Question for all the Sinar people here:
Do you use the Sinar Compendium shade setup, or something else (dark slide) or nothing?
Thing is...I have a number of view cameras, and most of them have a compendium shade built specifically for that purpose. They all work a little differently, but most mount to the top of the front standard, an allow adjustment of the front of the compendium at least. The Arca-Swiss is the easiest to use and one of the quickest to mount. I usually look for a compendium pretty soon after I get a camera because all my shots are outside, usually in the bright desert sun, and I have more than a few uncoated lenses.
Then there are my Sinars. Sinar's idea of a compendium is come clips that clip onto a standard bellows, mount on a hexagonal shaft, which clamps on the side of the front standard. If you want to use it, there are a number of separate pieces that you have to aquire and assemble. Of course the worst part is that most of the parts available don't work correctly on the Norma because the storied Sinar compatibility doesn't extend to compendium clips. I decided I want to figure something out for my Normas, and I was wondering if other people bother? Or if you've found something better?
I did see somewhere someone used a Norma middle standard with a Toyo compendium clamped to it. That looks like it could work well, except that it amounts to adding quite a bit of weight and bulk to the camera, which I'd prefer to avoid. I found and purchased a couple of the Norma era clamps that should hopefully work if I add a bellows and a hex rod, but it still seems big and unweildy compared to a Linhof or A-S setup.
Do you use the Sinar Compendium shade setup, or something else (dark slide) or nothing?
Thing is...I have a number of view cameras, and most of them have a compendium shade built specifically for that purpose. They all work a little differently, but most mount to the top of the front standard, an allow adjustment of the front of the compendium at least. The Arca-Swiss is the easiest to use and one of the quickest to mount. I usually look for a compendium pretty soon after I get a camera because all my shots are outside, usually in the bright desert sun, and I have more than a few uncoated lenses.
Then there are my Sinars. Sinar's idea of a compendium is come clips that clip onto a standard bellows, mount on a hexagonal shaft, which clamps on the side of the front standard. If you want to use it, there are a number of separate pieces that you have to aquire and assemble. Of course the worst part is that most of the parts available don't work correctly on the Norma because the storied Sinar compatibility doesn't extend to compendium clips. I decided I want to figure something out for my Normas, and I was wondering if other people bother? Or if you've found something better?
I did see somewhere someone used a Norma middle standard with a Toyo compendium clamped to it. That looks like it could work well, except that it amounts to adding quite a bit of weight and bulk to the camera, which I'd prefer to avoid. I found and purchased a couple of the Norma era clamps that should hopefully work if I add a bellows and a hex rod, but it still seems big and unweildy compared to a Linhof or A-S setup.
