Rodenstock 240mm F5.6 Sironar

[campy51]

I am thinking of buying one but I can't seem to find any information on this lens. Every search comes up with either the S or the N. Anybody ever have one?

 

[AnselMortensen]

You'll want to get the "-N" version.
The "plain" Sironar series had issues with the cement failing, causing separation showing up as internal rainbow patterns.

 

[campy51]

You'll want to get the "-N" version.
The "plain" Sironar series had issues with the cement failing, causing separation showing up as internal rainbow patterns.

Worth $150 with slow speeds off? I would clean myself.

 

[BradS]

Worth $150 with slow speeds off? I would clean myself.

No. Not worth it, best avoided. Like @AnselMortensen said, the plain "Sironar" was the predecessor to the Sironar-N and it (the plain Sironar) had serious optical issues. Just spend another $50 or $60 and get a Sironar-N - which is an excellent lens.

If you insist on going cheap, you'd be better off with a 210mm Xenar, Fujinon, Nikkor, Caltar II-N or Ysarex

 

[campy51]

Ok thanks for the info, I will pass on it.

 

[abruzzi]

If you insist on going cheap, you'd be better off with a 210mm Xenar, Fujinon, Nikkor, Caltar II-N or Ysarex

Or a Kodak Ektar 203mm ƒ7.7, one of my favorite lenses.

 

[campy51]

I have a Fujinon -w 210mm

 

[reddesert]

The fact that it's a 240mm changes some things:
- not really that much different from the 210mm you have, unless you need the extra coverage for some reason
- rated coverage is slightly less for Sironar than Sironar-N
- I doubt you can get a 240mm Sironar-N in shutter for $200
- 240mm Sironar, Sironar-N, etc come in a #3 shutter. A #3 shutter is worth something by itself but it also implies big and heavy.
- I've only had one Sironar but I wouldn't get put off by putative optical quality problems, unless it already has rainbow separation which should discount the price. I find it actually quite hard to see an effect of rainbow separation in images unless you are shooting into the sun, but of course it has an effect on resale value.

 

[Sean Mac]

It's a little bit shorter in focal length but my 180mm F5.6 Sironar has no optical problems and was very cheap.

For the right price a lens with no visible issues might work out well....

 

[xkaes]

If you were to consider 250mm lenses -- a very small difference, and a little bit farther from a 210mm -- there is a lot more to consider.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

If you can witstand GAS for a little and save some money, then go for the Apo-Sironar, it's worth the patience...

 

[hsandler]

I have this lens (plain, not N). It essentially came free when I purchased a view camera. It has a little separation rainbow, just around the extreme edges. I use it for portraits like this. I have not had any issues.

Nadine by Howard Sandler, on Flickr