Large format Calumet 4x5 - do I need a recessed lensboard?

moomike

moomike

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Hi all,

I am now the proud owner of an old Calumet view 4x5 view camera & 150mm lens - I had thought it was the ordinary version & was under the impression that I would need a recessed board for wider angle lenses but after researching the subject, I have found that the standard bellows is a 16" extension whereas I have just checked & mine is only 12" (refrain from comments please :) I was wondering at which focal length one would be necessary for my camera & how short a focal length I could get away with without needing the recessed board?

Cheers in advance to anyone that may have any ideas/can offer any help :thumbs:
 
What is the minimum distance you can obtain between the focal plane and the rear nodal point of your lens when the front and rear standards are as close together as they will go?

An easier ( not quite so accurate, but will give a good idea ) way to measure is from the lensboard( a standard flat one) to the groundglass.

The focal length of a lens requires the same amount of distance from its rear nodal point to the film plane to allow infinity to be in focus.

If the distance is too long then infity focus is impossible.

By mounting the lens in a recessed board, the rear nodal point / lens is situated closer to the film plane thus effectively reducing that said distance.

if you want to mount and obtain infinity focus ( without any movements ( tilt for eg) , a 90mm lens will need 90mm distance , similarly, a 65mm lens will need 65mm distance.

Could do with some of the more experienced LF guys helping you with this tbh as it's fairly new ground to me too ....hopefully my info isn't incorrect as i wouldn't want to confuse you more than necesary.
 
The info Asha gave seems fine to me. Is the camera a monorail design with grey bellows? If so, it would be the same model as my first 5x4 camera. The biggest problem I had with it (size and weight apart) was that the short bellows made serious difficulties with close focussing with a standard (150mm) lens. From memory, it compresses well enough for any wide angle LF lens you're likely to use. Longer than standard is where you'll most likely run into difficulties. The 12" bellows means that you might be able to focus a 300mm lens at infinity, but no closer.
 
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Cheers for the help guys, I'll get some measuring done tomorrow & see if I can figure it out based upon those measurements - I do know that the distance from the ground glass to lensboard is 3.2" so I can go from there to see what I can figure out (y) @Asha, think I'm just going to have to go for that playdough board :lol:

@StephenM , it's a black Calumet monorail so I'm not 100% sure if it's the same spec as the grey one? Thanks for taking the time to help, appreciate it.
 
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If I've not made a slip in the arithmetic, and your measurement is correct, you'll have no problem with a 90mm lens and achieving infinity focus. If you use a 75mm lens, that will be only focus on about 40 inches and nearer.
 
StephenM said:
If I've not made a slip in the arithmetic, and your measurement is correct, you'll have no problem with a 90mm lens and achieving infinity focus. If you use a 75mm lens, that will be only focus on about 40 inches and nearer.
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That is brilliant cheers mate, I can cope with 90mm for now :) Thanks again for the advice :thumbs:
 
One thing, when the bellows are very compressed like that you might have trouble with movements.
 
^^ Indeed.

I'm looking to get a recessed lens board for my Nikkor 90mm on my Ebony 5x4 so that it frees up the movements a bit. If all you're worried about is focusing and the measurements are ok, then you should be fine.
 
Right, that's enough now. This thread must be left to sink into obscurity, every time it reappears I think about getting a LF camera and I shouldn't, I don't need it, I'm not sure I even want it but I keep looking on a well known auction site and keep seeing lovely wood and brass cameras and like the Lorelei they sing to me.... 'come over to the large side Andy, the large side.....

Go away, voices in my head, go away..... :runaway:
 
Do it, Do it, Do it, Do it ;0)

How do you think I feel, I was standing alongside Mike shooting LF last night with his dark cloth billowing majestically in the wind like Ansel Adams....well, whacking him in the face like a demented Bat-Cape...
 
Andysnap said:
Right, that's enough now. This thread must be left to sink into obscurity, every time it reappears I think about getting a LF camera and I shouldn't, I don't need it, I'm not sure I even want it but I keep looking on a well known auction site and keep seeing lovely wood and brass cameras and like the Lorelei they sing to me.... 'come over to the large side Andy, the large side.....

Go away, voices in my head, go away..... :runaway:
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stevelmx5 said:
Do it, Do it, Do it, Do it ;0)

How do you think I feel, I was standing alongside Mike shooting LF last night with his dark cloth billowing majestically in the wind like Ansel Adams....well, whacking him in the face like a demented Bat-Cape...
Click to expand...
Dungeness iPhone-12 by Nick Watson, on Flickr :whistle:
 
Oooooh, @RaglanSurf , that is really really nice! I feel like I have an industrial revolution camera at the moment, it's all metal & cold - not like those colourful, brass & wood beautiful creations :)

@Andysnap , you should definitely give up & just go for it - large format is so refreshingly frustrating, batcape & all :LOL:

Cheers again for all the help everyone, processing those shots later on so with any luck (read: a massive amount of luck) I may have something to share later on tonight.
 
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