Do I need to worry about really heavy lenses causing damage?

[Rayt]

I hope this is not a silly question.

I bought a Dallmeyer 8” f2.9 Pentac in a Betax #5 on a Sinar board. The lens weigh 3.4 pounds. After the CLA I shot a few sheets with an Ebony SLW 8x10 a light weight camera to test the lens and the coverage. It covers a full body environmental head to toe shot with reasonable sharpness in the center at f5.6 The lens weigh half as much as the camera and when I mounted it I feared something might give. I only used a bit of rise and fall.

Am I taking a risk using such a heavy lens on a light weight camera?

[Drew Bedo]

My 4x5 is a little Wista-made Zone-VI. I used to havea ;argish Wollensak 15" f/5.6 telephoto that I mounted to a Wista lens board. It would work on the little ca,era, but the front standard was wobbly. It was always an iffy exercise for me and I sold it off.

[Robert Opheim]

Yes - really heavy lenses can ruin you camera. Years ago I put a heavy 12" Velostigmat (in a #5 Betax shutter) lens on a old wooden 8x10. After using it for a while it broke the front standard of the camera.

[mdarnton]

Based on what I see of pix of the camera, your most likely chance of damage is ripping the track covers off the bed. Because of the WA configuration of the camera, and the possibility that you'll be using a lot of extension, that's the place where the lens is going to exert the most leverage. It probably won't happen all at once, but it could. I've put some pretty heavy lenses on old cameras that have secure glue joints (because I redid them myself!) without problems, but this kind of leverage situation didn't exist. It's all speculation until the moment it happens, but I don't think I'd do it.

[Bernice Loui]

Goes back to deciding on the lenses needed to meet the finished image goals before deciding on any camera.

Seems too many are driven to choose a camera then decide to or find a lens they want to use only to discover the camera they have placed top priority on as their choice is not suitable for the lens they want to use... which these days seems to be camera must be as lightweight and compact as possible.

Not only is there a risk of camera damage from using a lens that is too heavy for that camera, the set up cannot be stable complete with the risk of having the lens fall off the camera.


Bernice

[drewf64]

Bernice is correct! if the lens is something you intend on using, invest in a second camera more suited to the weight.
I use a number of very heavy lenses (I like fast glass) along with more conservative glass and keep several 8x10 cameras appropriate for the given lenses.
You will be glad you did in the long run.

What 8x10 camera (s) do you find best suited for your heavy lenses?
Thanks!

[drewf64]

Hello gypsydog:
What 8x10 cameras do you use when you are mounting abig, heavy lenses?
Thanks.
Drew

QUOTE=gypsydog;1557210]Bernice is correct! if the lens is something you intend on using, invest in a second camera more suited to the weight.
I use a number of very heavy lenses (I like fast glass) along with more conservative glass and keep several 8x10 cameras appropriate for the given lenses.
You will be glad you did in the long run.[/QUOTE]

[Two23]

Hello gypsydog:
What 8x10 cameras do you use when you are mounting abig, heavy lenses?
Thanks.
Drew

I bought a Kodak 2D specifically because it's pretty strong. My plan is to mostly shoot wet plate with 8x10 with period correct lenses. If I was primarily going to shoot film I would get a Chamonix. That lens support thing looks pretty slick though.


Kent in SD

[drewf64]

I bought a Kodak 2D specifically because it's pretty strong. My plan is to mostly shoot wet plate with 8x10 with period correct lenses. If I was primarily going to shoot film I would get a Chamonix. That lens support thing looks pretty slick though.


Kent in SD

Thank you for your reply, Kent ... greatly appreciated!
I have a 5x7 2D which i really like. It is pretty beefy, too.
I am NOT excited about putting a big, heavy period portrait lens on my Deardorff 8x10 for wet plate ... so looking for a solid 8x10 or maybe even a box camera.
Drew

[Tin Can]

Maybe a Calumet C1, they are all metal, rear focus, very strong and can be balanced fore and aft with the sliding rail.

BUT it needs a Majestic 6X7 head for best support.

Thank you for your reply, Kent ... greatly appreciated!
I have a 5x7 2D which i really like. It is pretty beefy, too.
I am NOT excited about putting a big, heavy period portrait lens on my Deardorff 8x10 for wet plate ... so looking for a solid 8x10 or maybe even a box camera.
Drew