500mm Tele Xenar 13x18 Sinar Norma Homemade Bellows Supports

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51761484266_50d4fbbe26_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mRZ8VU)500mm Tele Xenar 13x18 Norma Homemade Norma Bellows Support (https://flic.kr/p/2mRZ8VU) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

The extra long 5x7 Norma Custom Bellows tends to sag a bit sometimes, so I built up a permanent solution. I cut down three Norma Auxiliary Standards, using my Little Machine Shop Electric Band Saw. I was left with an 6" long adjustable rectangular long piece, to which I drilled a hole on each end. Then I inserted large steel lag bolts with circular round tops, with lag nuts which can be adjusted quite a bit up and down. So this slides laterally/swings and has rise and fall as well, pretty adjustable.

I made three of these units, cleaning out my Norma parts box. Never throw anything like this away.

You can see the new unit just to the right of the Norma tripod block. Somebody removed all the green paint on this one it's black but still Norma

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51765892054_5347b7e60d_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mSnJdf)Homemade Sinar Norma Bellows Supports (https://flic.kr/p/2mSnJdf) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

The two green ones support my new extra long 5x7 bellows very well. I think this is a success

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51915809578_8fb382c861_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2n6C6t9)SONY DSC (https://flic.kr/p/2n6C6t9) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

David Maheu has been painting these canvases for photographers for forty years. This is 8x8 foot "Tim Kelly Beige" which is one of the most requested backgrounds. He is retiring this year so I thought I better get these made up while I can!
This will get a lot of use. I've followed Tim Kelly for thirty years + and I've wanted some cool backgrounds for my work

This is one of my 5x7 Normas and I've left the 500mm Tele-Xenar on it for a while. Looking forward to working with this lens as it warms up around here. If it ever does!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcPs6aiIOTD0aGxq2b4Qk4w#:~:text=Master%20Photo%20Techniques%20brings%20you,will%20remain%20a%20valuable%20asset.

[Greg]

Here's a Sinar bellows support that I acquired from the son of W Eugene Smith probably around 1980. Evidently it was fabricated for Smith by LIFE magazine for him to use when he was photographing an essay on Pittsburgh for LIFE. He actually used an 8x10 Norma to take some of the photographs. His son years ago wrote me that most people thought his father only used the 35mm format.

[Drew Wiley]

Interesting. But if this were for sake of just 4X5, and I wanted to go up to 750mm or so, I'd simply substitute my 28-inch (nominal) Horseman long bellows, which uses relatively thick material and doesn't seem to sag much at all compared to the Sinar box bellows. And is the case when I often shoot a Fuji 450 C, I simply use the original Norma tapered bellows, which does just fine by itself.

The other trick, instead of supporting from below, it simply to pull front above, with a velcro strip running from the susceptible point of the bellow to the front standard.
There are numerous potential cures, with those in the field prioritizing lighter weight methods.

[Daniel Unkefer]

Fair points with 4x5. Sometimes i go to 2x3 when exploring. The other way to do it on 5x7 and this lens, is the Technika 5x7 and I'd much rather use a monorail. I think it might be easier to balance the Norma but I have no experience with the Technikas. Overall weight is not too bad with this, but may stay close to the car when beginning out. The bigger holders are much more to carry for a distance

[Drew Wiley]

Well, with a 6X9 roll film back, even a 300 is approximately equivalent in angle of view to 450 on 4X5 film. Getting older, that's been a trick of mine homing on on distant crags and so forth on long mountain treks. The limiting factor with distance photography is atmospheric conditions anyway; so sometimes, in that case, there isn't even any advantage to larger sheet film. But of course, the nice thing is that one can carry some of both if needed.

People called me nuts when I opted for Sinar over both the Technika or a light 4X5 folder for serious backpacking use. But monorails are much easier to balance and support than a 4X5 Technika, and allow for much longer lenses without resorting to bulky telephotos, so actually end up weighing less over all (not the P system, of course). Going up to 5x7, a Technika is an outright Tank, while shifting up to 5X7 in a Norma probably only adds a kilogram, I'd guess (not counting extra filmholder weight, which would be equal either option). So overall, given how much easier it is to balance a Sinar, and how easy it is to control it without a redundant heavy separate tripod head, a much lighter if still solid tripod setup can be used in the field, greatly decreasing total carry weight. ... But not enough for my age now! I still carry a Norma in the pack for day hikes, but alas, resort to a little Ebony 4X5 folder on long treks.

[Daniel Unkefer]

Here's a Sinar bellows support that I acquired from the son of W Eugene Smith probably around 1980. Evidently it was fabricated for Smith by LIFE magazine for him to use when he was photographing an essay on Pittsburgh for LIFE. He actually used an 8x10 Norma to take some of the photographs. His son years ago wrote me that most people thought his father only used the 35mm format.

WOW That piece has some real panache and is a piece of collectable photographic history. If you are photographing steel mills and such why not use an 8x10 Norma? No better camera.

[Philippe Grunchec]

BTW, which filter size for the Tele Xenar 5.5/500?

[Daniel Unkefer]

BTW, which filter size for the Tele Xenar 5.5/500?

Hi Philippe,

According to my old original Schneider literature, it is 110mm which is mighty beeg. I tried a Sinar Norma 103mm glass disc and it almost press fits into the original Schneider hood. Or I'd put a gel filter 4x4" inside the camera, mounted onto the rear cell. Wouldn't be too hard to make something. Do they even make 110mm fiters?

[Philippe Grunchec]

Heliopan makes 105/1 filters!

