Sinar

Sinar AG is a Swiss company producing medium format and large format cameras (4"x5"/5"x7"/8"x10" formats), which allowed both the lens and the film back or sensor back to move in rotation or linearly in any direction (up/down, left/right, front back linearly, and pitch yaw tilt rotations), thus allowing precise image alignment corrections. The use of large film gave greater resolution than 35 mm or 6x6 (2 1/4" x 2 1/4") or 6x9 cm etc. medium formats. The cameras are thus often used in advertising, product and architectural photography, where correctly vertical vertical image lines and extra details are wanted.

The name SINAR is explained by the company itself as "Still, Industrial, Nature, Architectural and Reproduction photography" in the English version of the April 2011 press release.^[1]) Other versions of the names were also used, with the S for studio, sach, or science.

Founding

Swiss photographer Carl Hans Koch invented the Sinar camera in 1947 due to his dissatisfaction with the limited or imprecise nature of wooden view cameras (e.g. the large Kodak 3 and similar, and the popular Graphlex Graphic Graphlok series) and the limitations of technical (e.g., Linhof Technika) and field cameras of the day.^[2] His main aims were to produce a large format camera of high precision and simple operation, with a system of parts that were readily interchangeable. The Sinar system's versatility is based on the interchangeability of parts as well as a large number of accessories that have been produced over the years. Major components (rails, bellows, lensboards, and standards) made in the 1940s are still usable with currently manufactured Sinar equipment.

Originally in Feuerthalen (north of Zurich), Sinar moved its base of operations to Zurich after separating from Jenoptik in October 2009.

P-series

The Sinar P, introduced in 1970, had asymmetric tilts and swings, as opposed to the traditional center or base tilts.^[3] This permitted rapid and precise settings without losing sharpness on the axis.

The P series also introduced features such as self-arresting rack and pinion gearing and a precision-engineered quick format change system that allows the photographer to switch between 4x5/5x7/8x10 formats quickly without having to fully disassemble the rear standard. This was accomplished by using a common rear standard bearer and unlocking a single knob to switch among the various format frames. Another new feature implemented in the P series was the Sinar system of calculating swings and tilts as well as the Sinar depth of field calculator. A key feature of the Sinar P system, particularly in the domain of scientific and industrial photography, is the precise machine tolerances that are part of the fittings and movements.

F-series

The F series was the light-weight version ("F" for "Field"), offering less refined features than the P series. The weight difference is about 3.3 kg for the Sinar F 4x5 vs. 5.9 kg for the Sinar P 4x5.

The original Sinar F is easily identified by a brushed aluminum monorail and other aluminum accents, while the Sinar F1, F2, and F3 models were made of the same materials, but painted black. The Sinar F also has hard plastic knobs, versus the rubber-coated knobs of the F1 and F2.^[4]

The Sinar F and F1 models have a clip-on front standard (lens standard) that does not fully enclose the monorail. The advantage is that this standard can easily be removed from the rail by loosening the clamp and lifting straight up, unlike the rear standard, and it is somewhat lighter weight. The disadvantage of this design is that the rail clamping mechanism is susceptible to breakage if over-tightened.^[5] The Sinar F2 and F3 models have a different front standard, which completely encloses the rail and also provides a geared focus adjustment, similar to the rear rail clamp on all Sinar F models. The correct F2 standard can easily be identified as it is a mirror image of the rear standard. The earlier F/F1 front standard has a low-profile metal hinge below the rail.^[6]

The F2 and F3 models also came standard with a light-metering back, while this was an option for the F and F1 models.^[7] The F3 model is a digital/analog model that supports a variety of Sinar digital lenses and digital backs.^[8]

Accessories

Sinar has manufactured many accessories since its establishment:

A swing-out filter holder that allows the photographer to use a polarizing filter as well as 4x4 inch gel filters.

A 4x5 reflex attachment that employed an adjustable mirror for the best possible viewing of the image. Adapters (now discontinued) were made by Sinar to adapt this viewer to various other view camera makes such as Plaubel, Linhof, and Toyo.

