lens focusing

[Moto-Uno]

I'm wondering if someone can tell me the pros&cons of front element lens focusing(my Mockva-5) vs whole lens element focusing,re Retina and Yashica GSN.Both types take good images (or is it the film acreage of the Mockva-5).Any info about these optical arrangements would be appreciated!!
Regards,Peter

 

[mbisc]

There are no pros for front-cell focusing. They are a compromise, and are calculated to have "optimal" performance at just one distance. Many of the 120 folders (and others) from the 1950s were optimized for family snapshots (i.e. about 10-30 ft).
Given my experience with this issue on the same camera/lens combination -- I have both front-cell and unit focusing versions of the 35mm Contessamat -- I try to not get front-cell focusing cameras anymore, and it is a big reason why I never got into the Zeiss Ikon folders, and instead have the Voiglander Bessa II and Kodak Medalist II as my 120 cameras.

 

[Moto-Uno]

I'm getting the impression that the pictures from my my Moskva-5
cameras ,as seen on the enlarger table, are acceptable mainly due to the
image size (and hence reduced enlargement).
Would there be some preferable f stop these lens might give their best
potential image at? The distances are doable(is that a word?)
Regards,Peter

 

[mbisc]

I'm guessing your Moskva is a Zeiss Ikon-clone, with a Tessar-clone lens. Assuming the folks in QC had a good day when your Moskva was put together (and it sounds like they did 😀), you probably want to shoot it mostly at f8, and at distances in the range I described above -- neither close range nor infinity, but somewhere in mid-range (think group shots when the family was travelling).

 

[Moto-Uno]

Interesting you should say this,as my memory serves me this is pretty well with in the f stop and distance that the photos I've liked
fall within.They don't seem to have the "IQ" that I see in my Medalist !,but boy it's a lot easier to carry that Mockba-5 than that Kodak block.
Regards,Peter