DIY Sinar Norma Handy 4x5 Photos

OK I've just developed some 4x5 Graphmatic photos, that included superwide shots of my new set with the portrait lighting I've been working on. I like it, HP5+ pushed 1 or two stops. Also same with TMax400, EI 1600 can be achieved with good detail. And the MiniMe Softbox was my standard Wedding setup for grab and gos. I will be printing these soon.

I use an 8x10 Unicolor Print Drum, spinning on a Unicolor Uniroller. I just bought a couple more drums so now I have four that all work good. And I can run 9x12/4x5 in my JOBO Multitank 4 or Multitank5. So I'm getting to the point where I can run a fair amount of film and develop it quickly with quality
 
Thanks Zuiko-logist 🙂

I am busy cleaning my darkroom and film loading area. I use a Dyson V7 vacuum to clean the film holders. I just bought a second used V7, and a couple of spare new fresh original Dyson batteries. Good vacuum but the lithiums can kinda be a PITA. Hence the spares.

I have six Graphmatic 4x5 Backs I intend to load with fresh Ilford HP5+, and Kodak TMax 400. Rating the film at 1600 EI, and developing it as EI 3200 per Ilford specs. Getting some luscious looking negs from D23 1:1. Got another 8x10 Unidrum coming, and I went to Harbour Freight, and picked up five pack of black bungees. Cut up one of those and they make great "rubber thing" inside the 8x10 Unidrum. Keeps the sheets from "walking over" onto each other, which can be really aggraving. The "rubber thing" is seldom with the Unidrums when you buy them used, so you have to make your own. Which is actually super easy to do yourself. I wouldn't use the Unidrum without the "rubber thing" with 4x5.
 
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Thanks Canyongazer. I'm about ready to start really using this thing. I have six Graphmatics, just ordered another hundred sheets of HP5+. Also plenty of 4x5 Graphic type Holders. EI 1600 is not a stretch at all, being 4x5 the amazing detail is there. The 65mm F8 does NOT completely cover the 4x5 edges, you can see the edges of the circle. Similar in "look" to the F3.4 Leica Super Angulon on an M Leica, just scaled up (Swiss) 9x12 style. EI 1600 opens up the use of the camera, at lower EI's it really severely limits the use of the camera, hence my hesitancy getting started with it. At 1600 I can handhold it in most ambient situations. Using the MiniMe Inflated Softbox with the 283 gives me 100 joules of flash which with 1600 should be plenty enough? The box improves the light used close-up.

This makes a good knockabout lightweight Press Camera. People approach and want to talk about it. Especially Photographers 🙂
 
It hasn't occured to me until now to consider pushing two stops, Fomapan 200. Yet I have an unopened box of 9x12cm (that covers the lens circle perfectly) which I bought from FotoImpex in Germany a few years ago. I have a pile of 9x12 boxes from them, five or six flavors to try out. But 800 Speed 9x12cm Foma200 would definitely "look" different from pushed two stops TMX400 and HP5+. I've been shooting a hundred foot roll of HP5+ fresh, exposing at 1600 and developing to 3200, per the box instructions. Looks damn good and so much better in large format
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I have a lot of Sinar Norma 9x12 Graphic Holders, and some Kewl vintage Arca Swiss 9x12cm sheet film holders. Even some 9x12cm Linhof Glass Plate Holders, which I haven't used yet.

I need to put new batteries in my Dyson V7's, to clean everything out, and get these six holders loaded. I bought sized plastic bags on Amazon to hold the loaded Graphmatics. So starting to get there. Six holders fit in the Swedish Medical Bag very incognito
 
I've been dusting and loading holders, and I'm about ready to start going out. I've loaded outdated TMAX400, outdated HP5+, fresh TMAX400, and fresh HP5+. And some outdated 9x12cm FOMA 200 (will push two stops). Everything loaded into 4x5 Graflex Graphmatics, perfect for Sinar Norma Handy camera. They should have offered this camera back in the day, but they didn't. But they did offer -some- of the pieces. Twenty years ago I snagged the Norma 65mm F8 Helical on rare original Norma cone board, Forty Bucks at MPEX. Helical is scaled in feet, not meters. I have pasted a hyperfocus chart for the 65 f8 SA, on the back of each Graphmatic. This would make a good Paparazzi camera, using it would raise attention everywhere. Fun ahead. Went to World of Used Photography, they have MOVED into a new warehouse sized facility, like 10X bigger than their old place. Bought another outdated box 50 sheets 4x5 TMAX400, I just paid $200 for a new box from B&H. Good to have both. Cost me Thirty Bucks Yay! 🙂
 
SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Sinar Norma Handy ready to go. On the back is the rare Sinar Norma Monocular Rubber Bellows, with the Norma Monocular Viewer. With a short locking cable release, I can view through the lens if I need to. I can also insert Sinar Norma 4x5 Meter Cassette, with Sinarsix, deadly accurate TTL metering eliminates a lot of exposure variables, some of which can compound. So uber versatile. The strap is a 1.5" Domke Black Gripper, the strap lugs are Pentax 6x7, I drilled and taped the Norma Auxiliary Frame. Devil Cal on RFF kindly supplied the stainless steel bolts holding the strap lugs. I bought the Graflex XL Grip (Norma used this) from Glenn Evans, I'm not using the Grip for now. I can nicely handhold this all day long
 
4x5 Sinar Norma Handy 65mm f8 SA Viv365 C Cell Pack by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is my Sinar Norma Handy, built by me from Parts Box Vintage original Norma Helical Mount for 65mm F8 Chrome Super Angulon Compur. Vivitar 365 with C Cell Pack fully operating. The camera is complete ready to shoot, I have three left in this 4x5 Graphmatic. The 365 has the power I need for handheld 4x5 Wide Angle Tripod. I will embellish with XTC Mini Inflatable Softbox soon. I have six loaded 4x5 Graphmatics with HP5+ and TMax400, as a side by side test.
 
