Rodenstock APO-Ronar · 360mm f/9

{"overview":"The Rodenstock 360mm f\/9 APO-Ronar is a long-focus apochromatic process lens in a large-format barrel or shutter mount, typical of the type used for high-resolution copy, repro and view-camera work. Its slow f\/9 maximum aperture and apochromatic correction were designed for flat-field reproduction at or near 1:1, and it has since been adopted by landscape and studio photographers on 5x4 and larger view cameras.","market_narrative":"At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the 360mm APO-Ronar have sat in a narrow band, with the two recorded sales fetching £69 and £106, giving a median of around £88. That is what a clean copy sells for at saleroom level today, and the price a buyer pays at retail from a dealer is typically higher once commissions, warranty and margin are added.","buying_guide":"Inspect the glass carefully for fungus, internal haze and cleaning marks, as these long process lenses often sat in studios for decades and softer front coatings can show wipe scratches. Check that the aperture blades are dry and snappy with no oil migration, confirm the iris ring moves smoothly through its full range, and look for any sign of element separation (edge discolouration or a rainbow sheen) given the cemented apochromatic groups. If the lens is mounted in a shutter rather than a plain barrel, fire it at every speed to confirm the shutter is not sluggish.","specs":"Key specifications from the supplied data: 360mm focal length, f\/9 maximum aperture, Rodenstock APO-Ronar apochromatic process design.","faq":[{"q":"What is a Rodenstock 360mm f\/9 APO-Ronar worth?","a":"Based on UK auction hammer results, recent examples have sold for £69 to £106, so fair value for a clean user copy sits around £85–£100."},{"q":"How much does a 360mm APO-Ronar sell for at auction?","a":"The two most recent UK hammer prices in our sales history were £106 in March 2023 and £69 in March 2022, indicating a typical price in the high double digits to just over £100."},{"q":"Is the APO-Ronar a good lens for large-format photography?","a":"Yes — although it was designed as a process lens for 1:1 reproduction, the 360mm APO-Ronar is widely used on 5x4 and larger view cameras for its high resolution and flat field, provided the glass is clean."},{"q":"What should I check before buying one?","a":"Prioritise clear glass free of fungus, haze and separation, dry aperture blades, and — if shutter-mounted — accurate speeds across the range."}],"confidence":45,"reasoning":"Only two unverified sales records and no SPECS or variant data are provided, so market range is narrow and specification detail is limited to what is stated in the model name."}