Fujinon 400mm and toyo flatbed

I recently purchased a fujinon 400mm f8 for my toyo 4x5 flatbed

which contrary to the information from dealer does not have enough

extension. Can anyone suggest a solution? (Sending it back would be

a big hassle). Thanks in advance.

If your camera has both axis and base tilt on the front standard you can gain another couple inches of extension by using base tilt to move the lens forward of the camera bed and then using axis tilt to align the lens with the film plane. You also might try to find an extension lens board commonly called a "top hat." That would also gain another few inches of extension. But frankly if I were you I'd return the lens. The Toyo field cameras with which I'm familiar only have slightly more than 12 inches of bellows extension. If that's the case with yours then you need to gain about 4 more inches of extension just to focus a 400mm lens at infinity, much less being able to use the lens in the many situations that call for focusing closer than infinity.

According to Toyo-view, the camera can only handle a 400mm of telephoto design. Toyo-view sells an extension back that adds 4 inches of extension. At $527 dollars you'll have to decide whether that is a worthwhile additional investment for you. I believe it is relatively easy to use, though bulky.

You could also try a "top hat" type lens board if you can find one adapted for the Toyo

 

You'd probably have to get something like a toyo to technika board adapter, and then the sk grimes technika 4 1/2" extender or such - but again, it's not going to be a cheap option.

 

You are only going to get about 320mm extension on the Toyo without either a front or back extender. The dealer was wrong (as outlined above, it can only take lenses over 300 mm or so lens if they are telephoto design, which yours isn't)

 

 

tim a

I'm not sure that the above answers are sending Tom in the right direction. Part of the problem is that Tom wasn't specific enough about which lens and camera that he has -- stating the exact model names would help. Most of the answers are assuming that Tom has a non-telephoto lens. But looking at Fuji's catalog, I see that the only 400 mm f8 lens is the Fuji-T, which is a telephoto lens. Tom, is that the lens that you bought?

 

This is a crucial to the issue -- the true definition of "telephoto" is a lens that focuses with less bellows extension than its focal lens. For example, the 400 mm Fuji-T has a back focal length of only 221 mm, so it is very reasonable to expect it to focus on field cameras with about 12 inches / 300 mm of bellows. Looking at Toyo's description of the 45CF (guessing one of the flat bed models), Toyo lists the maximum bellows extension as 356.7 mm (a bit ridiculous to specify to 0.1 mm!) and the longest usable lens as a 400 mm telephoto used on a flat lensboard. Toyo says this lens should work.

There should be no problem at all using a 400 mm telephoto with 221 mm back focus on a camera with 356 mm of extension. So if this is the combination that Tom has, I don't know why Tom has a problem with the combination. Perhaps he didn't realize how strong the telephoto effect, and is using too much extension. It should focus on infinity with the lensboard 221 mm in front of the ground glass.

Darn it Michael - I shouldn't try writing emails before my first cup of coffee... I was thinking the 400 was a fuji C lens - indeed it's a T (must be too taken with my new 450C)

 

Quick thought Tom - are you using a Toyo 45 A/AII or AX? If so, have you loosened the two little doohickeys under the back and pulled the back extension out?

 

Also, how close is the object you are using to focus on that you aren't getting enough extension for? the closer to you it is (from infinity) the more extension you are going to need. If it's too close, it may be more extension than you have.

 

Can you actually get it to focus at infitnity?

My apologies for not being more specific. The lens in question is a tele and since posting I have taken a recessed lens board for my 65mm and inverted it which gives me about another inch and a bit of extension and although this allows me to focus on infinity it is not the best because the lensboard does not fit flush when reversed.

It is easy to build an extension tube. Buy a short piece of 3 in. ABS sewer pipe, some epoxy and a 4x4 in. piece of Masonite or aluminum sheet. Cut a 3 in. hole in a lens board, cut a squared length of the pipe, 1 in. or so in length. Cut a hole in the Masonite or aluminum for the lens. Using the epoxy, glue the pipe to the lens board and Masonite to the front of the pipe. Total cost (not counting labor), less than $30. I made one to use a Nikon 500T on my Toyo AX.

Thanks for the suggestion Louis. I will give it a try.

I assumed that your lens wasn't the Fuji 400mm telephoto because I used to own that lens and used it for quite a few years on a Tachihara, which has virtually the same bellows extension as the Toyo 45A series (i.e. 12.75"). Which model Toyo do you have and what is the bellows extension on it? If you have even 12" you should be able to use the Fuji 400mm telephoto lens and focus well forward of infinity without resorting to any accessories.

Hi Brian. I have the toyo 4x5 AII. With maximum extension I measured 10 inches from film plane to front standard. It sounds like I should be getting 12 inches so perhaps something isn't working quite right.

Tom

 

Have you done as I suggested: "loosened the two little doohickeys under the back and pulled the back extension out?"

 

So the back pulls out towards you on the two thick bars? That's your extra 2+"

you loosen the two star shaped knobs on the underside of the camera

Tom,

 

According to Toyo you should get 324mm of extension with your 45AII, which should be plenty for your Fuji 400T (252mm extension for infinity focus):

 

http://www.toyoview.com/Products/45AII/45AII.html

 

Are you sure both the front and rear standards are fully extended?

Thanks you all for your expertise. It turns out the rails upon which the rear standard moves were seized up and after reefing on them I was able to get the necessary extension.