120 folders- changing lenses?

[Colin Graham]

Is it possible to swap lenses on folders? Are some easier that others? Sorry if this has been discussed to death, had no luck searching. Thanks in advance.


P.S- shouldn't there be a folder subforum by now? :-D

 

[Frank R]

You could swap a similar focal length lens, such as replacing a 105mm Voightar with a 105mm Color Skopar. But you would have to check the focus at infinity by opening the camera back and laying a few strips of scotch tape across the film opening to act as a thin ground glass. Set the lens at infinity,set the aperature to its widest opening, set the shutter on T and open it up and look at the image formed on the tape. It helps if the camera is on a tripod. It also helps to use a dark cloth over your head and the camera to block out light so you can concentrate on the resulting brighter image.

If the focus at infinity is off, you would have to remove the shutter and either add to or subtract from the thin cardboard spacer shims that are often between the shutter and the lensboard.

 

[Colin Graham]

Cool! Thanks very much for the detailed answer.

 

[Kevin Roach]

I have a 6.5x9 Certotrop plate camera. I use a Rada 6x9 rollfilm holder. This camera has a ground glass and features a removable lens holder. So I have 3 lenses I can use with it. The camera is pretty small, fits in a coat pocket and is very well made.

BUT...to get the additional lens holders I had to buy three of them. The "Bee Bee" is a certotrop renamed for the American market. I managed to find a couple of those in poor shape for the lens holder.

It makes a nice little system, fits in a small camera bag. But it took me a while to get all the pieces together.