Kareem Black's camera?

[Dan Fromm]

There i a Verizon flier stuffed in today's New York Times with a picture of himself holding a TLR with the hood open and no viewing lens on the front. There's a picture of the camera, hood folded and without the photographer, on the back. I can't read the taking lens' engraving. BTW, the lens' front element is pretty big.

I can't imagine what the camera is or what can be accomplished with the hood opened that can't be done with the hood closed. Explanations, please.