Originally Posted by
Frank Petronio
The pop-up metal focusing hood made for the Graflex 4x5 Crown and Speed Graphic cameras that used a Graflock back can be removed and inserted into the OLDER Sinar Norma, Handy, and early F- and P-series "International" backs. They have springs that hold them in place. The compatible Sinar backs have a notched recess that allows the photographer to operate the latch on the focusing hood. This recess is in the middle of the frame around the ground glass of the back.
In the photo, I have the back from an older camera mounted onto what is the equivalent of a current Sinar F2. Once Sinar made black versions of the cameras, they removed the Graflex notch.
Note that you may want to use a longer "hood" loupe to fit inside the focusing hood. Wista makes a 7x one that is nice, also Horseman makes a nice one, both are over $100 USd. Toyo makes a 4x one for about $45. I prefer the 7x.
The old Crown Graphic focusing hoods appear on eBay from time to time, they sell for $20 to $80 depending on luck. You can also buy a Crown Graphic, keep the hood, and sell the rest of the camera as it is still usable and some people do not like these hoods. I think they are great and have even adapted Linhofs to use the metal hoods in preference to the less robust leather-sided Linhof versions.
Even if you don't like the hoods, they do a good job of protecting the ground glass.
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