Sinar Norma 4x5 Twin Lens 240 Xenars

[Nokton48]

Sinar Norma 4x5 TLR Matching 210 Xenar Barrel Lenses by Nokton48, on Flickr

I decided to finish the 4x5 Sinar Norma TLR today. I found a couple of old boards with mickey mouse automation, I removed all of that. Then I cut large holes with my electric scroll saw, and finished with a good deal of hand filing. I just need to fill some holes with JB Weld. So now here two perfectly matching 240mm Schneider chrome Xenar f4.5 barrel lenses, should be great for portraiture. I exchanged the Black Binocular modern reflex magnifier on the back, with the original Norma Rubber Bellows, and the uber rare Norma Reflex Magnifier, which is quite small and I prefer it to modern Boxy Reflex Sinar.

So now I am ready to learn more about how this works. Testing looking through the camera went well, ready to go

 

[Cholentpot]

I'm not sure what questions to ask but I have many.

 

[AnselMortensen]

That is way cool!

 

[grain elevator]

Looks cool. But unless you use a roll film back, I don't see the advantage over a single one. And if you use one, I don't see the advantage over a 120 SLR.

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

So now I am ready to learn more about how this works. Testing looking through the camera went well, ready to go

If the point is to use this like a LF TLR, I think the extraordinary amount of front rise might be a problem. Maybe I just don't understand what you're after.

 

[Cholentpot]

If the point is to use this like a LF TLR, I think the extraordinary amount of front rise might be a problem. Maybe I just don't understand what you're after.

Sometimes its good to be weird for the sake of being weird.

I like.

 

[Nokton48]

Norma Instant Operation by Nokton48, on Flickr

I'm like a kid playing with my box of incredibly expensive tinker toys, building all kinds of interesting rigs. Why not? From "Sinar- the perfect tool for the professional photographer" Karl Heitz 1964. I have built the camera on the bottom left. They would configure the camera for you at the factory; Wonder how they embellished it?

 

[Nokton48]

Highest Speed 4x5 Norma 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here's the reverse view. I added a Norma Rubber Hood, Norma Long Bellows Rod, and Norma Filter Holder with 108mm yellow glass. So pretty much like it came right out of the Norma brochure. Was fun to put together. Some old things need fixing and I like working with my hands.

 

[Nokton48]

Looks cool. But unless you use a roll film back, I don't see the advantage over a single one. And if you use one, I don't see the advantage over a 120 SLR.

The advantage is that this is the fastest way to spontaneous 4x5 as in portraiture. It's not roll film. I know from experience that the the first exposure in a sitting is frequently the strongest one.

 

[John Earley]

Very cool in an odd sort of way!

 

[Nokton48]

Thanks everybody so far for your comments.

Glenn Evans in Chicago has configured a similar Sinar Norma TLR camera.
See here:
http://www.glennview.com/sinarTLR.htm

 

[Cholentpot]

Highest Speed 4x5 Norma 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here's the reverse view. I added a Norma Rubber Hood, Norma Long Bellows Rod, and Norma Filter Holder with 108mm yellow glass. So pretty much like it came right out of the Norma brochure. Was fun to put together. Some old things need fixing and I like working with my hands.

I have many cameras that need fixing...

 

[Nokton48]

Very cool in an odd sort of way!

Thanks John. Time will tell how useful it will be. I can always take it back to spare parts Sinar says it works with all focal lengths. Interesting.

 

[Nokton48]

Fastest Speed of All Sinar Norma Three Good Pairs 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

After searching around and configuring what I can right now, I have come up with three perfect identical lens pairs for the Fastest Norma twin lens camera. On the left, are absolutely identical Schneider 150mm f5.6 chrome Componons. In the middle, two nearly identical (will do ok) 240mm f4.5 Schneider chrome Xenars. The viewing lens only works wide open, the iris is not working. But OK for viewing. I still have to plug the mickey mouse automation holes with aluminum filler. And on the far right, a perfectly matching pair of forward mounted Schneider 240mm f5.6 chrome Symmars. The taking lens is a Sinar Symmar, and have direct operating mickey mouse aperture mechanism (least amount of automation aperture board). It will take several hours of metal cutting to buzz down the flange diameter, and enlarge the hole size in the top hat. Then all will fit and I will have three nice workable pairs for this camera

 

[Nokton48]

I wonder if there is anybody who used this combo in the 60s vintage studios back then is familiar how to operate with it. But thanks for all suggestions and interest

 

[Nokton48]

That is way cool!

Thanks AnselMortensen,

 

[Nokton48]

Fastest Speed of All Sinar Norma Pair 240 Symmars 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Matching 240mm Sinar Symmars in matching forward mounted lensboards. Clamping mechanism above adds rigidity, could use some short rods, across the top metric stock from McMaster Carr will do the job. Twin Sinar Norma Bag Bellows on back with Sinar Norma Monocular Viewers works great. More matched pairs are coming in, 150 180 210 300 chrome Componons, 250mm H5.8 Rodenstock Imagon barrel pair, So I will be well prepared for high speed 4x5 portraiture and tabletop stuff

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Interesting concept compared to the Gowlandflex.

 

[Nokton48]

Interesting concept compared to the Gowlandflex.

Yes in some ways similar but very adjustable as well "Construction Unit" design philosophy.

Film on top means you are not "shooting up" people's noses. I could see that happening.

 

[Nokton48]

Fully Functioning Fastest Sinar Norma 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Today a matching pair of these 300mm Componons came in, I mounted them quickly into identical boards. The view through the top lens is from a higher viewpoint, that is what I want. I can get matching views as close as possible, something I think I csn get used to with more practice. I like this camera, it's so different from anything I have used. 300mm is 2X on 4x5 and is about as long as you can go I have read regarding the Gowlandflex. Sinar says this camera will take any focal length.

Fully Functioning Fastest Sinar Norma 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here the fastest Norma is set up to provide identical views, with the identical 300mm Componons. Top and bottom views are similar, of course the top taking lens has a higher viewpoint, so I am shooting slightly slightly down versus the view lens. Desirable for high speed B&W portraiture

 

[Nokton48]

I've used TLR Mamiyas for weddings and portraits many years ago, I once had every model in the line at one time, and all the lenses and attachments. My fave was the venerable Mamiyaflex C2 but also loved the C33. It's taking some time to get my head around what Sinar was doing here, but after kicking the tires a bit I really do like this new rig a lot. It's different from the Gowland in that taking lens is on top, viewing on the bottom. Sure there has to be parallax, but the views can be made to be approximately similar by using the rise/fall moves on the Norma. Viewpoints without question have to be different through both lenses, but this is something I can get used to. I'm sure raising the top viewing lens on the Gowland up, to get approximate same framing, changes the viewpoint also between the two lenses, I'm sure through experience Gowland got this exactly where he wanted it. It is the same but different with Norma. The closer you move in, and the longer the lenses, the more space between them required for for approximate similar framing, although there is the viewpoint difference which increases as you move in. I could also reverse the lens sets, with the taking lens on the bottom (like the Gowland) but I think I prefer this configuration for my uses. I have another Norma Shutter coming from Germany, to dedicate to this camera, as well as three new Norma Rail Clamps, I'm going double clamp with this camera for brick house stability and easy balance with this new rig on my monster Plaubel Profia camera stand.

 

[Nokton48]

Fastest Speed Sinar Norma Pair 150mm Componons 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here's the fastest speed Sinar Norma set up with twin 150mm f5.6 chrome Componons. Basically to use this camera, you adjust either front or back tilt, so that both screens are in sharp and in similar plane of focus. Rise and fall will produce nearly identical views during final framing and is quite accurate. Today I exposed four sheets of Fuji HRU XRay film, once with the top lens, and a second with the bottom 150mm lens pair. I then repeated the process with the 300mm f5.6 chrome Componon pair, again shooting with the top and bottom lenses to see the difference in prints. The negs look just great, and are drying right now. I will post B&W prints in the next few days. Entirely successful test as far as I can tell so far

It took four original Sinar Norma Bag Bellows to put this thing together. Notice also I have two Norma Base Rail Clamps attached now, for added stability.

 

[Nokton48]

Perhaps later today I will print the test photographs I made yesterday with the 150mm and 300mm lens pairs, the objective being to compare the slightly different viewpoints between the taking and viewing lenses. I'm starting to understand why Sinar designed this unique configuration, it's easy to use once you get the hang of it. I'm glad I have it around.

 

[Nokton48]

TLR Norma 150 Comp Bottom Lens 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is the view that you see through the camera with the BOTTOM LENS. One pop at F19.5 Arista #2 8x10 Multigrade developer, dust thanks to Omega glass 4x5 carrier!

TLR Norma 150 Comp Top Lens by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is the view that you see through the camera with the TOP LENS. One pop at F19.5 Arista #2 8x10 Multigrade developer, dust thanks to Omega glass 4x5 carrier!


Test Shot #1 and #2 (nothing artistic!) my new Sinar Fastest Twin Lens camera, equipped with the chrome 150mm Schneider Componon. 9x12cm Fuji HRU XRAY film in Sinar Norma Film Holder, processed 18 minutes in 62F straight replenished Legacy Mic-X film developer. Broncolor C171 375WS Monolight strobe with Pulsoflex Soft Box camera left. A silver fill panel just outside camera range on the right.

As you can see the views are quite similar, of course the top lens has a slightly higher viewpoint. Further fine tuning will be to use identical screen carriers, that will aid in precision composition.

 

[Nokton48]

Twin Lens Norma 300mm Componon Bottom Lens by Nokton48, on Flickr

Switching out to 300mm chrome Componon pair. Like it much! F16 1 pop HRU XRAY 9x12cm Sinar Norma Holder