lens focusing

Moto-Uno

Moto-Uno
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Jan 3, 2011
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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
 
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.
 
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
 
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 :D), 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).
 
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
 
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