Schneider APO-Symmar 100mm f/5.6

Schneider Apo-Symmar 100mm f/5.6 is the wide-normal apochromatic LF plasmat — equivalent to roughly 30mm on 35mm when used on 4×5. The Apo-Symmar series replaces the older Symmar-S with apochromatic correction (reduced chromatic aberration), particularly visible in color landscape and architectural work.

Key features

• Mount: Copal 0 shutter (1s to 1/500, X-sync at all speeds)
• Focal length: 100mm
• Maximum aperture: f/5.6
• Image circle: ~162mm at f/22 — covers 4×5 with limited movements
• Optical formula: 6-element/4-group plasmat with apochromatic correction
• Multi-coating standard
• No convertible option (the rear-element-alone tradition was dropped from Apo-Symmar)

Use case + rendering

The 100 Apo-Symmar is the wide-normal 4×5 lens for architectural and landscape work where some wider perspective is desired without the dramatic-wide character of the 90mm Super-Angulon. Apochromatic correction reduces color fringing on high-contrast subjects (snow + dark trees, architectural details against bright sky).

Compatible cameras

• Toyo 45A / Toyo 45AII / Toyo 45G
• Cambo SC / Cambo Calumet 45NX
• Graflex Crown Graphic / Graflex Speed Graphic / Graflex Super Graphic

Related lenses

• Schneider Apo-Symmar 120mm f/5.6 — adjacent longer sibling
• Schneider Apo-Symmar 135mm f/5.6 — slightly-long-of-wide sibling