Advice: Lens mounted, close camera (metal field)

[thorirv]

Hi,
Wondering if I could ask for a bit of advice.
If a lens, mounted in a metal field camera, just barely touches the focusing rails when closing the camera, should I remove the lens?

This particular combo is a Fujinon 125/5.6 in a Horsemn 45FA.

Regards, Th

[Alan Gales]

It's ok if it's sitting on a shelf. If you throw it into a backpack and go hiking I wouldn't want the lens rubbing against the focusing rails. Also accidents happen. What if you dropped your camera bag or backpack. Will the lens get damaged in the jolt? It's always best to be safe rather than sorry.

I once bought a Bronica EC medium format camera off eBay. On those cameras the end of the 75mm lens barrel resides close to the mirror. In shipping it got jostled so much that it scratched the mirror to the point of broken glass shavings inside the camera.

Of course, this is my opinion. Someone else may disagree. I've never owned/used a Horseman 45FA or even handled one.

[Luis-F-S]

The short answer is yes

[thorirv]

Thanks both of you, for a short and a longer answer. Makes perfect sense.