View Full Version : Bellows too short for infinity focus
My 8x10 only has 400mm max bellows and when I tried focusing a Fuji C 450mm f12.5 mounted on a 32mm top hat it just misses infinity. I am wondering if I will get an on focus image if I stopped down the lens. I understand DOF works if I calculate a focus point between the far the near distances where I want to be in the zone of focus. But what if I can't achieve infinity focus at all?
It's not going to work. Either get a tophat board or a new camera.
Lachlan 717
3-May-2015, 20:22
The flange focal length for this lens is 425.3mm, so you should be able to obtain infinity with the 32mm extension. Perhaps you're doing something wrong (measuring, for a start).
As for DoF, you should be able to produce a clear (though possibly not sharp) image if you stop down far ebough, regardless of whether you can achieve infinity focus (based on the measurements you provided and the FFL for the lens).
The camera is an Ebony SLW810 and I racked it out and still no infinity focus. The top hat is a 35mm extension my mistake. I bought the lens knowing the specs and thought it should work. I tried doubling up the extension to 70mm and the lens does focus so there is nothing wrong with it. I know I am not going to use it if I need to attach it to a really long top hat. Maybe I'll get another 8x10 some day! Thanks for the replies!
Lachlan 717
3-May-2015, 21:07
If you do have 400mm extension and you are using a 35mm TH, it should focus PLUS give you about 10mm extra. How much extension do you have with the 79mm TH in place?
I didn't physically measure the bellow length. I just took it for granted the manufacturer's specs are correct. I will measure it later today.
Well I am peeved to say the least! I just measured the bellows fully racked and it is only 14.5 inches or 370mm well short of the official 400mm spec.
Jon Shiu
3-May-2015, 23:23
Sometimes you can get more extension by using base tilt and axis tilt together.
Jon
Sometimes you can get more extension by using base tilt and axis tilt together.
Jon
My camera does not have those movements. It only has front rise/fall, tilt.
Can you do something like this with the front standards to get a bit more extension?
http://stevemidgleyphotography.com/Wisner.jpg
You need a much larger top-hat extension, it should be possible to make something fairly easily, alternately if you have a Linhof/Wista conversion board there's Chinese Top-hat extenders available Linhof/Wista fit that should do the trick, assuming the lens is small enough to fit.
Ian
I have two Ebony extenders I can stack to 70mm which is just about what I need. However it then becomes unwieldy and likely will stay home. I will just have to take this as lesson learned. I should have measured the bellows before I bought the lens but guess I had too much faith in Ebony specs. I have a 5x7 Deardorff so the lens will get used.
Lachlan 717
4-May-2015, 02:42
Sorry to read this... Great lens on a 5x7, though.
ic-racer
4-May-2015, 05:34
...USABLE LENSES - 90-360mm....
-Ebony
MIN/MAX BELLOWS EXTENSION 105-400mm
Maybe I misunderstood the specs. Maybe the listed max extension of 400mm is the measurement of the bellows when it is at max rise, i. e., Pythagorean theorem?
djdister
4-May-2015, 07:40
Maybe I misunderstood the specs. Maybe the listed max extension of 400mm is the measurement of the bellows when it is at max rise, i. e., Pythagorean theorem?
A great camera, but not intended for what you propose.
I would take Ebony's own words as my guide:
SLW810
A super-lightweight non-folding view camera, specifically designed for use with wide-angle lenses.
USABLE LENSES 90-360mm
Old-N-Feeble
4-May-2015, 08:59
Sounds like a perfect excuse to buy a second camera. :)
djdister
4-May-2015, 11:06
A less than perfect solution would be to get a telephoto lens (with a much shorter flange focal distance than the focal length) that covers 8x10. Wanna sell that Fuji 450mm? :rolleyes:
Nathan Potter
4-May-2015, 11:14
Yes, possibly do an exchange for a Nikon 360/500 T ED convertible tele. Very high quality optics with really good contrast, a feature that is very important with tele lenses.
