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Thread: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

  1. #1

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    360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    Thinking about buying this lens, 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal, from a reputable dealer.

    It's rated condition is 9+ and it's priced at $725. The price seems steep to me but I'm not sure.

    Any opinions?

    Thanks.....Mark

  2. #2

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    Re: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    It's a good lens, but I've seen them go for much less. I have the 240mm Symmar-S MC and I got it with a camera for less than that price. The big plasmats in Copal #3's aren't in big demand these days--probably because they're big heavy studio lenses, and they're very common. I just bought a Sironar N 300mm in a Copal #3 for $300.

  3. #3

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    Re: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    You might consider waiting a bit. I sold the same Schneider lens, a Caltar-S II, for less than $400 on EBay. The above Caltar version of this lens comes in both MC and non MC.

    This is a huge, heavy lens. It has a filter size of something like 121mm. That's why I sold it. It covers well, though. 490mm or above.

  4. #4

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    Re: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    Mark,
    You might help us by telling us the format, and what you plan to do with it. I worked in a studio for several years using this lens on 4 by 5 and 8 by 10 and its a great lens, big and heavy too.
    There are many smaller choices available, not as fast, but easier to carry around.
    It seems the price might be a bit high for this lens. I have a Fuji 450C and a Nikkor 300M that are in the same price range new, (Nikkor only available used). They both cover 8 by 10 and are far smaller than the Schneider.
    -Brad

  5. #5

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    Re: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    I just purchased a used Canham Traditional Camera with both 4x5 and 5x7 backs.

    I currently have a Sinar F2 that I lug around in the woods in a "car case". Obviously this is not a good solution therefore the Canham. I use a 90mm, 150mm and a 210mm, (all Schneider), on the Sinar and often wish I had a longer reach.

    I thought the 360mm might be a good next move but I really don't want to buy all new filters for 110mm filter thread on top of the cost of the lens. I currently use step up rings for my other lenses so I only need to have 77mm filters.

    Can I find a quality 360 mm lens with a 77mm filter thread or smaller?

  6. #6
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    Re: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    The Symmar-S is humongous.

    Smaller, and much smaller: 355 G-Claron, 360 Apo-Ronar. Both meet your 77mm filter criterion.

  7. #7

    Re: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    Mark,
    You may already be aware of the Schneider 14"(355) gold dot and the
    360 Fuji A. Both are great lenses with adequate 8x10 coverage but with
    $ 1000+ price tags. It will take some time and effort to locate either.

    Good shooting,
    Warren Clark

  8. #8

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    Re: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    Oren,

    Should i assume that quality of the 355 G-Claron and 360 Apo-Ronar are close or equal to Symmar?

  9. #9
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    Re: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Sloane View Post
    Should i assume that quality of the 355 G-Claron and 360 Apo-Ronar are close or equal to Symmar?
    The short answer is yes.

    The long answer is that the G-Claron and the Apo-Ronar were both designed as process lenses for the graphic arts industry, though ample experience has shown that they can work very well indeed as general purpose lenses for distant subjects, especially when stopped down. And as you'll see if you spend much time here, many people happily use them that way. It's possible to have the cell spacing on either tweaked if performance at infinity is the primary concern, but most users never feel a need for that.

    Also, there may well be subtle differences in image character - microcontrast, out-of-focus rendering - among the three that some people groove on and others don't care about at all. I've used the 355 G-Claron and I'm not especially wild about it because of subjectively nitpicky considerations like that; for 8x10 I'm happier with my big, heavy 360mm Caltar II-N (Sironar-N). But that's way overkill for a 4x5/5x7 Canham in the field. If I needed a 360 for a 4x5/5x7 field camera, the first lens I'd want to try would probably be the Apo-Ronar.

  10. #10

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    Re: 360mm f6.8 Symmar-S MC Copal

    Oren,

    I will begin a search for a well maintained Apo-Ronar.

    It's possible to have the cell spacing on either tweaked if performance at infinity is the primary concern
    .


    Not sure what this means.

    Great information and i really appreciate your time.

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