Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Creative ways of mounting largish lenses on smallish lensboards?

  1. #1

    Creative ways of mounting largish lenses on smallish lensboards?

    I was given an 8x10 Rochester King View camera a few years ago and had to hastily put it into storage.

    The front nameplate was missing and I mistook it for a Kodak 2D. With that misinformation I assumed a 6" lensboard.

    This year I pulled out the camera and someone helped me identify it and an English Compact style, and specifically a Rochester King View. It has no lensboard.

    I have acquired so many lenses over the years in anticipation of easily fitting a 6" square board.they also tend to be heavy so I know the front standard will need support. The camera is about 6# with no lensboard.

    This has become frustrating as the Rochester front standard has a 4" opening with 4-1/4" lensboard space.

    After having a Betax 5 shutter repaired for a 12/4.5 Radar Anastigmat, it will barely fit a 4" board...probably needs to be metal because the hole required is close to 3.5"and the combination is about 4#.

    A 12"/5 Aerostigmat in barrel has a barely smaller barrel (no shutter) and is still about 3#.

    Are there creative successful solutions to mounting a bulky lens on a 'box' (antithesis of a recessed lensboard) with a 4"/4-1/4 board spaced at the rear to fit the small opening front standard?

    I can visualize (roughly) a stepped metal board but don't want to waste time & money having something made before figuring out what really works.

    Obviously, the answer is 'yes', but the 'how' would be easier than reinventing a method with many mistakes.

    Long leadup to asking what others have done. The obvious is to find a tiny little f/6.3 or so lens from that period...but it's pretty frustrating to have too many lenses already and have to go buy something else.

    I have saved lots of random single & achromat elements over the years, but their coverage is unknown...hence the stubborn interest in lenses known to work for this format.
    Yeah, I created all my own obstacles.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Posts
    991

    Re: Creative ways of mounting largish lenses on smallish lensboards?

    If you put a big, heavy lens farther in front of the front standard than usual without a 'crutch', you are asking for unintentional front forward tilt...especially on an older wood camera. I have a Gundlach Radar 12" f/4.5, and use it on a Burke & James Rembrandt portrait camera...it has no tilt on the front standard.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Sunshine State
    Posts
    1,102

    Re: Creative ways of mounting largish lenses on smallish lensboards?

    You need a step-up lens board adapter, likes one below.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	CE0DC9F2-F1E9-4814-9667-3716A546ABB3.jpg 
Views:	78 
Size:	43.9 KB 
ID:	228539

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Sheridan, Colorado
    Posts
    2,434

    Re: Creative ways of mounting largish lenses on smallish lensboards?

    What's the width of the opening on the front of the camera without a lensboard attached?

    If you have a shutter that is too wide to fit on the front standard of the camera, an adapter like the one shown could be bought or made to get the shutter far enough out front to attach it. I doubt that you would need to have much extension at all -- 1/4"?

    Once you get the shutter attached, you should be able to get any wide rear element attached through the back of the camera.

  5. #5

    Re: Creative ways of mounting largish lenses on smallish lensboards?

    Thank you all.

    Opening in front standard is two-stepped.

    4-1/4" then 4", the larger apparently providing light baffling (stated to show my possible comprehension, not presume to educate people with far more knowledge and experience :@).

    Murray

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    St. Simons Island, Georgia
    Posts
    880

    Re: Creative ways of mounting largish lenses on smallish lensboards?

    I’ve made step up lens boards with a metal piece at the camera end for handling the weight and wood for the rest.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Tucson AZ
    Posts
    1,822

    Re: Creative ways of mounting largish lenses on smallish lensboards?

    I've made adapters like that totally out of wood - actually built a box extender once - I used it on my Agfa - Ansco 5 x 7 which is pretty sturdy as wooden cameras go.

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 15
    Last Post: 4-Apr-2021, 05:22
  2. Ways to store enlarging lenses ?
    By jk0592 in forum Darkroom: Equipment
    Replies: 40
    Last Post: 26-Jan-2016, 15:29
  3. Smallish, cheapish long lenses for 4x5
    By John Schneider in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 31-May-2009, 09:26
  4. mounting lenses in lensboards
    By AFSmithphoto in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 10-Apr-2008, 21:18

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •