4x5 Rear Focusing Knobs

I’m just seeking a bit of input from those who may have had experience with a 4x5 field camera both base tilt & axis tilt front standards. More importantly using either setup with the focusing knob being located in the rear of the camera instead of a front rail mounted knob.

The reason for my post here is having no experience with a rear focusing knob it would seem a bit fiddlier over the front rail mounted knob. I’ve used a Wista DXIII for close to 20 years now. Moving between the base tilt and front knob for focusing aspects is quick and simple for me on the DXIII. However, moving from the front tilt of either base or axis and then to a rear knob seems like it would be very slow. I’m sure it’s my lack of trying one, but thought I’d ask those that may have used a Chamonix, Shen Hao, or other unit with the rear focusing knob. Hopefully not making it too confusing here just trying to see if the rear focus knob approach is any deal breaker.

I use the rear focusing knob when needed for WA lenses. I put the WA all the way forward so the bed doesn't intrude into the field of view.

Rear focus is pretty well essential when doing close-ups with a view camera. The problem with front focus is that the distance from the lens to the subject changes, the magnification changes, and sometimes it is possible to rack through the entire focussing travel and see different size blurry images but no sharp focus at any point.

What Maris says!

Thank you each for the responses. I do not do much closeup work with LF gear, I have a nice MF setup for that need. With that said, I think my explanation was lacking. My main concern was trying to focus normal landscape scenes with near / far focus using a focus knob and front tilt. Not any issue for me with a front rail focus knob and the base tilt within an inch or two of each other. Easy enough to do when close to each other while looking at the GG. However, the same need with a focus knob sticking out of the center on the back of the camera is the point. Basically, trying to twist a rear focus knob moving the front standard and then reaching forward to tilt the front standard. To me it would seem to be a much more difficult task.
Just looking for others who might have that arrangement on their camera and find it acceptable in the end. Below is a Shen Hao PTB45 that uses the rear focus knob arrangement. Trying to work between that point and the front standard tilt is the issue in question for me.

It might be difficult at first. But you get used to it and it becomes second nature. It's not the most intuitive, but if it was a truly terrible design, you wouldn't see it on so many popular cameras.

jim10219 said:

It might be difficult at first. But you get used to it and it becomes second nature. It's not the most intuitive, but if it was a truly terrible design, you wouldn't see it on so many popular cameras.

Click to expand...

Totally understood and your point about being on many late model units seems to have a bit of staying power at this point.....thank you for the input.

You should easily get used to moving your hand the few inches to reach the back focusing knob. I would'nt give it a second though if I were to buy a Chamonix and I've been using Wistas for 30+ years. It might be a bit slower, but with LF, you're usually not in such a hurry anyway.

Just to point one thing out: The rear focusing knob on the Chamonix moves the front standard; it's not rear focusing, rather a rear control for front focusing and, therefore, not what you're looking for if you plan on doing a lot of table-top or macro work. You'd need a camera with real rear focusing like the Zone VI or the Wisners.

Best,

Doremus

Doremus Scudder said:

You should easily get used to moving your hand the few inches to reach the back focusing knob. I would'nt give it a second though if I were to buy a Chamonix and I've been using Wistas for 30+ years. It might be a bit slower, but with LF, you're usually not in such a hurry anyway.

Just to point one thing out: The rear focusing knob on the Chamonix moves the front standard; it's not rear focusing, rather a rear control for front focusing and, therefore, not what you're looking for if you plan on doing a lot of table-top or macro work. You'd need a camera with real rear focusing like the Zone VI or the Wisners.

Best,

Doremus

Click to expand...

Thank you for your comment. Yes I was aware of the rear knob focusing the front standard. Although my original questions were really lacking on that point. For me it was strictly an issue of moving back and forth between the rear knob and the tilting point on the front standard. Like you I've been using a Wista for a very long time and find it totally second nature without any thinking at all.