Front Tilt or Reat Tilt on a Linhof Tech... Which Do You Use?

[steve simmons]

I should have said that DOF is determined by reproduction ratio and f-stop.

steve simmons

[Jeff Conrad]

DOF is determined by reproduction ratio. Rotating the plane of focus does
not really affect DOF.

Steve,

Have you reviewed Merklinger's Addendum? What he's saying is that as the
tilt increases, the angular distance between the planes that define the
near and far limits of DoF decreases. My independent calculations
(computing the planes of focus from lens tilt and focus distance) seem to
bear out his claim. My practical experience in similar situations also
seems to bear this out; in some cases, less tilt seems to allow a smaller
f-number.

The situation described would have been an excellent test case for a Sinar e
(which I've never even seen). For me, it's always involved a lot of trial
and error.

[john borrelli]

Just a few rambling thoughts which will have generally already been mentioned in far better form. I think when Jack switched from 35mm film equipment to LF he faced a steep learning curve and probably came to feel he needed to simplify things in order to be successful in his career change to landscape photography. At some point, early on I’m guessing, he settled on primarily using the Arca and a small group of lenses. He became enamored with wide angle lenses, the widest of these had small image circles. He started using back tilt more but didn’t like changing his technique because he wanted simplicity to help with the learning curve. He became enamored with making the foreground look more dramatic and these kind of images were more commercially successful for him. He was always trying to keep things simple so he taped notes to his lens boards and monorails to simplify things and in the process, as time went on, he found he was able to produce the same kind of image with the same technical quality faster and faster. He described a scene in his book, where he detailed how quickly he could set up his camera to make that image. In the book you are referencing the book’s cover image is described over a series of pages: ”Recomposing and refocusing quickly, I managed to expose half a dozen sheets before the sun finally dropped out of sight." And in fact, i think this speed is one of the more under appreciated things in LF landscape photography. Time and time again, you will take an hour to set up the camera, consider the movements, consider all things metaphotographic, only to find the light over your shoulder is spectacular though the landscape may be more mundane. You will then need Jack Dykinga speed to get that shot. From one who misses that great shot every time all the best, John

[Bob Salomon]

You are adding on to a thread that was last used over 13 years ago!

[john borrelli]

Ha Ha! True the Gregory Crewdson thread I tried restarting is also old, but it could be of interest to some.