Advantages of Sinar Shutter f4 v f5.6

[Colin D]

I'm about to buy a Sinar Shutter for my Horseman which is on a plane somewhere over the Pacific hopefully avoiding any cyclones. Is there any substantial benefit in the f4 over the f5.6?

I have two barrel lenses, Dynar 180mm & Ross Xpress 305mm, but may get others later to use for still life and protraits.

Any thoughts.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

The f4 version allows you to use f4 or faster DB mounted lenses like a 90mm f4.5 at full aperture. It offers no advantage for barrel lenses as the opening is the same size as the f5.6 version.

[Colin D]

Thanks Jason, excuse my ignorance, DB mounted lenses, I believe they are Sinar but what does DB stand for?

[pierre506]

Sinar DB lens only has aperture but without shutter & aperture control. So it needs Sinar Auto shutter.
Your barrel lenses just need the shutter function of Sinar Auto shutter. Don't care of F4 or F5.6, please. F5.6's may be cheaper.

[Bernice Loui]

The f4 Sinar shutters tend to sell for a bit more even when they are basically the same as the f5.6 shutter. The f4 indicator shutters are less common than the f5.6.
The indicator is different for f4 Sinar DB lenses. If you're using this shutter with barrel lenses, there is no functional difference.


Bernice

I'm about to buy a Sinar Shutter for my Horseman which is on a plane somewhere over the Pacific hopefully avoiding any cyclones. Is there any substantial benefit in the f4 over the f5.6?

I have two barrel lenses, Dynar 180mm & Ross Xpress 305mm, but may get others later to use for still life and protraits.

Any thoughts.

[Phil Hudson]

I believe that DB is an abbreviation for the German word "Druckblende" - meaning in this context something like "shutter and aperture unit".......

[Armin Seeholzer]

for the German word "Druckblende" - meaning in this context something like "shutter and aperture unit".......

It means just the f - stop mechanismen and in german it is as you stated Druckblende which would sound pressure f- stop
If its a DBM the M stands for manual because there are lenses which go up to f 64 but the sinar shutter control only goes up to 45 so for f 64 you have to take it by the lens ring up to f 64.

Cheers Armin

[Steven Tribe]

The sinar/copal shutter is a brilliant solution for being able to use character barrel lenses.

You might look for the older "green" type - made for the Norma model - which is minus the side aperture adjustment device which just adds extra weight.
They are super on tailboard type cameras too, where the front standard and end bellows can be fixed up with fixing devices.

[Larry Gebhardt]

What cameras can the Sinar Shutters be mounted on? I always assumed it was just Sinars, but it sounds like Horseman as well?

[Ken Lee]

DB-Mounted lenses work directly with the Sinar Shutter. They hook up automatically. You set the aperture, not on the lens, but on a large dial at the side of the shutter. With DB-mounted lenses, you can operate everything from behind the camera: there is no need to walk to the front to close or open anything. No need to cock the shutter, because it is self-cocking. You can preview depth of field by gently squeezing the cable release: Otherwise, the lens stays wide open for best focus and viewing.

That being said, using barrel mounted lenses with a Sinar shutter is wonderful. From 1/60 down to 8 seconds, accurately timed. Just remember that with barrel-mounted lenses, the shutter needs to be set at the widest aperture or it won't fire. If you get yours and wonder why it's not working, that's probably the reason. I've stumbled over this too many times to admit.

You've opened the door to experimenting with a wider variety of more-affordable lenses: not only the old softies but also really sharp ones like APO Nikors, Ronars, etc. and they all have many-bladed apertures.