Schneider APO-Symmar 360mm f/6.8

Schneider Apo-Symmar 360mm f/6.8 is the 8×10 short-telephoto + 11×14 normal apochromatic plasmat — successor to the 360 Symmar at slightly slower aperture (f/6.8 vs f/5.6) for compactness and reduced cost.

Key features

• Mount: Copal 3 shutter (1s to 1/125, X-sync at all speeds)
• Focal length: 360mm
• Maximum aperture: f/6.8
• Image circle: ~500mm at f/22 — covers 8×10 with generous movements; covers 11×14
• Optical formula: 6-element/4-group plasmat with apochromatic correction
• Multi-coating standard
• Heavy — Copal 3 mount

Use case + rendering

The 360 Apo-Symmar is the 8×10 portrait + landscape-tele lens, and the 11×14 normal. Long focal length on 8×10 produces shallow DoF in the medium-format-portrait sense — the 360 is the go-to for environmental portrait work on 8×10.

Compatible cameras

• 8×10 view cameras with Copal 3 lens-board capacity and ample bellows draw
• 11×14 view cameras
• 4×5 view cameras with extended bellows

Related lenses

• Schneider Apo-Symmar 300mm f/5.6 — wider sibling
• Schneider Apo-Symmar 480mm f/8.4 — longer sibling
• Schneider Symmar 360mm f/5.6 — predecessor