Busch Pressman D (4x5) Landscapes and Portraits, what lenses?

Dear APUG/Photorio Members,

Just acquired a clean Busch 4x5 D Field style camera, a few questions?

a) What would be a good lens for Landscapes and Urban Decay shooting?
b) I am looking for about a 35mm emulation (field of view) on my Nikon.
c) Also, for doing portraiture both outside and in studio with strobe, what focal length
have you used with this camera to give satisfactory (excellent) results.
d) the Camera came with no lens or viewfinder, so I am open to new lens suggestions or older ones
that are shallow depth but good image quality.
e) Lastly does anyone here have a source for lensboards for the Busch Model D, I will be needing Copal 0
and Copal 1 in the not too distant future.
f) Many thanks for your responses, this looks like a solid camera and I don't do crazy acrobatic
camera movement so this should fit the bill for now.....

Harlequin

Ah, Busch Pressman D lensboards, the only reason I didn't buy one. I bought a B&J Speed Press instead, does everything the Pressman does (plus a bit more) and easier to find (or make) 4x4" lensboards. Larger lensboards means more lenses to choose from. Anyway, a 90mm WA for many landscapes, I preferred a 127mm over the 135mm for most everything. A 210 for portraits, if you have enough bellows maybe a 10".

I just picked up a Busch Pressman C (2x3 version) but I've learned some things about both in my research.

a) Really no right answer to that one. Don't go thinking the only way to shoot landscapes is with short lenses. Sometimes a long lens is what you need. So, a short (~90mm), normal (~135mm) and long (~250) would be good. Obviously it will change depending on the focal length you like working with in whatever format you shoot right now. I prefer normal to short telephoto, so I have an Optar 101mm and Kodak Anastigmat 170mm right now, both picked up for under $35. I don't care about anything being top of the line or tack sharp, because this camera is just for fun to me.

b) If you like 35mm focal length, then look for a lens around 100mm. But, be careful whatever lens you get covers 4x5 because there are many 101 and 105mm lenses made by Wollensak and Kodak that were made for the 2x3 format. This was (is) the hardest part for me about finding cheap lenses. Not knowing if it will cover the format. If you find a lens you think you'd like, do a google search and look in this forum, photo.net, and largeformatphotography. Chances are someone else has asked about the coverage of that lens.

d) Look at the Graflex viewfinders with the drop-in masks for different focal lengths. Or, if you're using a normal lens, use the sportsfinder. If your camera also doesn't have a rangefinder, you'll either be focusing with the ground glass (in which case a viewfinder isn't necessary) or hyperfocal distance focusing. But, you talked about wanting shallow DOF so by definition you will probably not be using hyperfocal distance focusing.

e) There is a seller on ebay who is also a member of photo.net that sells the 4x5 lens boards. His name is Gary. Unfortunately he does not sell Pressman C lens boards, but that doesn't matter to you, only me! Search "Busch Pressman lens board" and you'll find them. I think they're $22.50 each and he'll drill them in #0 or #1.

I got the 2x3 version because my enlarger can handle 2x3 but not 4x5, so 4x5 would not do me much good. But, once I can start enlarging 4x5 I think I'll be getting a Pressman D. They're fun little cameras.

P.S. These cameras use spring backs and are not directly compatable with Graflok backs. Not an issue if you just use sheet film holders. But, if you want to shoot roll film, you'll need to get either a roll film adapter like an Adapt-a-Roll (which I'm still trying to find in the 2x3 size) or Calumet made one too. There is an Adapt-A-Roll available as Buy-it-Now right now on ebay that will fit your camera.

Have fun!

I also have a Busch 4X5 camera. I've had good success with a 127mm for general photography, and a 210 mm for portraits. I have to rack the bellows out to get a close, tight portrait with the 210mm, but it works. Love the revolving back too, which is why I keep the Busch (along with my Crown Graphic).

