Originally Posted by
Dan Fromm
Trick one: put the tripod mounting block in front of the front standard or behind the rear standard. This makes it possible to bring the two standards closer to each other.
Trick two: take the rear standard off of the rail, rotate it by 180 degrees around the swing axis and put it back on the rail. This reduces minimum extension because the function carrier isn't centered on the swing axis, is possible because the function carrier is symmetrical, i.e., will accept lens boards/bellows frames/backs on both sides. Trick two makes it impossible to pull the dark slide unless the back is in portrait orientation (long side of the gate parallel to the uprights).
This brings us to trick three: to use trick two and shoot in landscape orientation, rotate the monorail 90 degrees in the tripod mounting block.
Re the board with offset hole, these beasties are useful with cameras that have minimal movements. Don't have enough shift? The offset will get more. No fall? The offset will get some. Need more rise than the front standard can give? Offset to the rescue. I'm not sure such a board is necessary with your camera. But if the price is good, get one. But first ask the seller what he can do for you in the way of boards with no offset.
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