Schneider 150mm f/5.6 Symmar-S Lens
The Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm f/5.6 is a 150mm f/5.6 lens designed for Lens Board (Technical Camera) mount cameras. Used copies start from $349.99 on GearFocus, with buyer protection on every purchase.
Schneider 150mm f/5.6 Symmar-S Lens
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Lens Overview — Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm f/5.6
Key Features — Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm f/5.6
150mm Large Format Prime: A standard focal length for large format photography, equivalent in perspective to a normal lens and well-suited to portraits, landscapes, architecture, and studio work.
Copal Shutter Integration: Mounted in a Copal leaf shutter, allowing precise shutter speed and aperture control directly on the lens barrel as is standard in large format workflows.
f/5.6 Maximum Aperture: A typical and practical maximum aperture for large format optics, providing a usable ground glass image for composing and focusing under the dark cloth.
Lens Board Mount: Compatible with technical and view cameras that accept interchangeable lens boards, giving it broad usability across field and studio large format systems.
Multi-Coated Optics: Symmar-S lenses feature Schneider's multi-coating for reduced flare and improved contrast compared to earlier single-coated large format designs.
Generous Image Circle: Produces an image circle large enough to accommodate significant camera movements — tilt, shift, and swing — on 4x5 format film or digital backs.
Lens Specifications — Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm f/5.6
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use Cases | Landscape, Architecture, Studio |
| Lens Type | Standard |
| Format | Large Format |
| Zoom/Prime | Prime |
| Focal Length | 150mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/5.6 |
| Camera System | Large Format |
| Lens Mount | Lens Board (Technical Camera) |
| Autofocus | No |
| Focus Type | Manual |
| Image Stabilization | None |
| Weight | 290g |
Description — Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm f/5.6
The Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm f/5.6 Symmar-S is a large format prime lens in the standard focal length range, built for technical cameras using a Lens Board (Technical Camera) mount. With a fixed 150mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/5.6, this lens is designed for the deliberate, precision-driven workflow that large format photography demands. It is a manual focus only lens with no image stabilization, keeping the design straightforward and in line with large format conventions.
At 290g, it is a relatively lightweight option within the large format category, which is a practical advantage for photographers who work on location or need to keep their kit manageable. The lens board mount system ensures compatibility with the range of technical cameras that support interchangeable boards, giving it a solid place in a large format shooter's kit.
Pros — Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm f/5.6
- ✓Fixed 150mm focal length places it in the versatile standard range for large format shooting
- ✓Maximum aperture of f/5.6 is typical and functional for large format prime lenses
- ✓Lightweight at just 290g, making it manageable for field and travel use
Cons — Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm f/5.6
- ✗No autofocus — manual focus only, which requires a methodical shooting pace
- ✗No image stabilization, as expected for a large format lens
- ✗Filter thread size is unspecified, making filter system planning more difficult
Videos — Schneider-Kreuznach 150mm f/5.6
150mm 4x5 lens comparison — Underexposed with Alastair Bird