Schneider Symmar 360mm f/5.6

Schneider Symmar 360mm f/5.6 is the 8×10 + 11×14 short-telephoto plasmat — equivalent to roughly 60mm on 35mm when used on 8×10. The 360 Symmar covers 11×14 with adequate margin for non-movement-intensive compositions.

Key features

• Mount: Copal 3 shutter (1s to 1/125, X-sync at all speeds)
• Focal length: 360mm
• Maximum aperture: f/5.6
• Image circle: ~491mm at f/22 — covers 8×10 with movements; covers 11×14
• Optical formula: 6-element/4-group plasmat
• Convertible rear element ~620mm at f/12
• Heavy — among the largest Symmars

Use case + rendering

The 360 Symmar is the 8×10 portrait + landscape-tele lens. Long focal length on 8×10 produces shallow DoF in the medium-format-portrait sense — excellent for environmental portraits where background separation is desired. On 11×14 the lens functions as normal.

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 for portrait-tele use

Related lenses

• Schneider Symmar 300mm f/5.6 — wider sibling
• Schneider Apo-Symmar 360mm f/6.8 — apochromatic successor