Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar · 240mm f/5.6

{"overview":"The Schneider-Kreuznach 240mm f\/5.6 Symmar is a large-format view camera lens designed for studio and field photography on 8x10 and similar plate sizes. Built around the classic Symmar plasmat design, it was intended primarily for general-purpose work where a moderate telephoto angle of view on large format was required.","market_narrative":"At UK auction in late 2025, a copy of the 240mm f\/5.6 Symmar sold for £50 at hammer — a wholesale saleroom result rather than a dealer's retail price. With only a single recorded sale, the data point sets a floor for what a working example is worth today rather than a reliable median, and clean glass in shutter typically sells for more than tired examples in the current market.","buying_guide":"Inspect the elements carefully for fungus, internal haze, cleaning marks and any sign of separation along the cemented groups, all of which are common in lenses of this age. Check that the shutter fires accurately at all marked speeds, that the aperture blades are dry and snappy with no oil migration, and that the focus and aperture rings on the barrel move smoothly without grinding.","specs":"A 240mm focal length plasmat-type large-format lens with a maximum aperture of f\/5.6, supplied in a leaf shutter for view-camera use.","faq":[{"q":"What is a Schneider 240mm f\/5.6 Symmar worth today?","a":"Based on UK auction hammer data, a 240mm f\/5.6 Symmar sold for £50 in November 2025, so that figure represents the most recent recorded saleroom value rather than a typical retail price."},{"q":"How much does a 240mm Symmar sell for at auction?","a":"The only verified UK auction result on file is £50 hammer, achieved in late 2025; cleaner copies with accurate shutters can sell for more, but the available data is too thin to quote a confident range."},{"q":"What should I check before buying a 240mm Symmar?","a":"Look for fungus, haze and separation in the glass, oil on the aperture blades, and sluggish shutter speeds — these are the main faults that reduce the value and usability of this lens."}],"confidence":35,"reasoning":"Only one sales record is available and no specs or variant data were supplied, so price guidance and technical detail are necessarily limited."}