David Karp
19-Feb-2017, 11:53
Years ago, I picked up an older style ARCA Swiss A/B/C style function carrier with the era appropriate 4x5 format frame and lensboard. The format frame is in nice shape with a functioning level. It is the one with rise, but no axis tilts. The lensboard is the silver type, with a Copal No. 3 hole. I know I can use the lensboard on my 171 Discovery if the need ever arises. So far so good.
This is the first old style A/S function carrier I have held in my hands. This one is different than the carriers I have seen in photographs on this forum and elsewhere (although I did not realize this when I purchased it). The lever to control swing is present. The focusing and shift knobs are there. There is no control for tilt and there is no slot that would normally allow the carrier to tilt.
Two questions: The first regards using the carrier on an F-Line rail. I have the 30cm telescoping rail. The older carrier has the proper profile, but it was slightly too narrow. Having read many times on the forum that you could use these old function carriers on current A-S rails, this was puzzling. Eventually, I loosened the friction lock and used a needle nose pliers to try to widen the profile. This worked well enough that I can get the carrier onto the rail and move it back and forth with the focusing knob. However, the fit is very, very tight. It does not seem to be hurting anything, but I hate forcing things. Is this normal? Will using it this way hurt anything? Is there any safe way to loosen it up (but not too much)?
Second question: What is this carrier’s purpose? It allows for only focus, shift and swing. At first, I thought it might be for an intermediate standard, but why would such a standard have provision for swing? I am curious. What do I have here?
I don’t even remember why I ever purchased these parts, but I am sure I got a great deal on them! :-) They came out of storage today because I recently received a Whole Plate sized back built with an ARCA Swiss style dovetail that matches the format carrier and a bellows that reduces to a 171 format frame that mates with my Discovery’s front standard. It works great, giving me a Whole Plate camera that has all movements but rear rise and fall that can collapse onto a 15cm rail to easily fit in my backpack. However, I find that the bellows push the back out of vertical when using my 180mm Fujinon W with substantial front rise, or my 120mm Fujinon with hardly any rise at all. The F basic function carrier will not hold the back in the vertical position. I thought that the non-tilting carrier might work sort of like the back of the Canham cameras which don’t tilt on the rear standard. This would allow me to get a bit more rise out of the 180mm and a pinch when using the120mm. I just don’t want to unnecessarily damage a carrier that someone else might be able to use, or damage my camera (the latter does seem unlikely, but . . . .)
Thanks!
This is the first old style A/S function carrier I have held in my hands. This one is different than the carriers I have seen in photographs on this forum and elsewhere (although I did not realize this when I purchased it). The lever to control swing is present. The focusing and shift knobs are there. There is no control for tilt and there is no slot that would normally allow the carrier to tilt.
Two questions: The first regards using the carrier on an F-Line rail. I have the 30cm telescoping rail. The older carrier has the proper profile, but it was slightly too narrow. Having read many times on the forum that you could use these old function carriers on current A-S rails, this was puzzling. Eventually, I loosened the friction lock and used a needle nose pliers to try to widen the profile. This worked well enough that I can get the carrier onto the rail and move it back and forth with the focusing knob. However, the fit is very, very tight. It does not seem to be hurting anything, but I hate forcing things. Is this normal? Will using it this way hurt anything? Is there any safe way to loosen it up (but not too much)?
Second question: What is this carrier’s purpose? It allows for only focus, shift and swing. At first, I thought it might be for an intermediate standard, but why would such a standard have provision for swing? I am curious. What do I have here?
I don’t even remember why I ever purchased these parts, but I am sure I got a great deal on them! :-) They came out of storage today because I recently received a Whole Plate sized back built with an ARCA Swiss style dovetail that matches the format carrier and a bellows that reduces to a 171 format frame that mates with my Discovery’s front standard. It works great, giving me a Whole Plate camera that has all movements but rear rise and fall that can collapse onto a 15cm rail to easily fit in my backpack. However, I find that the bellows push the back out of vertical when using my 180mm Fujinon W with substantial front rise, or my 120mm Fujinon with hardly any rise at all. The F basic function carrier will not hold the back in the vertical position. I thought that the non-tilting carrier might work sort of like the back of the Canham cameras which don’t tilt on the rear standard. This would allow me to get a bit more rise out of the 180mm and a pinch when using the120mm. I just don’t want to unnecessarily damage a carrier that someone else might be able to use, or damage my camera (the latter does seem unlikely, but . . . .)
Thanks!