Sinar equipment

Christmas came early this year. A photographer called me and asked if I was interested in his old Sinar equipment. I say yes and have now picked it up. It is a 8x10 rear, a 13x18 cm rear, a 4x5" rear, a front, several bellows, tubes, filmholders and original Sinar trunks.
There is also a small trunk with something that looks like filters. They are original Sinar and are of different colors. Can anybody tell me wha they are used for ? There is something that look like a holder for the filters, but I cant figure out where it goes.

There was also a single lens. A Symmar 1:5,6/360. A huge piece of glass. It looks very fine. Can anybody tell me how old it is and if it is usefull on the 8x10.

Beside checking if teh bellows are in good condition, is there anything else I should look out for before using it ?

Is there a good website with reference information for Sinar Norma equipment ?

You might ask the photographer who gave you the equipment to go over it with you.

The filters are like any other filters. Sinar made 100mm square filters that fit on a filter holder that goes in front of the lens. The sets one usually find are color correction filters for fine tuning color, usually in the studio or for architectural work, but I suppose they may have also make other kinds of filters, like B&W contrast filters, in that size.

The filter holder consists of an octagonal rod (or is it hexagonal?--I don't have it in front of me) that attaches to the front standard in the matching hole, and a filter holder that slips over the rod. There are different configurations for the filter holder for round and square filters, and it rotates for use with a polarizer. It also swings 180-degrees out of the way, so you can adjust the polarizer without looking at the groundglass, or just get the filter out of the way while focusing. There should also be two plastic clips that slip over the rod, and you can clip a Sinar 4x5" bellows to the clips to use as an adjustable shade. There are also masking blades that fit in front of the shade, if you have them.

The "tubes" are probably extension rails that screw into the main rail.

The Symmar 360 of any vintage is a perfectly good lens for 8x10". You can date it from the serial number using the list on schneideroptics.com.

Have a look here for scans of the original Norma instruction manual:

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/norma/norma.html

If you are interested in selling on any of the filters, I am looking for an 80a and various oddball colours (blue-greens, purples, oranges).

Have fun with the camera. I have a 4x5/5x7 Norma, and Sören has a 5x7 model, so perhaps we should get together for a Norma Day somewhere.

I have two 4x5 Normas, an 8x10, 5x7 back, and about 3/4 of the original catalog accessories. I've been at it 25 years, and it's a wonderful system (much more enjoyable to use than modern -plasticky- Sinar, IMO).

Buy the original instruction book (NORMA) on Ebay, and -study- it. Or download it, from the above link. It is a mastercourse in the complete use of the camera. For ten US Bucks, you can buy an original copy, on Ebay. If you are lucky, attached to the manual will be a paper envelope, with original metal tin of Norma grease.