Different lens "sizes"

I just took possession of the Wollensak "extreme wild angle" below. But it came on a smaller lens board. When I unscrewed it I found it is

a little small for my camera's lens board. I think I can make one that fits, but I'm wondering how many different lens sizes did view

cameras ship with? How are they measured or described?

Because this lens was mounted on a much smaller lens board, is it possible it won't work on my 4x5?

Thanks

<p>Lens come in barrel (aperture blades only) and shutters. The lens themselves are in many focal lengths. In the early days to sometime in the 1950's or early 1960's each manufacture had their own size of shutter numbering them 00,0,1,2,3,4 or 5. Sometime in the 1950's or early 1960's the shutter sizes were standardized, before that each manufacture determined what their shutter number size was. The shutter or barrel size has no relevance to the focal length of the lens. The lens speed does have relevance to the shutter or barrel size as f stop is the focal length divided by the entrance pupil diameter (aperture opening) as viewed through the front of the lens. <br>

As long as the lens is designed to cover the format then the shutter or barrel size is irreverent.<br>

What camera are you mounting it on? Measure the outside diameter of the shutter mount threads to find the mount hole size needed. Some mount flanges and mount rings have a lip on the inner edge so measure the outside diameter of the lip if it exists to get the mount hole size.</p>

The barrel diameter of the lens currently in the toyo 4x5 is 1.25 inches or 31.5mm. The lens is a Schneider-kreuznach

symmar 135/5.6 with a copal no. 0 shutter. The new lens: The barrel (or outside diameter of the mounting threads in this

case) is 30mm or about 1.2 inches.

So they are close, but the retaining ring obviously won't engage the threads of the smaller lens.

Is there a convention to the naming of thee different sized lenses? The Wollensak ExWA has an Alphax shutter with no

shutter size designated.

<p>The 1950 Wollensak Price list referenced in your previous post about the lens says it is in a #1 Alphax. One usually has to measure and do research to find the shutter size number. <br />Now we go to http://www.skgrimes.com/ and navigate to the mount ring table under the products tab. Here is where knowledge of vintage equipment is valuable. I've spent many an hour doing research to acquire mine. Grimes does not list the Alphax #1 but does list a #0 whose mount ring is 1.180 x 40tpi. approximately the size you need. Wollensak made Betax, Alphax, and Rapax shutters and some sizes of Betax and Alphax are the same mount size. Once you have a correct measurement of the thread peak diameter then measure the length of the threaded section then count the number of peaks in that distance. A 40 thread per inch mount will have 10 peaks in .25 inch or .025 inch per thread, threaded length divided by number of peaks. Be sure to measure the threaded section only and do not include the unthreaded section between the shutter base and the start of the threaded section. http://www.skgrimes.com/library/faq/how-to-measure-threads </p>

<p>A spacer can be made to fit the difference between the mount sizes to take up the excess space or make/purchase a new lens board drilled to the correct size.</p>

Another very valuable web site. Thanks again.

I suppose there is no point in lamenting the lack of standardization in the past.

But apparently it's pretty difficult to buy a LF lens with any confidence it'll fit your camera?

Are some of these lenses the same as Leica screw mounts?

<blockquote>

<p>Are some of these lenses the same as Leica screw mounts?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>only those listed under the Metric mount/European made lens and shutters will be possible. Leica is M39 probably .75.<br>

Have you started your photography resource bookmarks yet? Grimes use to have twice as many shutter mount rings/flanges listed a few years ago.</p>

<p>"Another very valuable web site. Thanks again. I suppose there is no point in lamenting the lack of standardization in the past. But apparently it's pretty difficult to buy a LF lens with any confidence it'll fit your camera?<br>

Are some of these lenses the same as Leica screw mounts?"<br>

No, some shutters have a 39mm diameter thread size but a different thread pitch then Leica SM lenses. So they require different flanges.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>But apparently it's pretty difficult to buy a LF lens with any confidence it'll fit your camera?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Joe, lens boards are often, not always, camera specific. As Charles pointed out, shutter and barrel sizes aren't well standardized. None of this means that most LF lenses can't be mounted on most LF cameras.</p>

<p>Lens boards can be bored as required to accept a lens, be it in barrel or in shutter. A lens board to fit an arbitrarily selected camera can nearly always be procured. The problem isn't with reality, it is with your understanding of the way things have been, are and will be.</p>

Well since I have the retainer ring maybe I can make a new lens board. Or it may work to 3D print one.

Thanks again for the wealth of information offered!

Joe

<p>You can make a "quickie" temporary lens board out of black foam care. It's easy to cut and is light tight.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>View cameras often ship with just a flat, solid board that allow you to drill a hole and then stick your lens into the hole. It's very democratic. You have a lens, you have a board, you have a drill, you're done. It's one of the nice parts about the big camera: you can use any lens that's ever been made for any camera of similar format. You can easily use a 100 year old lens from Germany on a 20 year old camera from Korea. Or on a camera you make yourself out of plywood. <br>

I find lensboards extremely easy to make from soft (enough) aluminum in my woodshop using a table saw, a router and a fine. Then drill. Others use black foamcore. I've used wood and I've used solid-surface counter top material. Most recently I used a plastic called Delrin. One day I will shock the world by making a lensboard out of lasagna noodles or cow pelvis.<br>

You have to have fun doing this or why bother doing this?</p>

<p>A 4x5 is just a box. No matter when it was made, it's basically a box. One side of the box has a "window" where you focus the image, the opposite side has a lens fastened to it. It's not an F-mount or EOS mount kind of deal here. I have a Chamonix 045n made in 2011 and use a Ross lens made in London in 1845. I have a Gundlach Korona 4x5 made in ~1926 that I use with Rodenstock lens made in 1995. I have all my lenses mounted on "Technica" style lens boards which fit both my Chamonix and (via an adapter board) my Korona. I can use any of my lenses on either camera--lenses made in the 1840s, 1860s, 1920s, 1990s. They all attach to the front of the boxes.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p><div></div>