how do I use the same lenses for different cameras?

[davidar]

Hello I have a Cambo legend and an intrepid, both are 5x4. I was wondering how I could swap the lenses between different sessions?

Many thanks for looking

[Dugan]

You can either switch the lens between lens boards (flanges work best for this), or use a lens board adapter that fits on the camera with the larger lens board.
The lens board adapter would accept the smaller lens board. You would then be able to leave the lens on the smaller lens board.
Check the skgrimes.com website for good info about lens mounting and adapters.

[Jeff Keller]

If you think you will be doing large format photography for a long time, mounting all of your lenses on Technika sized lens boards and then getting an adapter to match up to whichever camera(s) you use is a good way to go. If you accumulate a lot of lenses over a long period, it is very cost-effective. The lens boards themselves are fairly small but handle copal/compur 3 shutter sizes.

The intrepid 4x5 mk4 appears to use Technika sized lens boards. So get an adapter for your Cambo Legend to mount the Technika lens board. The Cambo Lens board is quite large. If you can't find an adapter board, as Dugan mentioned skgrimes.com can often custom make what you need.

It looks like the Legend and SC use the same lens board thus an example of the adapter would be:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Cambo-SC-4x5-to-Linhof-Technika-Lens-Board-Adapter-Excellent/143928378719?hash=item2182ccc55f:g:22YAAOSwfBpfPsOq

[Tin Can]

and so on

a good plan until lenses get really big

by then you are addicted

resistance is futile

[Luis-F-S]

You pick the smallest board and mount your lenses on that one and get an adaptor board for the larger board. For intance, I have most of my lenses mounted on 4x4" Deardorff V5 boards and have a 6x6 to 4x4 adaptor for the V8. The only lenses I have mounted on the V8 boards are lenses longer than 23" which is the max bellows length of the V5. I also had SKG make a Sinar to 4x4 adaptor board to use the 4x4 lenses lenses on the Sinar. I also have a bunch of modern lenses on Sinar boards, use those only on the Sinar.

https://skgrimes.com/products/lens-board-adapters/

[rfesk]

In your case, the best option is to put your lenses on Technika boards and buy or make an adapter for the Cambo as was stated above.

In my case I have most of my lenses on 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 miniature Crown boards and Busch Pressman boards. And use them on my Sinar, Horseman 980 and soon on a Toyo VX125. Some are straight adaptations and others are mounted on 52mm or 67mm metal lens caps that screw on to a board. All are homemade adaptions.

[Alan9940]

I have most of my lenses mounted on Technika boards and adapters for both 8x10s and both 4x5s. Not only is it super convenient to be able to easily move lenses between various cameras, but the Technika boards are way smaller and lighter than my 6x6 Deardorff boards.

[BrianShaw]

lol... am I the only one who just bought multiple lenses and use dedicated boards?

[neil poulsen]

There were many kinds of reduction adapters for Cambo, of which Linhof Technika was one. Moreover, many cameras brands made Technika reduction adapters for their camera.

With the smaller sized Technika lensboards, they're easier to carry.

[davidar]

Thanks everyone, this makes sense. definitely getting addicted already. It's the opposite of phone photography and all the better for it!

[Drew Bedo]

In my case I startged out with a pre annaversary Speed Graphic (4x5 ) and made my own lens boards from plywood.

Then I got an 8x10 Kodak 2D and put my one lens that would cover on a shop made board.

Later on I got a Wista 45DX with those cuter little Toyo-Linhof notched boards. Got three lenses for that rig (90-150-210) on compatible boards.

These now can be mounted on the 2D using an adapter board on the Kodak (the 90 won't cover at infinity of course).

However, there is a long-plan to set up a Packard shutter and vintage brass lens on a dedicated wooden board for the Kodak.

[Dan Fromm]

lol... am I the only one who just bought multiple lenses and use dedicated boards?

You must be much richer than I am. Two examples of many lenses ...