Jim B.

harlequin said:

c) Also, for doing portraiture both outside and in studio with strobe, what focal length
have you used with this camera to give satisfactory (excellent) results.

Click to expand...

Depends on what you want, 3/4, head and shoulder, tight face with a working distance of roughly 10 feet. 152mm is considered normal.

harlequin said:

d) the Camera came with no lens or viewfinder, so I am open to new lens suggestions or older ones
that are shallow depth but good image quality.

Click to expand...

There should be a wire frame that pulls up or flips up at the front standard with a peep site at the back. Its called a Sports finder and beats any little optical finder made.

hi harlequin
i can't talk specifics about YOUR camera, i have a speed graphic
similar but a little different ..

regarding lenses ... if you multiply your 35mm focal length by 3 you will get a " close " equivalent.
a 150 is kind of like a 50 on a 35mm
the usual groupings people get for 4x5 kind of stuff is
a 90 for wide angle work
a 150 "normal"
and a 210 / 203 &c for a longish lens.
if you can find a 10" teleoptar in a shutter GRAB IT
they usually sell for not too much $$ are kind of rare ( in a shutter at least )
and are a tele design so they won't gobble up your bellows. a 15" teleoptar is also a great long lens !

good luck with the nitty gritty !
john

I have been using a 'lens board' for the last year that is made from a piece of heavy (non-corrugated) cardboard, stacked with printer paper and glued together (So that I could make the bends in the layers to get the little tab thing) while I 'eventually' get around to making a proper one. The whole thing was eventually coloured black with a sharpie to make it look a little less like paper and cardboard glued together to hold the lens. (I basically just traced out the original board for each layer, left the pieces slightly large, then cut and fitted everything with an X-acto knife. It was messy, but I managed to do it without cutting myself.) Made small notches in the bottom for the two face screws, and cut a hole in the tab by just turning a knife point like a crude drill. I haven't had an issue with it so far, even if it is ugly as sin.

A few quick photos of my current setup, but I'll see if I can't dig up any photos from when I was gluing it up: https://imgur.com/a/jWNnf8T

I suggest checking out your local Makerspace or similar group for a more durable lens board. It is on my list of 'things to get around to' for the summer, but I'll be sure to post up design files for whatever I come up with. I'm thinking a 2-3 piece assembly that is laser cut plywood that gets glued together, possibly with some register pins, is going to be the easiest/cheapest/fastest to build. I may try one as a 3D printed model, but as far as I can tell the original is 2 pieces of aluminum sheet, one of which was bent and drilled, and then sandwiched together, and 3D printing seems like overkill, and possibly not as durable.

On one hand I think it is kind of a shame that Pressman cameras get passed over so easily over fears of how difficult it is to find lens boards when they're so easy to fabricate, but on the other I'm happy that it seems to keep the popularity and price down. So maybe I shouldn't be sharing lens board solutions?

I have been happy with my Kodak 127 in the Graphic Supermatic shutter that I have for a general camera, but I haven't had any experience with other lenses on this one, so I'll be following the thread for more suggestions for myself.

Luckless said:

......On one hand I think it is kind of a shame that Pressman cameras get passed over so easily over fears of how difficult it is to find lens boards when they're so easy to fabricate, but on the other I'm happy that it seems to keep the popularity and price down. So maybe I shouldn't be sharing lens board solutions?........

Click to expand...

I made my lens board out of an acrylic sheet I bought at Lowe's. I cut it to size, drilled a hole in the center for a #0 shutter, and covered it with black tape to ensure it was light proof. Works perfectly.

Jim B.

saman13 said:

e) There is a seller on ebay who is also a member of photo.net that sells the 4x5 lens boards. His name is Gary. Unfortunately he does not sell Pressman C lens boards, but that doesn't matter to you, only me! Search "Busch Pressman lens board" and you'll find them. I think they're $22.50 each and he'll drill them in #0 or #1.
!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up on this. Just ordered one. I tried to make one but could not get a flange that would work.