Sinar Standard

[Darryl Roberts]

Hi, do you know if this is an F2 standard that can be used as a middle standard?

Re: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SINAR-CAME...2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

 

[abruzzi]

I'm far from an expert, but it looks like an F (not F2) becuase of the silver trim. It also looks like a rear standard because it has a focusing knob (the F only had fine focus on the rear.) Also the F front had a different base that could hinge out of the way. I know the Norma had a special standard that was really only for supporting bellows and special type setups, but I don't know if they had the same thing for the F. That said, since the stardards have the same mount on both sides, I'm 95% sure you could use it as a middle standard to join two bellows.

 

[abruzzi]

I did a quick check of the "catalogs" and it looks like there was a intermediate standard for the F series. Actually there were three standards:

I is the normal front standard, II is the rear stanrard, and III only does rise and fall and is the usual middle standard. The one in your link is a II, but it can be used like a III if you like.

 

[juan]

It says it’s the rear standard. On my P, I use a regular front standard from an F as the intermediate. I think any of them will work, but the multipurpose is probably lighter.

 

[Darryl Roberts]

Thank you all. My current setup is a black F2

 

[lantau]

I have the 437.31 auxiliary standard for my F2. Not a perfect colour match, but looks good enough. I'm usually using it as part of a full compendium. An advantage is probably less weight and the fact that the rider for the rail does open up. You can click it on the rail anywhere:

If you want to use it for large extensions, requiring two bellows, you can place it on the rail between the two principal standards without having to slide one of these of the rail, first.

 

[Darryl Roberts]

How about this one as a middle standard?

Multipurpose Rear Standard for SINAR F2 4x5 large format camera | eBay

All functions are working normally, however the spirit levels are dry.

www.ebay.com

 

[lantau]

How about this one as a middle standard?

Multipurpose Rear Standard for SINAR F2 4x5 large format camera | eBay

All functions are working normally, however the spirit levels are dry.

www.ebay.com

That's a full read standard. Although there is 'bigger' one, which allows for focal plane exposure measurements.

IMHO, it'll be a little cumbersome to work with. Here's a photo of my auxiliary standard, which explains what I mean:



You can put that on top of the rail at any position. It will click onto it, then close the bracket at the bottom and tighten up the screw. The other standards can only slide onto the rail from each end.

Hope that helps.

 

[abruzzi]

the standards that have the flip-off clamp on the bottom are mostly F not F2 standards since many people had issues with that design and with the F2, Sinar fully enclosed the front standard (I'm guessing Sinar still used the flip open clamps for the middle standard.) And even the the world of F standards, it is only front and middle standards had that flip off design.

It important thing to remember is any standard will do the job of the middle standard, its just a matter of what features the standard has, and as a result, what it weighs. If you want the 437.31 true middle standard, they are pretty uncommon, but look for a F or F2 standard that don't have the tilt lock:

 

[lantau]

the standards that have the flip-off clamp on the bottom are mostly F not F2 standards since many people had issues with that design and with the F2, Sinar fully enclosed the front standard

My suggestion was strictly for the use as an auxiliary standard. I.e. as a support for long extensions and for use as a compendium. Just in case this wasn't clear.

My front and rear standard are the fully enclosed version with focusing drive, each.

My auxiliary one is the version with all movements, which comes in handy when using the compendium in combination with movements on the principal standards.

 

[abruzzi]

Makes sense. I have a couple of the Norma aux standards, and they are flimsy. I think any of the F/F2 standards would be more robust than them, since even the III standard was designed to support a lens (in the C1 camera.)

 

[Ron789]

It's a rear standard but you can use it perfectly fine as a middle standard. I've done this.

 

[JL Nims]

Yup. Rear. Same one as I have.

 

[DREW WILEY]

You can use it as an intermediate standard if you wish. But the ordinary middle standard, marketed as such, was just the cheaper original F front standard with the simplified and less durable style clamp, minus focus ability. Later F2 standards had longer rise rods and separate swing and shift locks.

I never use one, since I have a Horseman long bellows for up to 28 inches by itself, more resistant to sag than the Sinar box bellows, as well as the original Norma tapered bellows suitable to about 20 inches of extension by itself.

 

[lantau]

You can use it as an intermediate standard if you wish. But the ordinary middle standard, marketed as such, was just the cheaper original F front standard with the simplified and less durable style clamp, minus focus ability. Later F2 standards had longer rise rods and separate swing and shift locks.

I never use one, since I have a Horseman long bellows for up to 28 inches by itself, more resistant to sag than the Sinar box bellows, as well as the original Norma tapered bellows suitable to about 20 inches of extension by itself.

My problem with the box bellows is that they allow hardly any movement with a normal lens. In my case a Fujinon 150. On Sunday I needed some shift to look upwards and fit a small chapel into the frame, and the bellows blocked. Had to use the wide angle bellows, again.

But the camera does look nice with the box bellows, at least.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Well, the older original tapered Sinar Norma bellows is a lot more deluxe and versatile, if you can find one in good condition. They're fully interchangeable with all later F, P, and X series 4x5 cameras. It is possible to have one custom made by Custom Bellows in the UK.

 

[el_37]

You can technically use any Sinar standard as an intermediate standard but the original F front standard or the later F1 front standard are the preferred ones since you don't have to remove the other standards to mount it on the rail.

The Sinar nomenclature can get real confusing real fast. As seen in those catalog scans the various standards can have 2 or even 3 different names that are all the same i.e Multipurpose Standard 1, F front Standard and C front standard are the exact same thing...