My only lens on a dedicated board is too big to use on my "small board" cameras. All of the others are on small boards. That may change, I now have at least one very fat lens that won't go on my small board camera. Haven't found an inexpensive large board for it yet.

[Bernice Loui]

Alternative method, stay with a single camera system for all view camera images.


Bernice

[BrianShaw]

You must be much richer than I am. Two examples of many lenses ...

My only lens on a dedicated board is too big to use on my "small board" cameras. All of the others are on small boards. That may change, I now have at least one very fat lens that won't go on my small board camera. Haven't found an inexpensive large board for it yet.

LOL... who knows who has more money... nothing I care to compare. :)

The secret is being frugal and having a well-curated small assortment of cameras and lenses.

[BrianShaw]

alternative method, stay with a single camera system for all view camera images.


Bernice

bingo

[Jim Andrada]

I think the Technika board is a really good candidate. There are even adapters available to mount them on MF cameras. I use lenses in Technika boards on my Mamiya RB67 as well as my Fuji GX680. Both of which use bellows focusing. I also have a set of extension tubes for the Mamiya.Where you do run into problems doing this is with shorter lenses.

[neil poulsen]

A long time ago, I began collecting "MC" (this goes way back) reduction lensboards that take a smaller, circular, "bayonet" mounted board. They made reduction adapters for many cameras, including a reduction adapter for Linhof Technika cameras. (No kidding.) So, I can use lenses every which way on different camera systems.

I have one large lens that won't fit on these boards, a 610mm Repro Claron mounted on an Alphax V shutter, so it's mounted to a Sinar board which of course fits my Sinar camera, and it can be mounted via an adapter to my 171mm Arca camera.

In fact, as I recall, Cambo may have made a reduction adapter for Sinar lensboards. So, that may be an option worth exploring for your Cambo. Not as small as the Technika boards, but smaller than the Cambo boards.

[Drew Bedo]

davidar: There are many workable options. Whatever seems to work out for you . . .please let us know what you do in this.

[Pieter]

How do wide angle lenses fare with the Technika/Cambo adapters? Don't they require a recessed board, at least for the Cambo?

[Dan Fromm]

How do wide angle lense fare with the Technika/Cambo adapters? Don't they require a recessed board, at least for the Cambo?

Pieter, it depend on the lens and on the camera.

Example. I started shooting 2x3 with Graphics. 2x3 Pacemaker Speed Graphic and Century Graphic, accumulated many lenses for them. Among the wide angles, 35/4.5 Apo-Grandagon, 47/5.6 Super Angulon, 58/5.6 Konica Hexanon ex-Koni-Omegaflex, 58/5.6 Grandagon, 60/14 Perigraphe (front mounted on an Ilex #3), 65/8 Ilex, ... Then I was given a 2x3 Cambo SC-I. Skgrimes attached a 2x3 Pacemaker Graphic standard to a flat SC-1 lens board with the standard's light trap recessed ~ 1 mm. This so that I didn't have to buy lotsa 2x3 Cambo boards, swap lenses back and forth or abandon the Graphics. I assembled a hybrid Cambo (2x3 front standard, 4x5 rear standard, home made tapered bag bellows) so I could shoot 6x12. All of the lenses mentioned will focus to infinity on the flat board with Graphic standard, all but the 35 with movements. For lenses 90 mm and longer on Graphic boards, I replace my bag bellows with a Cambo SF-76 tapered bellows. BTW, the hybrid is a 4x5 camera that accepts 2x3 and 6x12 roll holders.

[Alan Gales]

Cambo/Calumet made lens boards that adapted to Technika style boards. I've owned some back when I was selling photo equipment on eBay. Unfortunately, I've sold them all.

Why don't you advertise on the forum that you are looking for one. Maybe a member has one to sell you. You can also watch eBay and see if one pops up at auction. As mentioned above, SK Grimes can make you one. It will cost a bit more but worth it if you can't find an original.