Sinar binocular viewer

[Steven Nestler]

Hi.
I recently purchased a used Sinar F2, and it came with a reflex viewing hood. I love the idea of it, but have two reservations:

1. The magnifier is only 2X. Can a more powerful one be put in for focusing?

2. I'm concerned about the position of the hood, and the way I need to have the camera, in order to use it. I don't want the use of the hood to limit my points of view, and therefore, my vision.

Does anyone have experience with this?
Thanks,
Steven

 

[Peter De Smidt]

I used to have a Sinar reflex viewer. You can us it either facing up or down. This means that you have to be either above or below the camera, as opposed to looking straight on. A solution is to use a binocular magnifying hood with a bag bellows when you want your head on axis with the lens. The bellows attaches to the back in the same way as reflex viewer. The downside is that the view will be upside down.

2 times magnification is plenty for focusing. Move the focus in/out and watch how the area in question comes into and out of focus. The advantage is that you can see the whole ground glass.

The bino reflex view works best on P models. Be careful with the f model that the weight of the viewer doesn't flex the back standard and cause focus problems. In addition, be very careful about damaging the delicate front-surface mirror in the viewer.

 

[StreetShooter]

Steven,

Peter is right about the usage of the reflex viewer. And, the bag bellows will certainly give you plenty of mobility as to where you're able to view the gg.

You can also buy different lenses for magnifying the image from SinarBron.

I use to have a couple of those viewers but found that I didn't use them half as often as I thought I would have. As a result... I disposed of them. But, YMMV.

Cheers