A Question on Lens Boards & Shutters

[AndTheLights]

Hello,

Fairly new to the forum. I have purchased my first LF camera - a Chamonix and im now on the lookout for a lens. I've decided on a Schneider Kreuznach Apo Symmar-s 210mm f5.6, however I'm a little confused over what lens board I require.

My understanding is that the Chamonix will only accept Linhof boards? Meaning my options are to buy a lens already fitted to a Linhof board, or buy the lens separately and fit it to the Linhof board. I see that some are already fitted with Copal shutters each with their own speeds, is there any other difference to the shutters other than speed? Are different copal shutters suited to different uses?

Thanks.

[Dan Fromm]

Sigh.

This forum has resources that you should use. Click on LF Home Page, the button is the top of the page. Then visit and read the FAQs.

There's another resource that's not quite as easily found. The lenses section of the Forums has a sticky "Where to look for information ..." The first post in that discussion has a link to a large list of links to interesting places, also a list of books on LF that are frequently recommended. Links there will answer your shutter questions and save a lot of typing by people who want to help you. Buy one of the books -- they're not very expensive used from, e.g., sellers on abebooks.com, alibris.com, amazon.com, bn.com, ... -- and study it.

[Bob Salomon]

That lens will be mounted in a 1 size shutter.

That means:

1: buy a lens already in a Linhof board.
2: buy a lens not in a Linhof board.
3: buy a Linhof board with a 1 hole.
4: buy a Rodenstock lens wrench.

5: if necessary, unscrew rear element and then use the wrench to remove the shutter from a non Linhof board.
6: otherwise unscrew rear element from your lens.
7: unscrew retaining ring from shutter.
8: put rear of shutter through hole in Linhof board.
9: put retaining ring on rear shutter threads and tighten with lens wrench.
10: carefully screw rear element into the back of the shutter.

Very easy to do and faster then reading the above.

Keep your fingers off the glass!
If you find a thin shim washer when you remove the rear element be sure to replace it!

[Roger Thoms]

Chamomix makes very nice lens boards for their cameras, so that’s another option.

Roger

[Alan Gales]

Chamonix takes Linhof style lens boards. Chamonix makes their own boards out of carbon fiber. They are pricey. Genuine Linhof boards will also fit. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative then there are other manufactures that make Linhof style boards. Some of these are better than others. Many will not work on a Linhof camera due to tolerances. They may or may not work on your Chamonix. I don't own a Chamonix but do use Linfof style boards on my Wehman camera. I've used Shen Hao brand Linhof style boards on my Wehman reduction board and they work fine on my camera. I don't know about Chamonix. I suspect they would be fine. I bought mine from Badger Graphics. You can call them and ask if they will work on your Chamonix. If you buy used boards off eBay, they may fit or may not fit.

Scroll down to see the boards or lens panels.

http://www.badgergraphic.com/opencart/index.php?route=product/category&path=2_22_95

Copal shutters come in different sizes to fit different lenses. Copal 0, Copal 1, and Copal 3 are the most common. Lens boards come in different sizes to fit different size shutters.

As Dan suggests. Read the FAQs and you will learn a lot. :)

Welcome to the forum!

[Pete Roody]

Since you are starting out I will recommend a good reference:

https://www.amazon.com/Using-View-Camera-Creative-Photography/dp/1626540772




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jim Jones]

I routinely made lens boards for the LF cameras I've used. If you have modest woodworking or metal working skills, it is easy. Many lens boards have features that aren't really necessary. Analyzing your camera's lens board requirements or asking detailed questions here may simplify making your own.

[Kerosene Hat]

Lens boards and shutters all sound confusing, but there are tons of resources here, as others have posted. Reading the FAQs and guides that have been posted and maintained over years is to your advantage. LF requires discipline and perseverance. You can’t go wrong by buying Using the View Camera and taking a LF workshop or dozen.

Any question asked on the basics here will be met with polite and helpful responses, but the assets that exist already have tons more content / value per word in more coherent packaging than any single Q&A post.

Thanks for posting here vs Facebook, where the forums are full of lazy beginners who want to master LF in a day (or whatever). LF is. Slow process that rewards the diligent student well. Welcome to the pool- the water’s great.

[blue4130]

I routinely made lens boards for the LF cameras I've used. If you have modest woodworking or metal working skills, it is easy. Many lens boards have features that aren't really necessary. Analyzing your camera's lens board requirements or asking detailed questions here may simplify making your own.

I am with Jim on this. I use simple flat boards that I cut from carbon fiber on my Chamonix. Many on this forum will scoff and tell you that it won't work or that you need a circular light trap on the rear side, but I've been using mine for a few years now and have had no light leaks or other issues.

[Tin Can]

Always state which exact camera you are using. I assume it is a 4X5 Chamonix and not their ULF, the 4X5 is made to use this exact lensboard. The real original. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/31341-REG/Linhof_001026_Flat_Lensboard_for_1.html

That's actually a lower price than they used to be.

Many perfectly good ones are available used.

Also many much cheaper on ebay.

I have bought many Linhof 'type' lens boards and be aware there are many different types of Linhof lens boards.

Last month I bought 9 Linhof 'type' lens boards from eBay and paid about $50 delivered. That bargain is now gone. They work perfectly.

Recently a member here posted his youtube video and his opinion of these lensboards. It was positive. I suggest you watch all his videos. https://youtu.be/uWOLlahcj3Y

This exact board. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Luland-Linhof-Wista-4-5in-compur-copal-1-lens-board-99-96mm-NEW/182939087113?hash=item2a9804f109:g:YRkAAOSw2cVasMGC

I have not bought those, but I will when I need more.

I also have made many lensboards some very big and heavy for huge lenses. Hole saws, aircraft plywood, basswood reinforcing, light traps, and glued up with wood glue. Matt black paint.

Any saw handy, no power tools except for the hole saw.

I have also made quick test lens boards from black matt board...with only a razor blade.

[AndTheLights]

Thank you all for your responses - I'm reading the FAQ's now and they've been helpful so far. Though I won't be making my own lens boards anytime soon due to my inexperience in wood/metal working, its nice to hear from many of you that lens boards and shutters aren't as complicated as I initially thought.

[AndTheLights]

As a follow on from doing research around the lens boards/lenses, I've come across this listing for what looks like from my research a Linhof sized board with the 210mm Schneider that I'm after. Can anyone lend an experienced eye and confirm if this is the case. I've messaged the seller but there's a language barrier unfortunately.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Near-Mint-Schneider-Symmar-S-210mm-f-5-6-MC-w-copal-1-from-Japan-1321/283426002509

[Bob Salomon]

As a follow on from doing research around the lens boards/lenses, I've come across this listing for what looks like from my research a Linhof sized board with the 210mm Schneider that I'm after. Can anyone lend an experienced eye and confirm if this is the case. I've messaged the seller but there's a language barrier unfortunately.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Near-Mint-Schneider-Symmar-S-210mm-f-5-6-MC-w-copal-1-from-Japan-1321/283426002509

It is a copy of the 45 Linhof Technika board.

[Tin Can]

Yes that is a Linhof type lensboard, but it's on the Japan eBay.

I have bought form Japan eBay from USA.

But there are many sellers of this lens.

Where are you located?

The lens board is the drop centering type designed specifically for Linhof cameras.

What camera are you going to mount it on?

[AndTheLights]

Yes that is a Linhof type lensboard, but it's on the Japan eBay.

I have bought form Japan eBay from USA.

But there are many sellers of this lens.

Where are you located?

The lens board is the drop centering type designed specifically for Linhof cameras.

What camera are you going to mount it on?

Yes I thought it was.

Ideally I would purchase from somewhere in the EU as im located in the UK (avoiding import fees), however finding a lens at a reasonable price has been hard so far. If you had any sellers in mind It would be most appreciated.

It would be mounted on a Chamonix 45n-2.

[AndTheLights]

It is a copy of the 45 Linhof Technika board.


That is what I thought, thanks for the help.

[Tin Can]

Very difficult to recomend sellers.

I have had very good luck with high volume eBay sellers from all over the world. I read their ratings.

Tax and shipping can be significant.

Until just a month ago Japan was dumping many old cameras, suddenly prices have gone back up...


Yes I thought it was.

Ideally I would purchase from somewhere in the EU as im located in the UK (avoiding import fees), however finding a lens at a reasonable price has been hard so far. If you had any sellers in mind It would be most appreciated.

It would be mounted on a Chamonix 45n-2.

[CatSplat]

This exact board. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Luland-Linhof-Wista-4-5in-compur-copal-1-lens-board-99-96mm-NEW/182939087113?hash=item2a9804f109:g:YRkAAOSw2cVasMGC



I have a couple of the Luland boards for my Chamonix, they are shockingly well-manufactured for the price.

[KongraFakol]

Fairly new to the forum. I have purchased my first LF camera - a Chamonix and im now on the lookout for a lens. I've decided on a Schneider Kreuznach Apo Symmar-s 210mm f5.6, however I'm a little confused over what lens board I require.

[KongraFakol]

Apologies if I'm posting this in the wrong area, but I'm new here and wasn't sure where this topic should go.

I'm just wondering why chromatic aberration appears as being purple. I googled it and read this article: https://www.photographytalk.com/chromatic-aberration-and-how-to-fix-it-in-photoshop-or-lightroom on the topic, and while it explains what chromatic aberration is, it doesn't explain why it's purple. I realize that it isn't just purple, but since that's the usual color that appears I wondered why that is.

Looking forward to getting a response from someone more informed than me. Thanks!

[Bob Salomon]

Fairly new to the forum. I have purchased my first LF camera - a Chamonix and im now on the lookout for a lens. I've decided on a Schneider Kreuznach Apo Symmar-s 210mm f5.6, however I'm a little confused over what lens board I require.

1 hole.

[Tin Can]

Copal # 1 hole https://www.largeformatphotography.info/lensboard_hole_sizes.html


1 hole.