The Zoom series of roll film backs, which allow the use of 120/220 film formats from 6x4.5 to 6x12 formats with excellent film flatness. The earlier versions of the Zoom film backs are usable on any 4x5 camera with an international (Graflok) back (later holders no longer have the Graflok grooves required).^[9]

The Sinar LCD shutter system enables their ccd camera backs to have a much extended density range in video mode for focusing capability in a wider range of ambient lighting. This system has been used in modified mode by RIT to obtain multispectral images suited to aging analysis of color pigments in artworks.

Integration of Canon and Nikon SLR cameras as camera backs onto the P standard with adaptors from fellow Swiss camera accessories manufacturer, Foba.

Self-cocking shutters, lens-independent, automatic, with built-in apertures.

Film plane metering probes and meters.

Digital backs for the high-end studio environments.

Representative products

• Sinar Norma: the original system camera, convertible from 4x5 to 5x7 and 8x10 formats.
• Sinar P/P2 (Perfection): introduced in 1970, forms the basis for current high-end cameras, convertible from 4x5 to 5x7, 8x10, and P3 formats.
• Sinar P3: digital, medium format view camera.
• Sinar F/F+/F1/F2 (Field): lighter and simpler, entry-level, 4x5 and 5x7 (F2) and 8x10 large format film view cameras.
• Sinar F3: entry-level, digital, medium format view camera.
• Sinar C/C2 (Combination) System camera that combines a P/P2 style rear standard with a F/F1/F2 style front standard—marketed as a less expensive alternative to the P/P2, but more features than the basic F series.
• Sinar X: camera that was a stripped down version of P2 in 4x5 format only.
• Sinar Alpina/A1: entry level view camera that had a unique flat but incompatible rail system with other Sinar cameras, also sold as the Zone VI monorail camera in the 1970s.
• Sinar Handy: "Point and shoot" 4x5 camera that used a 4x5 P format frame and ground glass back mounted on a handgrip, and used lenses mounted in focusing mounts.
• Sinar E: P2 that was connected to a computer, which calculated and carried out the movements for the photographer. This camera is very rare and sold at a cost of over US$30,000 in the early 1990s. Also E-shutters and E-shutter lenses, below.
• Sinar m: modular digital hand-held, auto-focus multi-format: medium format and 35 mm format camera (taking Zeiss or Hasselblad lenses in medium format, or Nikon lenses in 35 mm format), also adaptable to the Sinar P3 medium format view camera.
• Sinar Hy6: auto-focus, hybrid (film & digital), multi-format (6x6 and 6x4.5) camera, developed between Sinar and Franke & Heidecke (the company that continued the manufacture of Rollei cameras after Rollei had stopped doing so. Not to be confused with the original company of that name, which later evolved into the Rollei company.). The Hy6 camera and assessories are now produced by DHW Fototechnik GmbH.
• Sinar-approved Sinaron lenses: made in partnership with Rodenstock, Germany.
• Sinar camera backs 22, 23(H), 44, 54 (M, MC, H), 75 H, eVolution, eMotion22, 75,86,86H,eXact and live video (LV) options, (H defines it as piezo crystal controlled multishot which also includes the eXact with 1, 4(uninterpolated),4 (double res),and 16 shot exposure modes).
• Sinar arTec specialist architectural film/digital panoramic camera with tilts also used for interiors and landscapes with 28 mm lens.
• Sinar P2/3 adaptation for Canon and Nikon digital SLR mounting using sinar CPL lens (also nikon/hasselblad lens).
• Sinar eShutter system for remote aperture/shutter control, focus/sharpness zone determination, and exposure metering and calculation.
• Sinar RePro system for overhead/copystand operation.
• Sinar CTM system (Color To Match) multispectral dual-pass filter solution for accurate color reproduction. Technical correspondence to the visible spectrum in the range of 390 – 700 nanometers in collaboration with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester, USA.

Gallery

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  Viewing through a Sinar F camera.

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  Sinar P (4×5")

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  Sinar DCS465

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  The 33 MP Sinar eVolution 75 medium format digital back

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  Sinar Hy6

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sinar cameras.

• Official website
• Pascal's Rolleiflex Pages Information on the Rolleiflex 6008 AF, Rolleiflex/Sinar Hy6, and Leaf AFi camera systems.
• Foba slr view camera adaptors Information on the Sinar view camera mounting for Canon and Nikon SLRs.
• Sinar Spare Parts Catalogues Manuals of parts and adjustments for Sinar large format cameras.
• Current production of HY6 camera