The Rodenstock 240mm f/5.6 Apo-Sironar-S Lens is a standard lens for the 5x7 format or a slightly wide lens for the 8x10 format (it can also be used as a telephoto lens on smaller formats). Designed for universal use, it has been modified to provide the highest image reproduction quality.  Like the Apo-Sironar-N, its applications are practically limitless.  Its special strengths can be seen when complex, fine structures in the adjustment range have to be reproduced.

The angle of coverage of the 240mm Sironar-S is a whopping 75°, permitting very generous shifts of at least 91mm in the 5x7 format, and 36mm in the 8x10 format. This allows more control over the large format image, and less limits upon the creative capacity of the photographer. It is particularly useful when photographing architecture from the ground level.

Today's modern fully-multicoated lenses for large format film cameras available from the 'big four' are all so good that for the most part they're practically interchangeable.  Perhaps it has been more important to consider the lens' dimensions in relation to your camera's limits, or perhaps collect lenses based on a shared filter size. But in the tried and true 6-element, 4-group standard lens formula, the Apo-Sironar-S stands head & shoulders above the rest thanks to its ED glass.  This lens stuns at ideal apertures like any of the modern 6-element/4-group lenses will, but it is at the apertures which are far from ideal in the world of large format where the Apo-Sironar-S justifies its superior performance claims.  While you might be disappointed with a skillfully-crafted effort at f/16 with another 240mm 6-element/4-group lens, the 240mm Apo-Sironar-S will still impress. Indeed, f/16 is within its recommended shooting aperture range.

A compact, extremely sharp slightly long lens for 5x7 (or slightly wide lens for 8x10)

Increased coverage (to 75°) for the classic 6-element, 4-group optical design

Use of extra-low dispersion (ED) glass allows for no visible color fringing, even at edges

Brighter ideal working aperture range of f/16-32 allows shorter exposures and sharper outdoor images

Maximum image circle of 372mm allows ±91mm of rise/fall/shift (in both vertical/horizontal composition) for 5x7 format and ±36mm for 8x10 format

Accepts 86mm filters

Standard-style Copal #3 shutter with calibrated aperture scale and maximum 1/125th speed