Recessed lensboard for 90mm lens

[Kenj8246]

What will be the effect(s), good and bad, of mounting a 90mm lens in a recessed board? I will use it on a Graphic View 4X5 view camera. I've already posted on largeformatphotography.info...no replies yet. 🙂

Kenny

 

[B-9]

I can't see it having much of any affect, except for possibly requiring a bit more bellows extension than if it was mounted on a standard lens board.

Might help in extreme close-ups, but Im pretty sure these recessed lens boards are made to compensate for a limited bellows extension, providing correct ffl.

Try it! Whats it gonna hurt 😉

 

[KM-25]

The good is you will be able to get more movements out of it as the bellows are less compressed and if you had trouble getting infinity before due to minimum bellows draw, this will help.

The bad is that the shutter speed and aperture dials on a standard copal 0 shutter will be harder to get to, you might need an angled shutter release extension and are more likely to get the front of the camera in the shot at infinity.

I'm not familiar with your specific camera though so maybe someone who is can elaborate and clarify ( Frank Petronio?)

 

[shortstop]

I have a linhof technica and a super angulon 90/8. Without recessed board it would be impossible to focus at infinity cause the bellows thickness. It's a bit difficult the regulation of time/diaphragm, but in LF there's no space to the rush. Angled shutter release extension is mandatory.

 

[Kenj8246]

...in LF there's no space to the rush. Angled shutter release extension is mandatory.

Indeed, it does make me slow down and I like that.

Kenny

 

[Moto-Uno]

That's probably exactly what I'm looking for too. Same lens also to go with my Busch Pressman D. If I can get infinity focus and still on the flatbed rails I'll be a happy camper.
Any idea how recessed the mounting flange would be? Peter

 

[Kenj8246]

The ones I've seen have a recess depth of 15-16mm.

 

[Nokton48]

I use recessed lensboards all the time, for the reasons listed above^

Sometimes I make my own, I enjoy metalworking and cobbling these together.

 

[Kenj8246]

I use recessed lensboards all the time, for the reasons listed above^

Sometimes I make my own, I enjoy metalworking and cobbling these together.

Have you ever attempted one that didn't require the use of an angled cable release? 🙂

Kenny

 

[mdarnton]

I can' say about your lens, but on my Graphic View II if I remember correctly, I can't focus to infinity with a flat board. If I remove the tripod mount and put it behind the back standard, allowing the front and back to move closer together, it gets better, but not quite enough for infinity. This isn't the worst thing in the world, but it is an inconvenience. A recessed board would also make it easier to use a little bit of movement.

I have a 90/5.6 Super Angulon and a 90/12.5 Wollensak. The SA is a real problem on a recessed board because the huge front makes seeing in the hole behind it an evil task, as is moving the settings. On the other hand, with the tiny Wollensak it's no problem at all.

With recessed boards it is often possible to align the shutter cockeyed so that you can use a normal cable release but not put it on or off. I wrap mine around the lens, keeping it attached when I am not using it.

 

[Dwig]

One downside to recessed boards is that the front standard's swing and tilt axis are displaced. Instead of simply pivoting around the swing or tilt axis, the lens will in effect also either rise/fall (with tilts) or shift left or right (with swings) in addition to the desired movement. This will move the image requiring some reframing after setting the movement.

 

[Nokton48]

Have you ever attempted one that didn't require the use of an angled cable release? 🙂

Kenny

Yes, Sure, but it depends on the lens and clearances within the board, and also, what will fit within the interior space of the camera. Also, how small are your fingers? 😀

I have a friend who trips the shutter with a bent nail.

 

[maddoc]

I have a linhof technica and a super angulon 90/8. Without recessed board it would be impossible to focus at infinity cause the bellows thickness. It's a bit difficult the regulation of time/diaphragm, but in LF there's no space to the rush. Angled shutter release extension is mandatory.

Hm ... I have a Technika IV and used to use a 90mm Super-Angulon with recessed lens-board but now use a Schneider Grandagon 90mm with a flat lens-board and no problems at all. The Grandagon would hardly fit into a recessed lens-board due to the shutter-size.

 

[Nokton48]

Here's one I just recently fabricated. The lens is a 135mm f5.6 Schneider Symmar (in a barrel; no shutter) and this fits on my three Plaubel Makiflex cameras. See my avatar. A Durst IXTUB recessed enlarger lenboard was fitted to a flat Peco Jr lensboard. Then the IXTUB was cut out to fit the Symmar. This works well and allows the use of short-focal length lenses on the Makiflexes. My fingers just fit it to change the f/stops.

 

[Kenj8246]

Yes, Sure, but it depends on the lens and clearances within the board, and also, what will fit within the interior space of the camera. Also, how small are your fingers? 😀

I have a friend who trips the shutter with a bent nail.

To say that I have fat fingers is a gross understatement. 🙁

 

[Nokton48]

Here's one that might work for you. Kinda 'spensive.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

 

[Kenj8246]

This one was a little less expensive and, I think, it's the same board: http://www.ebay.com/itm/141240874821?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

We'll see how it goes.

 

[Steve M.]

Like mdarnton, I was unable to compress the bellows enough to use my 90 lens and had to make a recessed board. The going prices for buying one of those at the time were too much for me. They're beautiful cameras, aren't they? I had one w/ a red bellows and one w/ a black bellows, both set on tripods in the living room. Nothing quite says "Film Photographer" like a big 'ol Graphic View. Unfortunately, in the living room is mostly where mine stayed as they were not fun to shoot in the field for me. I much preferred a Crown Graphic for it's lightness and ease of back packing. One of my Graphic View cameras had it's tube cut to make a stubby out of it for the 90 lens, but between the dark focusing screen at f8 and getting to that shutter on the recessed lens board I sold it.

Not a LF shooter, but if I were I liked the 127 Ektars. Nice sharp lens. The 203 Ektar I had was outstanding too, but again, it made focusing a little tedious due to the max aperture. Most everything I shot with LF was at infinity though.

 

[Kenj8246]

Steve, I may wind up deciding that 90 is a tad too wide for this Graphic View.

I briefly tried to focus at infinity with a standard board and, as you say, the bellows don't compress enough. Hence, the recessed board is on the way. I got the 90 f8 because the Ektar 127 off my Crown isn't wide enough for the project I'm working on now. These TX county courthouse squares are, generally, a little too tight for it. We'll see how it goes once I get the recessed lensboard in an mounted with the 90.

 

[Nokton48]

When I was shooting 4x5" commercial architecture for money, two of the most used lenses were the 120mm and the 90mm.