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Author Topic: Sharing lenses between lf and alpas, etc.  (Read 3439 times)

marcwilson

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Sharing lenses between lf and alpas, etc.
« on: July 02, 2007, 10:12:09 am »

Out of interest, whist thinking about some future possibilities, does anyone know how easy it is to share one's large format lenses between a standard lf camera (ebony, arca, etc) and the various more compact shift option cameras such as alpas, fotomans, or upcoming arca r which all use a helical focussing system?

I'm wondering as there are various occassions when you need / want to have shift and rise movements but need a hand holdable camera such as the ones above..and of course don't want to invest in 2 sets of lenses.

I am not talking about changing lenses between the cameras in the field or on location but in the studio.
I am also not looking at using the helical focussing on the view camera so am looking at the ease of taking the lenses out of the helical focussing mounts again and again...how will this affect the focussing of the mounts etc.

Cheers,

Marc
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Mort54

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Sharing lenses between lf and alpas, etc.
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2007, 10:22:35 am »

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Out of interest, whist thinking about some future possibilities, does anyone know how easy it is to share one's large format lenses between a standard lf camera (ebony, arca, etc) and the various more compact shift option cameras such as alpas, fotomans, or upcoming arca r which all use a helical focussing system?
Hi Mark. I've been wondering the same thing. At least for Alpa, their lens mounts aren't compatible with any other system out there (according to an email direct from the Alpa founders).

I've looked hard at Silvestri also, and they have both helical focussing mounts and lens board mounts, and they're not interchangeable either. You have to send the lens in and get one type modified into the other type, and then recalibrated on an optical bench. I haven't checked whether their lens boards can be used in any LF systems.

There's not much info on the Arca R yet, so it's hard to tell about that body. Likewise with the Fotoman Dmax.

Mort
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marcwilson

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Sharing lenses between lf and alpas, etc.
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2007, 10:24:35 am »

According to the guy at Fotoman it is easy to take on and off the lenses from their helical focussing mounts so I am wondering if the alpa's, etc are similarily easy and more importantly if so do not affect the critical focussing etc.

Marc
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Mort54

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Sharing lenses between lf and alpas, etc.
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2007, 10:36:54 am »

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According to the guy at Fotoman it is easy to take on and off the lenses from their helical focussing mounts so I am wondering if the alpa's, etc are similarily easy and more importantly if so do not affect the critical focussing etc.

Marc
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Well, I asked Alpa that specifically, and they said no, it needs recalibration on an optical bench. The U.S. Silvestri rep told me exactly the same thing about their lenses.
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marcwilson

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Sharing lenses between lf and alpas, etc.
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2007, 10:48:45 am »

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Well, I asked Alpa that specifically, and they said no, it needs recalibration on an optical bench. The U.S. Silvestri rep told me exactly the same thing about their lenses.
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Thanks for that info Mort.
There is certainly a need, I think, for a compact portable hand holdable camera (with/withoutshifts) that can take lf lenses, digital backs, and also for the meantime film backs, as the alpas do but one that allows you not to have to buy / carry two sets of large format lenses!...or am I missing something glaringly obvious out there!
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Mort54

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Sharing lenses between lf and alpas, etc.
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2007, 10:52:49 am »

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Thanks for that info Mort.
There is certainly a need, I think, for a compact portable hand holdable camera (with/withoutshifts) that can take lf lenses, digital backs, and also for the meantime film backs, as the alpas do but one that allows you not to have to buy / carry two sets of large format lenses!...or am I missing something glaringly obvious out there!
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Hi Marc. I totally agree. I'm still holding out hope that maybe the Arca-R or the Fotoman Dmax will have lens board mounted lenses that can also be used in a LF type camera. If you run across anything, please post to the forum.

Mort.
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marcwilson

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Sharing lenses between lf and alpas, etc.
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2007, 11:01:55 am »

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Hi Marc. I totally agree. I'm still holding out hope that maybe the Arca-R or the Fotoman Dmax will have lens board mounted lenses that can also be used in a LF type camera. If you run across anything, please post to the forum.

Mort.
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This is the question / reply from fotoman regarding their dmax although as that camera can take a 612 back I do not think its going to be that compact!

"Hi, Just how easy is it to mount and unmount multiple times lenses from your helical focussing mounts and retain accurate focussing, as I need to use my large format lenses on two cameras..one of yours and also a standard 54 view camera. Thanks. Marc

Answer:
Hi Marc,

mounting/dismounting your lens(s) from our HFM is no more difficult than doing so from a lens board. Once calibrated, the HFM will not be disturbd by mounting/dismounting of the lens/shutter.

The only caution I would comment on is that you take the normal care in not cross-threading the rear lens group when mounting/dismounting the lens."

I think in the end though like many things photogrpahic the wanted answer won't be the correct one so you'll have to end up with either two seperate and complete systems or a compromise of the two which is of course never a good idea.
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