will my lens work or do I need another?

[Mark Woods]

Also, measure your lens board. You may be able to find an older lens (or newer) already mounted on a board that will fit your camera. I've been shooting a lot lately with pre-teen lenses and really like them. (Last century)

[jessicadittmer]

I have a 6x6 looks like by measuring for lens board. That should be an easy one to find I think for size.

[Mark Woods]

One of the people here can tell you the cameras that use that size.

[Leonard Robertson]

If you know an amateur woodworker, you could probably have a functional front extension track made. Keep in mind you don't absolutely need the gear racks for focusing on the front extension. You just need a place to "park" the front lens standard at close to the lens focus point, then fine focus with the rear geared focus. When using a 19" lens focused close, it will be awkward reaching the front focus knobs anyway.

If you can't find a stray woodworker who will work for beer, a real camera hackers approach would be to clamp your camera bed to a 36 inch or so length of board. Pull the front standard off the camera bed and clamp it to the board on top of a spacer block equal to the thickness of the camera bed. Then use your rear focus. The setup will be clunky and heavy, but you will let you play with your 19" lens around the house and in the backyard.

But I agree you do need to be looking for a shorter FL lens. I would hang onto the 19" though, until you are sure you are happy with the perspective and working distance of the shorter FL.

Len

[jessicadittmer]

thanks! I was finding it a reach toward the end for sure. I think there is a lens from another member here that will work and I'll keep the other for now too. Hubby can probably make me something if I need, he's pretty good with that stuff. My grandpa would have made it in no time = he was a master woodworker and lapidary man but alas he's no longer with me. I'm getting the lens worked out, film holders and then I will get to play.... I'll be sure to post my experiments LOL

[Jim Jones]

One of the people here can tell you the cameras that use that size.

Others probably have more information, but some cameras using 6x6 boards were B&J 8x10 view, Grover 8x10 view, and Eastman 8x10 view. These boards are 1/2" thick. The rabbet can be cut well enough on a table saw with a fence. The boards can also be built up from 1/4" plywood, MDF, or many other materials. For temporary testing, even foamcore might work OK.