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Field cameras that can fold with 135mm sironar-N


hagai_kaufman

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Hello to everybody,

 

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I'd like to get some advise concerning folding 4x5 field cameras that can be folded with a lens (specificly my favorite 135mm/5.6 Rodenstock sironar-N). If anyone knows about any camera that can do this (not including the press-type cameras i.e graflex and linhof), please let me know.

 

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TIA

 

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Hagai Kaufman

Albatross Aerial Photography

Tel Aviv ISRAEL

www.albatross.co.il

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Hagai:

 

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You can fold up any of the Wista technical field cameras (RF, SP and

VX) with the 135mm Sironar N. When using a lensboard with a hole

that is centered (some predrilled lensboards offset the mounting hole

slightly), you can close the camera with a lens having a front filter

diameter of 52mm. I have a Rodenstock 150mm Sironar S with a 49mm

filter diameter that fits with both offset and centered lensboards.

Your 135mm has a 40.5mm filter size -- I see no problem whatsoever

with these cameras.

 

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Regards,

Matt

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Hagai,

 

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I understand your question, but I'm not sure I understand the motivation. Is it to minimize the bulk required when carrying your system, to protect the lens during transport, or for rapid deployment when you want to take a picture?

 

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My answer hinges on what you consider a "field" camera. Both my current cameras are monorails that are specifically designed to be used in the field - the Toho FC-45X and the Linhof Technikardan TK45S. Neither "fold up" like a traditional flat bed field camera, or a clamshell press/technical camera. However, either one can be collapsed and transported with a lens in place. I do it all the time, and unlike the flat bed and press/technical cameras, they are much less restrictive in terms of what lenses you can leave mounted during transport. The only restriction is that the rear element must not be so deep it contacts the ground glass. One the Linhof that means any lens with a rear element depth of about 2" or less (every lens I am currently using on this camera from 75mm - 450mm can be transported on the camera - including a 210mm APO Symmar). The Toho the maximum rear element depth is just over an inch. Since I use this camera with compact light weight lenses, it can easily be transported with lenses from 90mm to 300mm mounted (90mm Congo, 135mm APO Sironar-N, 200mm Nikkor M and 300mm Nikkor M).

 

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I'm not sure if either of these cameras meet your other needs, but I almost always transport them with a lens mounted to save room in my pack. I usually just leave whatever lens I was last shooting with on the camera when I pack it up for transport. Saves a little time when packing up, and on occasion it also ends up being the "right" lens for my next shot - again saving a little time (although that's not my motivation for leaving a lens mounted during transport - swapping lenses only takes a few seconds). Having a lens mounted on the camera during transport also protects the front side of the ground glass on these two cameras when carring them in the pack (otherwise, the front side of the ground glass is exposed through the opening in the front standard.

 

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Kerry

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I'm thinking on getting a Walker titan. If you use one, I would be

happy to know one more thing about the way it opens and closes: what

is the opening and closing sequence and what operations you need to

do to open and close it.

 

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I thought about the toyo 45ax, but luckily had the chance to check it

out before and didn't like the way it opens and especially closes -

very fiddley.

I like to road around the city by foot with a small pack and tripod.

When I feel like making a picture I like to setup quickly and fold

down just as quick.

 

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Thanks everyone for the reply,

 

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Hagai Kaufman

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Hagai:

 

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I just received a Caltar II-N 135mm, f-5.6 lens and found that it

will fit on an older (circa 1991) Zone VI field camera if the lens is

reversed in the front standard. There is a 5/8" clearance (and maybe

a smidge more) between the bed and the focusing rails when the camera

is folded up. The back element of the lens measures ~5/8" thick, so

it is a tight fit.

 

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Dave Erb

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