Arca Swiss interchangeability question

[wiggywag]

Will a back frame from an old version of the Arca Swiss line (A, B, C) fit into the function carrier of the current F-line? I know that there are problems with interchanging the bellows, but i can custom make that.

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

Will a back frame from an old version of the Arca Swiss line (A, B, C) fit into the function carrier of the current F-line?

Yes, in principle there is no problem, the dovetails have the same dimensions.

And an old-style 171 Oschwald flat lens board will fit F-classic frames in 171 size.

[wiggywag]

So the film back bracket goes right into the function carrier?

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

So the film back bracket goes right into the function carrier?

Yes.
Tiny differences (no more than a few hundredth of a millimeter) due to different machining processes 40 years later will be in principle compensated by the dovetail principle itself. Early (1984 ... ~2000) F-line function "basic" carriers as well as the Discovery's hold the film frame with a clamp locked by a screw. This system has ample provision for compensating tiny differences in actual dovetail width. Current F-classic function carriers hold the dovetail by a spring-loaded clamp. This clamp is more tightly adjusted that the basic screw-operated clamp, but will work as well on older Oschwald frames.
On the F-metric however, the amount of residual play between the clamp and the dovetail is smaller, hence, for a F-metric carrier, you should make a test prior to buy an old Oschwald frame.

[wiggywag]

Thank you. This was very helpful!

[Rod Klukas]

So the film back bracket goes right into the function carrier?

Yes.
Tiny differences (no more than a few hundredth of a millimeter) due to different machining processes 40 years later will be in principle compensated by the dovetail principle itself. Early (1984 ... ~2000) F-line function "basic" carriers as well as the Discovery's hold the film frame with a clamp locked by a screw. This system has ample provision for compensating tiny differences in actual dovetail width. Current F-classic function carriers hold the dovetail by a spring-loaded clamp. This clamp is more tightly adjusted that the basic screw-operated clamp, but will work as well on older Oschwald frames.
On the F-metric however, the amount of residual play between the clamp and the dovetail is smaller, hence, for a F-metric carrier, you should make a test prior to buy an old Oschwald frame.

Emmanuel,
There is, however, one other issue. The bellows, although they are similar in dimension, the frames and latches for the bellows frames are very different between 171 and Oschwald types. You'd need a hybrid
Bellows.
Rod