Shooting overhead (90 degree angle) with Sinar F1?

[voy]

Hello everyone,

I am not sure if this has been asked here before (and in such case - please accept my apologies).

I'm pretty new to large format photography and I'm looking for the safest way possible to shoot overhead (90 degree angle) with a Sinar F1. I've been trying to tilt-shift the Sinar but it makes it really difficult to focus, and it's not really what I'm looking for.
An extremely sturdy tripod + boom perhaps? Any recommendations are welcome.

[Dan Fromm]

If you want to point the camera straight up, get a tripod that will point it straight up. Then get a reflex finder or viewer. To learn more about reflex finders, see http://www.bnphoto.org/bnphoto/LFN/ReflexFinders1.html

[LabRat]

Sinar has a mirror that mounts on rail, and angles 45° down...

Your best bet...

Steve K

[Pieter]

Depends on how high above your subject you need to be. A boom arm and counterweight could work but if it is too long or not sturdy enough it could introduce vibrations that will take forever to stop. A shorter arm on a tripod works well for distances less than 6 ft or so. You might look into making something with metal rails or pipe, too.

212047

[voy]

Depends on how high above your subject you need to be. A boom arm and counterweight could work but if it is too long or not sturdy enough it could introduce vibrations that will take forever to stop. A shorter arm on a tripod works well for distances less than 6 ft or so. You might look into making something with metal rails or pipe, too.

212047

Thank you, what tripod is this? It doesn't need to be that high but this is pretty much what I've been looking for.

[Tin Can]

I tried 4 copy stands, some here http://www.glennview.com/copy.htm I even made a copy of Glenn's MP3 mods

In the end I found an old Arkay Studio stand (https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1518017) bought for $100 worked best for me

Lighting is a big issue, as is precise adjustment of all elements

I spend a lot of time going up and down my 8' ladder, adjusting everything

A big enlarger may work, but they have big limitations

[Daniel Unkefer]

I built this Sinar Norma Copy Stand, which uses all original Norma parts. It works well enough that i decided to dedicate a Norma to be permanently set up just for this use.
A Norma Reflex Attachment completes the outfit. All works very well and is getting use.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50218932288_231d780e0f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jvF9Y9)Norma #4 Copy Stand Finally Together (https://flic.kr/p/2jvF9Y9) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

[Drew Bedo]

Several years ago I wanted to do some table top set ps with a vertical or overhead view.

It was awkward to arrange with my gear and in our dining room.

I went on th-bay and got a Spiratone mriior attachment. Screwed right onto the filter threads of my lens.

Worked well enough.

[Tin Can]

I used mine yesterday

[Bernice Loui]

More specific info needed.

90 degrees could mean copy stand. This could be easily accompanied in a number of ways.

If 90 degrees on the horizontal plane or similar, Sinar made three mirrors that fit into the standard frame from 4x5 to 5x7. One is a front surface mirror that fits into the 4x5 frame. This mirror allows images reflected into the lens to be recorded.

The other two are semi reflective, one fits the 4x5 frame, the other fits the 5x7 frame. These semi reflective mirrors allow composite reflected images to be recorded.

See page 16 in this Sinar catalog.
https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00848/00848.pdf


Bernice

[rdenney]

I used an F/F2 pointed straight down to make this photo. I used a bit of rise on the front standard to move the field of view far enough to avoid the tripod legs. The tripod was a big Manfrotto (3036 legs, I think) with a Sinar tilt head. The legs were not extended, but the 90mm lens could find them anyway.

I was in the attic room of a house built in the 1740’s on an island off Cape Cod, and it was hot. The biggest challenge was not dripping sweat on the ground glass and the loupe.

Movements took a long time to get right, with a bit of tilt and swing both to align the focal plane to the edges of the steps.

https://www.rickdenney.com/Island/stairs_lores_bw.jpg

The takeaway for general application is the use of front rise to avoid the tripod feet.

Rick “15-second exposure or something like that” Denney

[Tin Can]

Great image Rick!

[Dugan]

I made a copy stand from an old DeJur enlarger (which I got on craigslist for $20) by removing the head, which was held on by a 1/4-20 bolt.
Too bad DeJur left the photo equipment industry to get into the Soup business. :rolleyes:

[Pieter]

Thank you, what tripod is this? It doesn't need to be that high but this is pretty much what I've been looking for.
It is a Gitzo 2530 with a Manfrotto 131 Lateral Arm and a 10-lb sandbag counterweight. The Gitzo 3-series is sturdier and would be better if you need to go higher. If I need more height instead of extending the legs more, I will put the tripod on a low platform made of a 3/4" plywood on top of 4 apple boxes.