A New View of the View Camera by Carl Koch

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53097471629_0260739569_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oU3qqM)New View Sinar Norma 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2oU3qqM) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53097690590_05bb3116cd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oU4xvY)New View Sinar Norma 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2oU4xvY) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53097287866_01c22bbb12_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oU2tNs)New View Sinar Norma 3 (https://flic.kr/p/2oU2tNs) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

ENJOY. :)

[neil poulsen]

The one thing that he left off of his list of design characteristics was compactness, which could so easily have been achieved, had Sinar made a 6" base rail. They made 6" expansion rails, but never a 6" base rail. See the following . . .

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/sinar-f-4x5-as-a-viable-field-camera.172997/

The "F" in Sinar F stood for field. But, one could never have conveniently fit that camera into a backpack.

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52222110706_e670893d10_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2nyFY85)18x24 Mammo Shortie Sawed Off Norma (https://flic.kr/p/2nyFY85) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

This is a test shot (my Shorty Norma) French Kodak 18x24cm Mammo Film, processed in D23 1:1. Taking camera is my new Annie/Avedon inspired 8x10 Norma. I applied 30 degrees of front and rear swing, the Norma original recessed lensboard is sharp all the way across the field. I like how the DOF drops off with the 360mm f5.6 Norma Symmar. There appears to be highlight blooming, which I find kind of attractive. Best thing about this film was that it was not at all expensive. And I have a lot of it

My "Shorty Sawed-Off Norma" has a basic rail cut down, to just accomodate a 120mm lens. Here it is shown with the 47mm f8 Super Angulon, which I am looking forward to using a lot with 2x3 and 6x9. This is not a telephoto camera, but I can easily lift and carry it with one hand without strain. The lowly lightweight Star-D tripod is sturdy enough with this setup, given proper time to settle down. I cut both ends off a basic Norma rail with my Lil Machine Shop Bandsaw. So it is now simply a hollow tube perfect length for Field and Architecture. I'd take this rig over a wooden field camera IMO. Radical camera movements are easily possible. Accessories are abundant. Weight cut down to bare minimum. Really shines with 2x3 and 6x9. Does all I need to do with 4x5 wide. Really light to carry around, can carry it one-handed. Normas are priced across the board, I paid a lot for my first one. Bargains are around too :)

This is a later model Norma, it doesn't need the locking levers on the focus mechanism. I like using both versions, actually. And I like Drew's wastebasket trick, carrying a long camera without collapsing it. I carry my 8x10 mounted to the tripod, with a soft pillow on my shoulder. And a bag of very heavy 8x10 holders and stuff.

[Daniel Unkefer]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50215750598_bba6b2a804_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jvoRaq)4x5 5x7 8x10 Normas (https://flic.kr/p/2jvoRaq) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Third Norma Shutter came back repaired today. So you can see I have an original Sinarsix TTL on each of my three field Normas; the 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10.

I use Wein Adapters in the Norma Sinarsixes. Amazingly they ALWAYS seem to work absolutely flawlessly, even after sixty years or so! The Gossen Profisix was the European version of the luna Pro, which is the basis of the SINARSIX.

BTW the Sinarsix can go onto any 4x5, 5x7, or 8x10 View Camera. Deadly accurate TTL spot metering :)