Bag bellows v. recessed lens board

[NavyMoose]

I am thinking of getting a used Fujinon-SW 90mm lens f/8. I use a Toyo 45C monorail view camera. I am trying to determine if I can use this lens with a recessed lens board instead of spending a couple of hundred more for a bag bellows.

Thank you!

Navy Moose

[rob champagne]

get the bellows. using a recessed lens can sometimes be a real PITA because of the linkage required to fire the shutter going out of alignment and also because of getting at the aperture ring. It really depends on how recessed the lens would really be and whether you can get at everything without putting a mechanical linkage to fire the shutter. IMHO

[NavyMoose]

The lens is a Fujinon-SW 90 f/8. The lens board is recessed about 38mm, or so. I've got a cable release, are you talking about something other than that for the linkage?

The bellows is considerably more expensive than the recessed lens board. When I shoot LF, I can put up with a PITA because I'm not shooting for speed.

Sorry for the dumb questions, I'm a newbie with LF. I've shot only eight sheets of film.

Thanks!

Navy Moose

[rob champagne]

I don't know that lens so someone else may be able to better advise you. However, with recessed lensboards you often need either a cable release with a bend at the end or a linkage system because the fix point on the lens for the cable release is inside the recess so a straight cable release won't fit. And also the aperture ring is recessed so it can be difficult to read what its set at and adjust it because getting fingers into the recess is tricky.
If you have the possibility of seeing the lens fitted to the lensboard then you can make a judgement for yourself.

[Pinholemaster]

Depends on how flexible your present bellows is. Recessed board are awkward. I don't use one on my 90, only my 58 mm. If you need movement, and your present bellows gets in the way, get a bag bellows.

[epatsellis]

Long before I'd spend a few hundred on a bag bellows, I'd find a ratty old standard bellows and make a bag bellows, Mine came out quite nicely, and as a bonus, I can use any length lens up to a 210 with it, with ease.


erie

[resummerfield]

Depends on how flexible your present bellows is. Recessed board are awkward. I don't use one on my 90, only my 58 mm. If you need movement, and your present bellows gets in the way, get a bag bellows.

I'll agree with this. I use the standard bellows for a 90 and a 75, with a flat lensboard. Get the lens and mount it on a flat board, and judge for yourself.

[Nick Zentena]

The lens is a Fujinon-SW 90 f/8. The lens board is recessed about 38mm, or so.

That's a deep board. How big is your lensboard? I'd be leery of using something that deep with a Linhof type board.

Does your camera have a min extension of over 130mm?

[eddym]

I had a bag bellows for my first 4x5 (an Omega), and used it with a 90mm Super Angulon. I hated it. It was a real PITA to switch the bellows every time I wanted to mount the lens. I have a recessed board now for the 75mm SA that I use with my Technika; it's a little fussy, but at least all I have to do is switch the lens and shoot.

[Nick Zentena]

If you shoot mostly wide then you can make the bag bellows your stock. With some bag bellows you can do normal to wide just fine.