New to LF - What's this bit on my camera!?

[Ed345]

I've recently bought my first LF camera and been getting to grips with it. I think I understand almost everything (there's not much to get confused about), but one bit has got me stumped. I'm sure it's not important, but it's bugging me that I don't know what it is...

http://thumbnails14.imagebam.com/13476/d50dda134753538.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/d50dda134753538) http://thumbnails41.imagebam.com/13476/287bf8134753539.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/287bf8134753539)

As you can see from the pictures, it's a thread that comes out of the front standard with a plastic knob that screws onto it. The bolt is slightly smaller than the small type of tripod bolt.

I know this is probably a stupid question, but what is it for? Flash? Darkcloth? Something to do with the lens?

[Frank Petronio]

It's a part on seen on those older student-level Linhof monorails (which are great cameras BTW). I've never seen the accessory stud in use but I'd assume it is for attaching a lenshade contraption. You can safely ignore it... or decorate it ;-)

[cyrus]

Considering the rather precarious appearance of the lensboard attachment to the camera, I'd use it to secure a lanyard to the lensboard, so that when the lensboard and lens fall of the camera they won't crash onto the hard, hard ground :eek:

[Ed345]

Considering the rather precarious appearance of the lensboard attachment to the camera

Fair enough. Although it just a temporary arrangement so I can play with the lens until a cheap lensboard arrives from China. Despite being made from thin plywood, it's remarkably sturdy!

[Vaughn]

I have a couple lensboards in use on my 8x10 that are made from a piece of 8-ply rag board dry-mounted to a piece of 4-ply black matboard. They work fine. I made them as temp. boards several years ago, and decided to just keep using them.

Have fun with the camera!

Vaughn