[Daniel Unkefer]

Oh Hey,

Also Schneider specified Series filters for every Tele Xenar, excepting this one. Too big for series I guess!

[Philippe Grunchec]

I'm actually looking for a lens shade! Which thread size is it?
Thx in advance.

[Daniel Unkefer]

I'm actually looking for a lens shade! Which thread size is it?
Thx in advance.

My Schneider 500mm Tele-Xenar original hood is fused onto the front of my lens. At some point I will figure out what the deal is with it, and can measure the threads with calipers




https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52129623915_47a4087a4e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2nqvX2e)5x7 Norma XL Bellows Homemade Bellows Support (https://flic.kr/p/2nqvX2e) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

I bought a broken Bogen Studio Stand and removed a few choice pieces, threw the rest away. This is the 4x5" Accessory Tray, flipped and countersunk holes drilled with drill press. Attached new four inch bolts, washers, and cut down an adhesive foam sheet which supports the bottom of the bellows. A decent improvement over the original, this works perfectly with the Extra Long 5x7 Norma Bellows from Custom Bellows.

I'll use this with 8x10 and 5x7 XL Bellows and my longer LF lenses

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52129445568_012df1032f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2nqv31h)18x24 Norma No 2 XL Bellows Homemade Bellows Support (https://flic.kr/p/2nqv31h) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

18x24cm Norma Number Two, configured as a lighter weight location camera. Actually I got the idea, when my Wife and I were at the OSU Wexner Center, looking at giant mural sized prints by the dozen. Annie Leibowitz photographed the interior of Richard Avedon's equipment closet, I thought at the time it was an odd combo, F Front Standard, Norma 18x24 Rear Standard. Putting this together it seems to be a great location camera, easy to move around. This is the 360mm f5.6 Norma Mickey Mouse version so nice aperture automation, and with Norma, no need to go around to the front to set everything. This saves time in the field. Looking forward to taking this outside as I have time. Annie/Avedon inspired location camera! :)

Even with the normalish focal length 360mm Symmar, the XL Norma 8x10 Bellows benefits from the Homemade Bellows Support

[Rod Klukas]

It is 110mm as Daniel said, and no one really made this size. They used 5" Gels at that time of manufacture, in a holder most commonly.

There are 105mm and some 112mm filters around. Tiffen or Heliopan might make some custom ones for you. Sk Grimes might make you a 105mm adapter that should work as the lens is such a long focal length.

The lens at F22 has an image circle of 312mm at infinity at which time it requires 312mm of bellows draw.

Hope this helps
228127

Rod

[Rod Klukas]

One more addition. I said 5". They actually used 6" Gels in a magnetic holder. Burleigh Brooks sold all of this the 1950-60s.

228128

Hope this helps,

Rod

[Rod Klukas]

Did you know that the Oschwald bros, later Arca-Swiss, did the major design work on the Norma for Carl Koch of Sinar?

[Daniel Unkefer]

Did you know that the Oschwald bros, later Arca-Swiss, did the major design work on the Norma for Carl Koch of Sinar?

Good Morning Rod,

Yes I have heard now and then about the relationship between the Oschwald bros, and Carl Koch, I understand that Arca Swiss did produce the Norma parts for Sinar. It would be fascinating to me to hear more about this. Thanks for your comments :)

[Daniel Unkefer]

Here's a 500mm f5.5 Schneider Tele-Xenar update. My Compound #5 shutter locked up, so I took it to our local brick and mortar repair shop. MAC worked on it over three days, it was uber filthy inside. He was shocked by the consistency of the air mechanism. Almost perfect numbers, no variation at all. My clockmaker friend used to sing their praises over and over again. "Air pressure is incredibly constant" I remember hearing from him. Compound shutters are old but they are the best and most consistent over time.

My impression after a trip to MAC's spa: https://camtronicscamerarepair.com/

On 5x7 for closeups, several here have fairly recently raised an issue, of not being able to get ultra sharp results. My new Tele-Xenar is as good as it can be (I imagine) and it is absolutely razor sharp, with incredible fidelity, but like zero depth of field. I love the "retro look", like all my other Tele-Xenars, really exceptionally good. But not quite as saturated an image as some of my other lenses, I have noticed. Typical 1960's performance plenty good enough. I'm so glad I was able to get it cleaned down to the individual blade. Needed a good soaking too. Actually I love the thin DOF I think the bokeh is beautiful. Will shoot some 5x7 B&W studio stuff as I have time. But I know now that this is a great find and I'm so glad I grabbed it. My 360mm Tele-Xenars do not always have the telephoto pull I sometimes desire, so finding this is right up my alley.

And Wow the original lenshood was EPOXIED onto the front barrel. However I discovered by taking an old Hasselblad 40mm Bayonet Yellow, putting it backwards into the lenshood, it fits nearly tightly. Some Hollywood Gaffer Tape has secured the Zeiss 104mm inside the Schneider original hood. I'm pretty sure it's the correct hood. So now I can do filtered exposures with it, I have all the 40mm Distagon filters. Mac showed me the marks on the barrel from when he tried to remove the hood. LOL

I have six sheets of Fuji HRU XRAY 13x18cm Sinar Norma holders ready to shoot. I think I am going to love finally shooting 5x7 in earnest

[Daniel Unkefer]

Oh yeah. The 500mm Tele-Xenar has the same front threading size as the 165mm F8 Super Angulon, and the 360mm F5.6 Schneider Symmar. Mounting ring adapter required for the Schneider Hood is the model 3D. Wonder what that is in millimeters?