Sinar Norma Folded Dimensions

Darryl Roberts · Jan 30, 2025

Hi

Do you know the Sinar Norma 4x5s folded dimensions?

Thank you

DREW WILEY · Jan 30, 2025

Folded which way? And do you mean 4x5 or larger? These are monorail cameras, so aren't "folders", but can be reduced in packing size a variety of ways if necessary, just like most other Sinar cameras. What do you intend to pack it in? Collapsing one to fit in a flat case, for example, is quite a bit different than reducing it to fit into a deep case or backpack.

Darryl Roberts · Jan 30, 2025

DREW WILEY said:
Folded which way? And do you mean 4x5 or larger? These are monorail cameras, so aren't "folders", but can be reduced in packing size a variety of ways if necessary, just like most other Sinar cameras. What do you intend to pack it in? Collapsing one to fit in a flat case, for example, is quite a bit different than reducing it to fit into a deep case or backpack.

The smallest way. 4x5 with 135mm lens

Lachlan Young · Jan 30, 2025

DREW WILEY said:
These are monorail cameras, so aren't "folders"

Sinar did publish how to fold both the Norma and the F. Can't do it with the Norma 8x10 - though it's not slower to set up than any folder (and harder to screw up) if you pre-rig intelligently.

Darryl Roberts said:
4x5 with 135mm lens

Lens and board need to be off the camera to fold it up safely to the smallest dimensions. With a Norma, probably 10x10" by whatever rail length. I recall the F was a bit smaller folded - they post pretty safely that way. The Wolf/ Alpina/ A1 folded flat into a briefcase (frankly, if you don't need multiple rail lengths, an Alpina with the rail chopped down might not be a bad idea).

DREW WILEY · Jan 30, 2025

Remove the rail entirely, and any of em can go briefcase flat. But being a system, and not just a particular bare-bones model, it all depends on how much of that system you need to transport, and how quick you need to set it up into operational mode.

abruzzi · Jan 31, 2025

if you fold it this way:

The length will be a little over 12 inches since it uses the 12 inch base rail. The other dimensions are a bit harder to guess (Mine is packed away so I cant mesure at the moment) but maybe 8x8x12. BTW for a small lens like most 150mm lenses, you can easily leave the lens in place when folding, but don't try it with any of the Super Angulon style 90's (Super Angulon, Grandagon, Nikon SW, Fuji SW.)

Darryl Roberts · Jan 31, 2025

abruzzi said:
if you fold it this way:

View attachment 389557

The length will be a little over 12 inches since it uses the 12 inch base rail. The other dimensions are a bit harder to guess (Mine is packed away so I cant mesure at the moment) but maybe 8x8x12. BTW for a small lens like most 150mm lenses, you can easily leave the lens in place when folding, but don't try it with any of the Super Angulon style 90's (Super Angulon, Grandagon, Nikon SW, Fuji SW.)

Thank you Very much.

Focomatter · Jan 31, 2025

I had my 4x5 Norma folded this way until a few days ago as I needed the front standard for my 8x10P. I found that to get it as compact as possible the front standard had to be the one on the bottom and the rear one on top (not indicated in cartoon above). There was not much space between the standards that I recall but possibly enough for a 90 Angulon (without Super in the name). One would need to be careful not to forces the lens close to the ground glass as it could break. One could insert a film holder to protect it but that would reduce the space available for a lens.

abruzzi · Jan 31, 2025

A couple of follow-ups:

- I just measured mine. Folded the total length is about 12.5 inches. Height (from the bottom of the tripod mount to the uppermost point) is 8 inches. Width is about 9 inches.

- I looked at the 150 I have in there, and looked online, and I'm afraid @Lachlan Young and @Focomatter are more correct than me. You can fit a 150 in there, but it has to be a small one. Mine is a Schneider Xenar 150/5.6 and it fits without removal. I know I've had a Schneider G-Claron 150/9 in there as well. But I think most plasmat's front element will be a bit too big.

EDIT: also just a side note I add another half inch to the height because I keep the bag bellows ounted to the rear standard where it acts as a mini dark cloth.

Sinar Norma Folded Dimensions

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