Sinar F2 4x5 to 5x7

[Darryl Roberts]

Hi,

I have and love my Sinar F2 4x5. Is it possible to convert it to 5x7? If so, is it difficult?

Thank you.

 

[abruzzi]

the internet believes that a 5x7 rear standard is available for the F2, but I've never seen one. Technically you could get any Sinar 5x7 rear standard (F, F2, P, P2, Norma) and a 5x7 bellows and it would work easily. You'd probably pay as much for the pieces as you would for a full Sinar 5x7 camera. The Norma rear is a little heavier than a F2 rear would be, but not bad, and folds up. A P/P2 rear is heavy and doesn't collapse, so field use wouldn't be great.

 

[Darryl Roberts]

the internet believes that a 5x7 rear standard is available for the F2, but I've never seen one. Technically you could get any Sinar 5x7 rear standard (F, F2, P, P2, Norma) and a 5x7 bellows and it would work easily. You'd probably pay as much for the pieces as you would for a full Sinar 5x7 camera. The Norma rear is a little heavier than a F2 rear would be, but not bad, and folds up. A P/P2 rear is heavy and doesn't collapse, so field use wouldn't be great.

Thank you.

 

[FotoD]

The Sinar catalogues mention a 13x18 F2 rear standard, but I'm not sure I've ever seen one. It's probably quite rare.

The P/P2 13x18 is great if you want geared movements.

The Norma 13x18 rear standard is also great, if you don't mind the look when mixing old and new parts.

I don't think there are different bellows sizes in 13x18, as with the 8x10 Sinars. But watch out for 13x18 backs not fitting the rear frame. Old and new don't always mix well.

 

[Vaidotas]

There is F style intermediate standard similar to that shown above but without movements intended to use as bellows connector / support in 8x10 setup.
I saw that standard only once.

My personal setup is F2 front - rear P standard.

 

[abruzzi]

There is F style intermediate standard similar to that shown above but without movements intended to use as bellows connector / support in 8x10 setup.
I saw that standard only once.

My personal setup is F2 front - rear P standard.

Sinar had something like that named the C -- basically a F front and P rear. The F2 front would be nicer since it more rigid than the F and can focus the front as well.

 

[FotoD]

Apparently they do show up; Here is a current listing on eBay.

 

[abruzzi]

oooh, nice. Unfortunately doesn't ship the the US (where the OP lives) but they are sexy. I know of an 8x10 F2 for a reasonable price that I keep having to talk myself out of buying.

 

[Vaidotas]

Apparently they do show up; Here is a current listing on eBay.

Nice.
But for this price tag there is a lot of alternative options to step on 5x7.

 

[Darryl Roberts]

I secured a Cambo SC 5x7 for $600.00

 

[FotoD]

I'm sure that's a fine camera too. Good luck with it.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

In a word, Yes.

I think that I've purchased and sold a couple of 5x7 backs for the Sinar system. But, one will need to look for a Sinar P 5x7 back, versus the F series. I believe I've seen references to a 5x7 F assembly in Sinar literature, but I've not seen one personally, nor on eBay. And, I've purchased and sole quite a lot of Sinar equipment.

The 5x7 format frame fits the Sinar P 4x5 standard, in case one finds just the 5x7 format frame. Because of the effective unavailability of a rear F2 5x7 back, a fully equipped, Sinar 5x7, even with an F2 front, tends to be a bit heavy. It's not that difficult to find both 5x7 accordion bellows and 5x7 bag bellows for wider lenses.

I recommend a 4x5 F2 front standard with the longer risers designed for use with Sinar 8x10 equipment, in order to have sufficient rise for the taller 5x7 P back. These F2 front standards can also be found with independent shift, tilt and swing. (Separate locking levers for each.) 4x5 reduction backs exist for the 5x7 format frame, so that one can photograph using either 4x5 or 5x7 film with a 5x7 camera.