Canham Focus Locks

[seadrive]

Hi guys and gals,

Okay, so I've had my 5x7 Canham for a couple of months now, and there's a lot to like about it. It's lightweight but sturdy, the focusing is silk-smooth, and it has huge bellows extension.

But the focus locks are making me crazy! Am I doing something wrong? Am I the only one who finds that I sometimes can't get at the little levers inside the frame that lock the focusing rail? It's especially a problem with a short lens, where I have to move the rear standard forward.

I'd greatly appreciate it if you Canham owners could let me know how you deal with this. Do you just get used to it, or am I missing something obvious?

TIA!

[rmann]

Hi guys and gals,

Okay, so I've had my 5x7 Canham for a couple of months now, and there's a lot to like about it. It's lightweight but sturdy, the focusing is silk-smooth, and it has huge bellows extension.

But the focus locks are making me crazy! Am I doing something wrong? Am I the only one who finds that I sometimes can't get at the little levers inside the frame that lock the focusing rail? It's especially a problem with a short lens, where I have to move the rear standard forward.

I'd greatly appreciate it if you Canham owners could let me know how you deal with this. Do you just get used to it, or am I missing something obvious?

TIA!

When I use mine, I try to move the back as far forward with a short lens as possible so they aren't covered. What length lens is giving you a problem?

[Robert Hall]

Make sure they are adjusted properly too. Too loose or tight can make quite a difference.

[seadrive]

When I use mine, I try to move the back as far forward with a short lens as possible so they aren't covered. What length lens is giving you a problem?

It's a 120mm.

I guess that's the way to go, just move the back in front of the levers.

Although my old Eastman View #2 is nowhere near as nice and stable as the Canham, the controls and their related locks are much more intuitive (i.e. movement control on one side, related lock on the opposite side). Guess it's just a matter of getting used to it.

[rmann]

It's a 120mm.

I guess that's the way to go, just move the back in front of the levers.

Unless you are working up close with a 120mm, why not use back focus for fine adjustments? Those locking levers would be easier to work with. I normally lock the front, slide the back for rough focus, lock the slide position and then fine focus using the back adjustments.