The Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 (SR80) is a special lens optimized for work at 1x magnification. The SR80 incorporates low dispersion glass for control of chromatic aberrations. This is the current model of the 5.6/80 Makro-Symmar in the Makro Iris mount designed for use in machine vision. This lens is a good performer both as a taking lens and as a tube lens. Copies of the SR80 are easy to find online and if you are patient you can pick one up on the used market for a very low price, sometimes complete with adapters and accessories.
ABOUT THIS TEST
This test and all the other content on my site, is completely independent and free from industry influence. I will not benefit from your purchases. Most photo sites in the web today are run by corporations for profit. I do not show ads, use any affiliate links, or take money from anyone in the photo industry. I create content for this site for fun in my free time. Instead of making a few dollars from this site, I'm more concerned about teaching people to learn to use what they already have, rather than waste time and money buying more equipment. Most of us, myself included, would make far better pictures if we'd stop buying the wrong equipment and spend more time learning how to use what we already have instead.
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 1.0x
Facts first
Optimized for 1x
1/4 to 2x usable range
Low dispersion glass
Large image circle, 141mm at 1x
V38 mount interface on the front and rear
Good supply on the used market
Excellent prices on the used market
Lockable aperture ring
Vibration insensitive design
Very solid performance as a tube lens
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 old and new types
Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 lens Update
I own two versions of the SR80, the older unit serial is from 2004, and the serial on new version on the right dates it to 2009. These are the obvious differences that I can between the two:
Optics on the later lenses are updated resulting in improved image quality
The newer design is one third stop faster, f/5.6 vs f/6.35
The rear cell in the newer lens has a groove
Multi-coating has been updated to a deeper magenta-blue colored coating
The rear cell is locked with thread locking compound on the newer lens
The old iris housing and lens cells are slightly shorter
The new lens iris is slightly closed down at f/5.6 and will open slightly past
Speed: Old vs New
The newer SR80 maximum aperture is actually faster than the older SR80.
Later Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 forward mount set to f/5.6 = f/5.6
Later Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 forward mount set wide open = f/5.5
Later Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 reverse mount at f/5.6 = f/5.7
Older Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 forward mount set to f/5.6 = f/6.35
Older Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 forward mount set w/o = f/6.2
Older Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 reverse mount set to f/5.6 = f/6.2
Older Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 reverse mount set to f/5.6 = f/6.15
SR80 Gaussian optic changes
Comparing the image quality between the newer and older Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 versions there is a noticeable difference. But what explains the lower performance of the earlier SR80? Damage, copy variation, glass formula changes? Are the lenses tuned differently? Comparing the gaussian data between the later and earlier SR80s, the factory says the lens optics have been slightly changed on the newer model. That and the fact that the newer lens is slightly faster, makes a pretty noticeable difference between my two copies, at least one grade school mark difference in my opinion.
PROS AND CONS
What I really like:
Very easy to find on the used market
V38 mount system
Available for low prices
Shorter focal length means less extension is needed
What I dislike:
Optical performance variation between my two SR80 copies
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Schneider Kreuznach Makro-Symmar 5.6/80
Part Number: 1070160
Type: Machine Vision Large format
Focal length: Nominal 80mm, actual 82.4 (data from 2020)
Iris: 5 blade Makro-Iris mount
Aperture range: f/5.6 - f/45
Recommended magnification: 1x
Recommended magnification range: usable range is 0.5x to 2x (data from 2020)
Wavelength range: visible, 400-700 nm
Image circle: 100mm at infinity with 141.2mm coverage at 1x (data from 2020)
Lens mount: V38 V-mount front and rear
Front Threads: Lens shroud is threaded for M37 x 0.75mm accessories
Optical design: symmetrical 6 elements in 4 groups, with low dispersion glass
Source: The SR80 lens is made in Germany
Manufacturer Suggested Price: $1100 USD
Typical used market price in 2020: $200-400. USD
With a 100mm image circle the SR80 lens should be able to cover up to a medium format without any issue. Cameras like the Fujifilm GFX 50S sensor ( 8256 x 6192 pixels, 43.8 x 32.9mm sensor with 5.3 μm pixels, and a 54.78mm diagonal), the Phase one IQ3 50MP (8280 x 6208, 5.3 μm sensor with a 55mm diagonal) without any problems, and the Phase One IQ3 100MP (11608 x 8708 pixel, 53.7 x 40.4mm sensor, 4.63 μm sensor with a 67mm diagonal), no problems.