Geez, I love this thread. I commented on it back when you started it a few years ago. I shot 4x5 and 8x10 field cameras a long time ago. I miss them but I do not miss the bulk and the weight. These cameras are simply superb. Great stuff.
 
Sinar Norma Handy 65mm F8 HP5+ Graphmatic D23 Replenished Kingwood by Nokton48, on Flickr

Second run of 4x5 HP5+ processed in Combiplan D23 Replenished One Liter. 12 minutes at 72F Inversion 10 secs/minute. Sinar Handy 4x5 HP%= EI 250 65mm F8 Schneider 65mm F8 Lens Helical. 4x5 Graphmatic makes for good hand holding. Mr. Peacock was very squacking posing moved in for a close-up also. Indeed Quite Handy, they named it right. Darned fun to shoot with too. Looking forward to making some 8x10's of these four. Sinar Handy passes the test A+++. BTW you can see the corners all four in these negs. This camera works better with 9x12cm film, it dosen't quite cover 4x5 IMO. Luckily I have a good amount of 9x12cm holders ready to go also. And I love using the Combiplan, I use daylight inversion, turn out the lights, pull the cover, then into rinse tank, then fix tanks. Lights on at that point. And it holds one Liter so I can try all sorts of developers besides D23. PMK+ was my olde go to with HP5 and HP5+. Easy to do with Combiplan.
 
Sinar Norma 4x5 Handy Super BubbaPack HV Battery Handy Bubble Level by Nokton48, on Flickr


A Friend built me this "Super BubbaPack" high voltage rechargeable Battery, for my Vivitar 365 Flash Units. Recycles LIKE NOW, no delay. This fires automatic exposure thyristor out to SEVENTY FEET, good for any situation, really. Shown on my homemade Sinar Norma Handy. My latest embellishment on the Handy, is a modern Sinar Handy Bubble Level/Mirror Unit, attached atop the Mamiya 7 43mm Viewfinder. Useful for "Hail Mary" shots, not looking through the viewfinder. Initial test shooting coming up soon.
 
Thanks Glenn2.

I have now switched to my Schneider Center Filter For 65mm F8, I have to use it two stops down according to Schneider, and it has a filter factor as well. Schneider used to mark their Center Filters for their specific lenses. I also have the 75mm F8, 90mm F8, 90mm F5.6, 75mm F5.6 all marked specifically for each lens. These filters do even out the corners a bit, but some like the darked edges. And of course, they DO NOT improve the sharpness in the corners 🙂 Which is Ok with me.

To shoot handheld, the more film speed, the better. I'm trying 4x5 HP5+ fresh, some expired, and Kodak 4x5 TMax400. Also other 9x12 and 4x5 cut film (cut by me). Also FOMA200 push processed to gamma infinity might be usuable, I have found some good examples on the Internet.
 
Sinar Norma Handy Test 65mm F8 No 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Sinar Norma Handy Test 65mm F8 No 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Sinar Norma Handy 4x5 Test Ilford HP5+ 65mm F8 Super Angulon at Fll. Kingwood Gardens Mansfield Ohio, waiting for the Solar Eclipse to occur. HANDHELD camera focused hyperfocally. The cosine effect causes corners to be darker, could be improved with my 65mm F8 Schneider Center Filter. Silver image 8x10 print Omega DII 180mm Rodagon laser aligned, Arista #2 RC paper processed in Dektol 1:2. Print copied with Sony Nex 7 30mm Nex Macro Lens.
 
Sinar Norma Handy Test 65mm F8 No 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Sinar Norma Handy Test 65mm F8 No 4 by Nokton48, on Flickr


Sinar Norma Handy 4x5 Test Ilford HP5+ 65mm F8 Super Angulon at Fll. Kingwood Gardens Mansfield Ohio, waiting for the Solar Eclipse to occur. HANDHELD camera focused hyperfocally. The cosine effect causes corners to be darker, could be improved with my 65mm F8 Schneider Center Filter. Silver image 8x10 print Omega DII 180mm Rodagon laser aligned, Arista #2 RC paper processed in Dektol 1:2. Print copied with Sony Nex 7 30mm Nex Macro Lens.
 
Mansfield Sinar Handy 4x5 TMX400 65 F8 SA no CF by Nokton48, on Flickr

Greenhouse during trip to see solar eclipse. TMX400 4x5 Sinar Norma Homemade Handy 65mm F8 Schneider Super Angulon focused hyperfocally. Handheld no Center Filter. 4x5 Graphmatic Back. Processed in 4x5 Combiplan Tank Inversion Agitation HC110B Replenished. Skier 4x5 Box Full Power Sony Nex7 50mm Touit Zeiss 2.8/50M.
 
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