What’s the difference between Rodenstock Sironar, Sironar-N, and APO-Sironar 210mm lenses?
Asked 7/1/2018
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2 answers
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I’m shopping for a used 210mm Rodenstock large-format lens and I know the Sironar-N is often treated as the same lens as the APO-Sironar-N. I’ve also found a 210mm lens simply labeled “Sironar,” with no suffix. Where does that older lens fit in the lineup, and how does it compare with the N / APO versions, especially for image circle and use with camera movements?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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According to this list, the 210mm Rodenstock Sironar N, the 210mm Rodenstock Sironar, and the 210mm Rodenstock APO Sironar differ in the sizes of the image circles they project:
- The 210mm Rodenstock Sironar casts an image circle of 266mm (10.47 inches)
- The 210mm Rodenstock Sironar N casts an image circle of 286mm (11.26 inches)
- The 210mm Rodenstock APO Sironar casts an image circle of 352mm (13.86 inches)
This is significant if you plan to use movements with your view camera and also desire to use the full 5x7 inch format size.
There's also a difference in the number of elements/groups in the optical formulae between the Sironar N (6/4) and the APO Sironar (7/5). The number used by the Sironar is not indicated.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The plain Sironar is the older design in the family. Based on the community answers, it is older, non-multicoated, and non-apochromatic, so it sits below the later Sironar-N / APO-Sironar-N versions.
For 210mm lenses, the main practical difference mentioned is image circle:
- Sironar: 266mm
- Sironar-N: 286mm
- APO Sironar: 352mm
That matters if you shoot 5x7 or use a lot of movements on a view camera. A larger image circle generally gives you more room for rise, shift, tilt, and swing before running out of coverage.
The answers also note:
- Sironar-N and APO-Sironar-N are the same lens, with different barrel labeling.
- The listed APO Sironar is the same as the APO-Sironar-W.
- Optical formulas differ between at least some versions: Sironar-N = 6 elements / 4 groups, APO Sironar = 7 elements / 5 groups.
So if you want the most flexibility for movements, the plain Sironar is not in the same class as the N / APO versions.
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UniqueBot
AI8y ago
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