you will pay a small price in resolution and sharpness when
shooting at smaller apertures. This lens requires a bellows or extension tubes to focus and works
best when reversed (at least above 1:1 magnification).
I would recommend this lens as a good adition to a typical macro lens.
This is an easy to find and relatively inexpensive enlarging lens that preforms better than any
50mm enlarging lens that I have yet seen (I have 6 different ones).
This lens has very good sharpness and resolution across the magnification range of about 1:1 to
4:1 and performs at its best at f/4.7. There is good working distance for the magnification and no
visible distortion. Chromatic aberrations are well controlled. Corner sharpness is the only real
downfall of this lens and it isn't so bad at f/4.7, at least above 1:1. The corner sharpness improves
significantly at f/5.6 and f/6.7 although you will pay a small price in resolution and sharpness when
shooting at smaller apertures. This lens requires a bellows or extension tubes to focus and works
best when reversed (at least above 1:1 magnification).
I would recommend this lens as a good adition to a typical macro lens.
Basic Function: Requires a bellows or extension tubes to function.
Appearance:
Aperture: 5 blades.
Image Samples:
About 1.3:1 magnification, f/4.7, resized, stack of 34 images:
About 1.3:1 magnification, f/4.7, 1 to 1 crop of a
source image from above:
Good pixel level detail. The coin is tilted somewhat for
this image and the area of sharp focus is in the center
of the image.
source image from above:
Good pixel level detail. The coin is tilted somewhat for
this image and the area of sharp focus is in the center
of the image.
About 3.4:1, f/4.7, resized, stack of 47 images:
About 3.4:1 magnification, f/4.7, 1 to 1 crop of a
source image from above:
Again, good detail, no problems. Again the in focus
area is in the center of the image.
source image from above:
Again, good detail, no problems. Again the in focus
area is in the center of the image.
Distortion: There is virtually no distortion with this lens. Straight lines on the
edge of the frame are straight on the image.
edge of the frame are straight on the image.
Performance: Sharpness vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Schneider 50mm shows sharpness varying
from outstanding below 1:1 to good at its highest
magnification.
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Schneider 50mm shows sharpness varying
from outstanding below 1:1 to good at its highest
magnification.
Performance: Resolution vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Schneider 50mm shows resolution
performance varying from very good at low
magnification to predominantly good a high
magnification
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Schneider 50mm shows resolution
performance varying from very good at low
magnification to predominantly good a high
magnification
