Shen Hao HZX45 -- Rear Geared Focus?

[bobwysiwyg]

The image size will still change as you focus with the back standard.

OK, so does this [make sense]. Hmm, much to learn. If so, what is the advantage of rear standard focus vs. front standard?

[BradS]

The image size will still change as you focus with the back standard.

Hmmm, yes...it does - that 9s correct. I suppose that the image size chanes less fast when focusing the rear than when focusing the front. The point is that focusing the rear changes only one variable at a time and so is easier than focusing the front - which changes both image distance and object distance simultaneously. Again, it doesn't seem like a big deal until you try to focus on something close.

[bobwysiwyg]

Hmm, I guess I see a little experiment in my future.

[ic-racer]

Again, it doesn't seem like a big deal until you try to focus on something close.

Not to say that rear focus is not needed, and with close ups more importantly. One case where I like rear focus is with a monorail and a still life. Sometimes the rail is no where perpendicular to the subject. In that case, front standard focus not only changes lens-subject distance, it also can move the lens up, down or sideways with respect to the subject.

I just wanted to point out that the 'magnifying' effect of focusing is from the standards moving away from each other, and will be evident even with rear-standard focusing.

The neat thing about view cameras is that you can see what is going on. Try moving the whole camera back and forth one inch and see how the image size changes. Then move either standard back and forth one inch and see how the image size changes.

Have you considered a compact monorail? A friend of mine just got a mint Graphic View for $150. That is a fantastic, full-featured, lightweight monorail.

[BradS]

Have you considered a compact monorail? A friend of mine just got a mint Graphic View for $150. That is a fantastic, full-featured, lightweight monorail.

I've owned quite a few view cameras in my short life. At one point, I had a beautiful Sinar F2....an especially nice camera....but I just don't get on well with monorails for some reason. I had a Canham DLC too for a very short time....I should have kept that one.

Hmmmm....

[ic-racer]

I think the rear standard focus is left some modern field cameras in the interest of light weight.

[Curt]

I'd like to take mine apart and replace the wood with something else and add some extension right into the body and add rear focus via rack and pinion. Blood wood would look stunning as would Zebra or Purple heart. It would also look better with the black paint stripped off and the brass polished and lacquered or plated silver or gold. This is just a thought I've had. Going a step further I'd used the hardware on a new wood body of the same type but 5x7. I have a Canham bellows that would love to hang out there.

As it's built I think the stock Shen Hao HZX45 with its limited bellows extensions is a perfectly fine 2X3 camera. For the weight and limitations it's an overweight limited 4X5.

A revolving back would be the icing on the cake, no fumbling in the cold taking off and putting back on the gg back.