Hi--

>Thanks for the info.

You're welcome!

>I do photography for myself and occasionally for friends.
>
>I have always wanted to set up my own darkroom but never have. That
>makes me an equipment hound. I am always buying and selling just so I
>can play with somthing else.
>
>I own 4 schneider enlarging lenses and I am glad to have heard from
>someone who knows enough to make me feel better about the lenses I do
>own.
>
>I own
> 50mm f4 comparon none are an "S"
> 75mm f4.5 comparon all are in near mint condition
> 105mm f5.6 componon this one says "Durst" on it also
> 135mm f4.5 comparon

The 50mm is excellent up to about 6"x9" prints, useable higher...
(optimised for 4x6).
The 75 is a first-class 35mm and 645 enlarging lens (be sure to set condensers properly for the lens, not the format, if that is an
issue...).
The 105 is OK for large enlargements of 2 1/4 (optimised for 1/10X
as I recall).
The 135 is excellent for 4x5 and the larger 2 1/4 formats.

>What does the "S" on the end of the name componon-s stand for; and were
>these lenses coated. (mine are older)

They are all coated, as far as I know. The "S" Componons were redesigns,
improving optics and often reducing the optimised ratios, making them
better suited for making normal print sizes. (The older Componons were
optimized for 1/10, the newer from 1/6 to 1/10, as I recall....)

>once again I was very glad to hear from someone who could say the
>comparon was an excellent lens. I have always known the componon had a
>better reputation than any of their other lenses.
>
>Larry larrydb@swbell.net

Though not correct, I think, except for the Componon-S, which is about
equal to the Comparon (just different in optimization...;-)