Deardorff front standard

[Barry S]

I recently got a Deardorff V8, and it's in very good shape, but there's an issue I'd like to address. The camera is pretty rigid, but I traced the biggest source of flex to the hinge on the front standard. The hinge is attached to the front standard base with some small rivets and there's a little bit of play allowing the hinge to lift up a little bit. It's probably not affecting anything, but I'd feel better if I could tighten the hinge to the base. Has anyone had this issue or have some suggestions on tightening the hinge?

The base of the front standard looks like it's held to the front extension by a large hex bolt with a very shallow head. I was thinking of carefully unscrewing the hex bolt (any suggestions here?) and using the pressure from a small c-clamp to tighten the rivets. Does that sound like it would help or am I likely to make the rivets even looser? Thanks.

 

[df cardwell]

It would be REALLY clever to not do this stuff.

How old is the camera (meaning, how beat is it ?)

The wear on a Deardorff is usually in the plates of the swing mechanism.
If they wear out, THEN the hinge can get stressed. And they would both need to be replaced.
(lots of cameras that have been in catalog houses and been worked to death have been dribbling into the market for some time.)


But then diagnosis like this isn't effective, is it ?

 

[Barry S]

It's a later V8 in nice condition. The hardware is not worn at all and I may just be very picky because the amount of play is very small--but it's there. It could be perfectly normal for all I know because this is the only Deardorff I've ever handled. Unless, I get some information that it's reasonable to do something, I should probably just leave it alone. Thanks.

 

[df cardwell]

Shoot it, see if there is a problem. Maybe there is a Deardorff nearby of known function.

I hope it's in great shape !

 

[Peter Spangenberg]

The hex bolt is the pivot for the front swings, and, if I remember correctly, it doesn't come off. It has nothing to do with attaching the front hardware to the front extension. The hardware is attached with wood screws (underneath when the swing is moved all the way left or right). At any rate, the rivets should be tight. Check to see if the play you get isn't just the metal of the front hardware twisting a bit on the knurled tighteners for the front swing as you push the standard (tightened on the lens axis) forward and back. If that's it, you can move them a bit (the knurled swing tightening knobs) to make it more stable. I agree that you should shoot it first to see if there's a problem. If it's bad, check with Ken Hough on options. He has a lot of hardware.

 

[Barry S]

Ok, thanks for the suggestions. I haven't had anytime to go shooting lately, so I've been practicing and examining the camera in detail. I think my issue may be comparing the Deardorff to the rigidity of my Chamonix 4x5--which is rock solid. The Deardorff has a little more flex than the Chamonix, but is certainly more rigid than my 2D.

 

[Alex Hawley]

I wouldn't worry about it unless it actually does something detrimental to a shot. My Dorff is 1940's vintage and was used by a studio for years before I got it. It flexes a bit but no one has ever told me I need a more rigid camera. I've even shot in winds high enough to make it visibly bounce around and still gotten good shots with 1/10 second shutter speeds.