Spanner wrench for lenses

[acjtucson]

Excuse my silly question but I am relatively new at large format. Is a spanner

wrench necessary to put the lens on the lens board? When I was looking at

websites about lenses, I saw a spanner wrench advertised. Have I been harming my

equipment by not using one and just putting it back together by hand? It seemed

to screw together just fine. Is this spanner wrench just a luxury accessory?

[BrianS1664879711]

You probably will not get the shutter tight enough on the board without using a spanner. No harm, it might just spin a little. But it will likely become VERY annoying to you.

[brucecahn]

2 of those very small screwdrivers amy be used instead, but the wrench, for under $20. is easier.

[ronald_moravec1]

Micro tools.com

 

I used two small screwdrivers for years. Not worth it so get the wrench

[bohdan_pryszlak]

Andrew, just buy the wrench. Tighten your lenses to your lens boards and then keep it in your camera bag. You're a guy. And guys like tools. Trust me, once you have it you'll never think of it as frivolous purchase. Mine cost me less than $20 and has four sizes (one on each side of the square).

[jon_shiu]

You can usually get it tight enough by putting your thumb on the lockring and turning the shutter with the other hand (if no index pin on shutter).

 

Jon

[michael_briggs2]

It is safer to use a spanner wrench. Using screw drivers risks slipping and causing damage. Not using any tool may not get the nut tight enough.

 

Here is a past thread on the subject: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00K7ke

[frankz]

S K Grimes (http://www.skgrimes.com/) makes one that bulletproof for about $40-$50.

[acjtucson]

Thanks to all. I am ordering one up tonight. Brian, you were right. It did spin a little. It worried me, and annoyed me too. I appreciate the input.