With the extremely low (relative) cost, I am thinking of picking up a Sinar P or P2 to use for macro and studio work, but I would like to be clear on a few things before I take the plunge. My goal is to use it for both 4x5 work, as well as with digital backs (only with telephoto and macro lenses... for wide use I have a tech cam). With Live View being as good as it is on modern CMOS backs, I'm not concerned with getting a sliding back or anything. I simply want to mount a DB on a 4x5 Sinar P and use some of my longer 4x5 lenses with it (I realize the results may not be amazing... but I want to try it! I do have some of the sharper 4x5 lenses available, such as the 135 Sironar-S and APO Ronar 300).
One of the options I was thinking of, was to manufacture or acquire an adaptor that could "receive" my existing Arca 6x9 plates for roll film and digital backs, and mount into the rear standard in place of the 4x5 Graflock back. I can't find an existing adaptor for this, but I have seen Arca 110mm lens board to Sinar lens board adaptors (or SK Grimes could make one fairly easily). What isn't clear based on images/literature I've been able to find is:
1. Is the size and style of the 4x5 graflock back identical to the Sinar lens board? I.e. could you put a standard Sinar lens board on the "back" of the camera in place of the graflock back?
2. Is the size of the Arca 6x9 plates that I have identical to the 110mm lens boards? I.e. if I had a Sinar lens board that could receive 110mm Arca boards, could I mount my DB adaptor plates to it instead of lens boards?
If this isn't possible (i.e. if the lens boards can't be mounted at the back), I have seen graflock plates to adapt to various camera mounts so I suppose it would be possible to find/make a graflock-sized plate that could receive either Arca 6x9 plates or DBs directly. Some searching led me to this one but it is quite costly. Is the graflock standard secure enough that there wouldn't be much or any play if I went that route?
One of the options I was thinking of, was to manufacture or acquire an adaptor that could "receive" my existing Arca 6x9 plates for roll film and digital backs, and mount into the rear standard in place of the 4x5 Graflock back. I can't find an existing adaptor for this, but I have seen Arca 110mm lens board to Sinar lens board adaptors (or SK Grimes could make one fairly easily). What isn't clear based on images/literature I've been able to find is:
1. Is the size and style of the 4x5 graflock back identical to the Sinar lens board? I.e. could you put a standard Sinar lens board on the "back" of the camera in place of the graflock back?
2. Is the size of the Arca 6x9 plates that I have identical to the 110mm lens boards? I.e. if I had a Sinar lens board that could receive 110mm Arca boards, could I mount my DB adaptor plates to it instead of lens boards?
If this isn't possible (i.e. if the lens boards can't be mounted at the back), I have seen graflock plates to adapt to various camera mounts so I suppose it would be possible to find/make a graflock-sized plate that could receive either Arca 6x9 plates or DBs directly. Some searching led me to this one but it is quite costly. Is the graflock standard secure enough that there wouldn't be much or any play if I went that route?