Nate Potter, Austin TX.
Louis Pacilla
4-May-2015, 16:10
A great camera, but not intended for what you propose.
I would take Ebony's own words as my guide:
SLW810
A super-lightweight non-folding view camera, specifically designed for use with wide-angle lenses.
USABLE LENSES 90-360mm
Yes, possibly do an exchange for a Nikon 360/500 T ED convertible tele. Very high quality optics with really good contrast, a feature that is very important with tele lenses.
Nate Potter, Austin TX.
Hey Nate
This Nikkor Tele set does not cover 8x10 @ infinity focus.
Nathan Potter
5-May-2015, 17:02
Yes Louis, I missed the 8 X 10 requirement. I think the Nikon set barely covers 5 X 7.
Nate Potter
StoneNYC
5-May-2015, 22:44
I don't understand why this camera even exists, especially from Ebony, I mean, my Chamonix I can fit a 65mm SA with the recessed lens board and focus at infinity on my 8x10 and also fit a 600mm lens on it.
How light is it that you only get wide angles?
Sorry, but I'm just shocked that a company as pricy as Ebony would sell such a limited camera.
The 450 C is one AMAZING lens, I have toyed with the idea of buying a second one as a backup as my long term plans to shoot LF for the next 70 years :)
I explore you to keep it and find a solution.
And if not, sell it to me cheap ;) hah!
I have the SW45 and love it and when I took that big step to 8x10 I guess I needed encouragement. The SW810 is just a bigger version of the SW45 and I find comfort in familiarity. I opted for an even simpler version in the SLW810 because it is lighter in mahogany instead of ebony and I don't need the rear shift anyway. I know the limitations and I only use the 72mm, 90mm and 150mm for 4x5 anyway. I like to shoot old buildings so wides and are more useful for me.
I don't understand why this camera even exists, especially from Ebony, I mean, my Chamonix I can fit a 65mm SA with the recessed lens board and focus at infinity on my 8x10 and also fit a 600mm lens on it.
Problem solved! I just bought a used Chamonix 8x10.
StoneNYC
27-May-2015, 12:00
Problem solved! I just bought a used Chamonix 8x10.
Welcome to the fold, I would be interested to hear your thoughts and comparisons. Enjoy!
Bill_1856
27-May-2015, 13:32
If you can afford an Ebony, you should be able to easily afford any lens board that you want.
It isn't about what I can afford
Pamelageewhizz
27-Jul-2015, 22:36
My 8x10 only has 400mm max bellows and when I tried focusing a Fuji C 450mm f12.5 mounted on a 32mm top hat it just misses infinity. I am wondering if I will get an on focus image if I stopped down the lens. I understand DOF works if I calculate a focus point between the far the near distances where I want to be in the zone of focus. But what if I can't achieve infinity focus at all?
Ok, what's a "top hat"? A LF one that is.
Lachlan 717
27-Jul-2015, 23:02
Top hat lens board. A lens board with an extended tube that increases the lens:film distance without increasing bellows draw.
StoneNYC
28-Jul-2015, 03:48
Ok, what's a "top hat"? A LF one that is.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=271186737287&globalID=EBAY-US
Gary Tarbert
28-Jul-2015, 06:17
Problem solved! I just bought a used Chamonix 8x10. Hi you know i always lusted after an Ebony , held one in my hands when i first got into LF a 5x4 RSW i think , That was the one i had to have , I have never got around to owning an Ebony But have had 3 Chamonix cameras , My latest a 8x10 i bought secondhand from a forum member very recently have only put 20 odd sheets through it ,but love the simplicity and lightweight for a 8x10 ,
Drew Wiley
28-Jul-2015, 11:02
You bought completely the wrong Ebony. That model was designed for architectural photography with wide-angle lenses and doesn't even have base tilt like a
conventional folder.
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