1.4x Lens Test
Canon MP-E 65 1-5x
Fujinon EFC 6/81
Rayfact 4/80 GF
Rodenstock Magnagon 5.6/75
Rodenstock Magnagon 3.5/75
Rodenstock Scitex 5.6/80
Schneider M-Componon 4/80
Schneider Macro Varon CAS 4.5/85
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 Makro Iris
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 HM
Results Coming soon!
Tube Lens Test
Fujinon EFC 6/81
Rodenstock Scitex 5.6/80
Schneider M-Componon 4/80
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 Makro Iris
Schneider Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 HM
Results Coming soon!
Machine Vision
The Makro-Symmar is currently sold for Machine Vision (MV) applications. What is that exactly is MV? During product assembly, MV uses a digital sensor protected inside an industrial camera with specialized optics, processing hardware and software to automate visual inspection tasks and precisely guide handling equipment. Applications include positioning, identification, verification, measurement, and flaw detection. Flaws are detected directly within the production process of semiconductor, FPD (flat panel display), and PCBs (printed circuit boards) for example, by comparing the sample against a flawless reference and issuing an alert when irregularities arise. Another common use for MV is for postal sorting or reading out barcodes, QR codes, lines of text (OCR) and other codes.
Above is a Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 with a Dalsa line scan camera setup. Both of the Makro-Symmars I own were taken from line scan setups like this.
MOUNTING THE MAKRO-SYMMAR
The Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 uses V38, the most common V-mount in the machine vision industry. Schneider makes a nice range of V38 adapters that you can use to mount your lens. These parts are expensive, and not all are flocked, and not all fit all lenses. There are other brands of V38 mount adapters on the market that make it easy to adapt the SR80 to your current setup, I recommend Raf Camera V38 adapters:
Raf Camera V38 to M42 x 1 adapter: https://rafcamera.com/adapter-38mm-id-to-m42x1m
Raf Camera also offers a V38 to SM2 male threaded adapter: https://rafcamera.com/adapter-id38mm-to-sm2m
Some of the Schneider V38 parts (and some of the no-name Chinese made V38 adapters) fail to clear the rear cell on some popular lenses like the Makro-Symmar 5.6/120 or Macro Varon for example, some do and some don’t. Also some SK V38 parts will need to be flocked. I recommend passing on the Schneider brand V38 parts and using the Raf Camera parts instead. The reasonably priced Raf Camera parts were designed to clear the Makro-Symmar 5.6/120 and Macro Varon and none will need flocking.
Purchases at Raf Camera are of no benefit to this site, I do not use any affiliate links, or receive any kind of Commission from product sales from Raf Camera.
For more information on the clearance issues with Schneider V38 parts, follow this link on Closeuphotography.com: https://www.closeuphotography.com/schneider-makro-symmar-sr-120
Types of the 80mm Makro-Symmar
There are at least five general types of the 80mm Makro-Symmar that I’ve seen on the used market. There very well could be more versions of this lens. Note that with part number 1070160, there are earlier and and later versions that I have tested.
Schneider-Kreuznach Makro-Symmar 5.6/80: 6 elements in 4 groups. Makro Iris mount. 1x optimization. Early type. ID 1070160
Schneider-Kreuznach Makro-Symmar 5.6/80: 6 elements in 4 groups. Makro Iris mount. 1x optimization. Later type. ID 1070160
Schneider-Kreuznach Makro-Symmar 5.6/80: 6 elements in 4 groups. Makro Iris mount. 1x optimization. Current lens. ID 1097785
Schneider-Kreuznach Makro-Symmar HM 5.6/80: 8 element in 4 groups. Very hard to find. 1x optimization. Out of production. The HM version was sold in various iris mounts.
Schneider-Kreuznach Makro-Symmar 5.6/80-R: 6 elements in 4 groups. Makro Iris mount with detents. 1x optimization. Very hard to find. Made to order. ID 1077240
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR MORE INFO
Links below are for the European Schneider site, the Schneider Optics US site has been taken down.
Schneider V38 Line Scan lenses: https://schneiderkreuznach.com/en/industrial-optics/lenses-v38-line-scan-macro-system
Schneider PDF on the MS80: https://schneiderkreuznach.com/application/files/3016/0371/2650/Makro-Symmar_5.6_80_-1x_1097785_datasheet.pdf
1x sharpness test featuring the Makro-Symmar 5.6/80 from 2017:
https://www.closeuphotography.com/sharpness-test-1x
80mm lens shootout by Ray on the photomacrography.net forum, including the Makro-Symmar 5.6/80mm lens:
Direct link to the test results only on Ray’s site: http://www.macrocoins.com/80mm-lens-shootout.html