The Schneider 24mm f/5.6 Apo-Digitar XL Lens with Schneider Electronic Shutter is an extremely wide angle large format lens specifically designed for use with digital backs, which require extremely resolved, color correct image circles of a smaller size. Digital backs also benefit from use at larger apertures to avoid image degradation from diffraction, and this Apo-Digitar XL can comfortably be used at its maximum aperture at all times.
This version of the lens is mounted to a Schneider Electronic Shutter, which is a compact shutter with PC or hand unit control, speeds from 1/60th to 32 seconds, and aperture control in 1/10th f/stop increments. It is so small that Schneider has been able to fit it into a Cambo lensboard, essentially shortening the minimum bellows extension of the Cambo camera systems so that you can freely employ the camera's extensive movements to the limits of the lens' coverage (this board does not fit the 23SF camera).
This Apo-Digitar XL lens is appropriate for use with backs as large as 36x48mm, and upon such backs it will capture an image area similar to that of a 17mm lens upon a 35mm format camera. Its short focal length and wide 100° viewing angle are perfect for documenting tight interiors.
In many cases, digital photography is superior to conventional photography when the desired end product is a print. But to achieve this ideal, high demands are made upon a lens' image reproduction quality. This is because of a digital image chip's small image receiving area, which demands that a scene's fine details are squeezed into a smaller image recording area. The Apo-Digitar XL is capable of maximizing your digital back's capacities.
On larger backs approaching the lens' maximum coverage, the Schneider #08-019786 center filter is highly recommended for best performance.