Ebony and wide angle

[LKT]

I am interested in the Ebony S45. A friend has kindly lend me his to try out. It seems to be well made and works fine. Certainly much less fiddly than my Linhof Technikardan, and lighter too.

The problem is, it does not work with my 47mm wide angle. I can not get the lens standard and the film back close enough to focus.

According to the Ebony website, this camera should work with wide angle lenses down to 38mm with a recessed lens board. My 47mm lens is factory mounted by Linhof onto their recessed lensboard. I assume that it will meet the most stringent standards.

I should be grateful for any ideas.

Thanks in advance.

Ka Tai

 

[Nick Zentena]

Ebony wide angle is I think like the Shen haos. Tilt the front standard back with the base tilts. Then true it with the axis tilt. Then the same thing with the back except tilt it forward.

There used to be pictures on the Ebony website. Better at explaining it then me.

 

[Trevor Crone]

The Ebony takes Linhof lens boards, so a 10mm recessed board should bring the 47 to infinity focus.

 

[LKT]

Ebony wide angle is I think like the Shen haos. Tilt the front standard back with the base tilts. Then true it with the axis tilt. Then the same thing with the back except tilt it forward.

There used to be pictures on the Ebony website. Better at explaining it then me.

Thanks for your prompt response.

It is an interesting technique, but the 45S is non-folding, without base tilt. So this is not applicable.

I think I have found a way, but it requires modifying the lens mount. Please see the post below.

Ka Tai

 

[LKT]

The Ebony takes Linhof lens boards, so a 10mm recessed board should bring the 47 to infinity focus.

Thanks for your prompt response.

As I have said in my first post, the lens is factory mounted by Linhof on a recessed lensboard already (I am not sure if one can buy a 47mm lens without a recessed lens board).

The minimum extension for the Ebony 45S is 60mm, so in order to focus to infinity, the lens has to be recessed at least 13mm. Ebony wide angle lensboards are recessed 15mm.

I took the lens to my favourite camera repair technician, who took the whole thing apart. Although the Linhof lensboard is recessed 20mm, there is a 10mm spacer attached to it so that the effective recession is only 10mm. He is going to replace the spacer with a flat plate to get the necessary recession. This will make the lens a bit harder to use, since I have to stick my finger in deeper to get at the aperture ring and other controls, and I am not sure if I can attach a cable release to the shutter any more. But it is a possible solution.

Ka Tai

 

[Steve Hamley]

Per Nick's post, have you "articulated" the standard(s) as shown here?

Dead Link Removed

Steve

 

[Martin Aislabie]

Thanks for your prompt response.

As I have said in my first post, the lens is factory mounted by Linhof on a recessed lensboard already (I am not sure if one can buy a 47mm lens without a recessed lens board).

The minimum extension for the Ebony 45S is 60mm, so in order to focus to infinity, the lens has to be recessed at least 13mm. Ebony wide angle lensboards are recessed 15mm.

I took the lens to my favourite camera repair technician, who took the whole thing apart. Although the Linhof lensboard is recessed 20mm, there is a 10mm spacer attached to it so that the effective recession is only 10mm. He is going to replace the spacer with a flat plate to get the necessary recession. This will make the lens a bit harder to use, since I have to stick my finger in deeper to get at the aperture ring and other controls, and I am not sure if I can attach a cable release to the shutter any more. But it is a possible solution.
Ka Tai

My data sheet says you should only need a 10mm recessed board with the 47mm.
I have a 45S & am very happy with it.
However, I still have a nagging doubt that I should have has the 45SU and fitted a Bag Bellows to cope more easily with movements with short lenses.
The 45S has fixed bellows and they get a bit tight with movement when used with a short lens.
I have never run out of movement due to the bellows but sometimes it does seem a bit tight
Also I have ordered a Wide Angle Fresnel, because the image on the ground glass is a bit dark.
However, it hasn't arrived yet so I don't know how successful it has been
Good luck
Martin

 

[LKT]

Per Nick's post, have you "articulated" the standard(s) as shown here?

Dead Link Removed

Steve

That page was 404 when I tried to access it yesterday.

The 45S, unlike the 45SV, does not have base tilt. As a result, it is lighter.

Ka Tai

 

[LKT]

My data sheet says you should only need a 10mm recessed board with the 47mm.
I have a 45S & am very happy with it.
However, I still have a nagging doubt that I should have has the 45SU and fitted a Bag Bellows to cope more easily with movements with short lenses.
The 45S has fixed bellows and they get a bit tight with movement when used with a short lens.
I have never run out of movement due to the bellows but sometimes it does seem a bit tight
Also I have ordered a Wide Angle Fresnel, because the image on the ground glass is a bit dark.
However, it hasn't arrived yet so I don't know how successful it has been
Good luck
Martin

Are you using Linhof lensboard with your 47mm lens? I really should like to see how it works without having to mod the lensboard.

I have tried the 45SU briefly. It is heavier by 1 Kg. But interchangable bellows can be a godsend. I shall make a decision after trying out my friend's 45S.

Since I shoot mostly with wide angles -- my "normal" lens is the 75mm -- I should be interested in how the wide angle fresnel works. Please keep me updated.

Thanks for your response.

Ka Tai

 

[Steve Hamley]

The Ebony wide angle fresnel works fine. I have one in a spare frame for my SV45U. Unlike standard Ebony fresnels, the Ebony wide angle fresnel has no "groundglass" or image forming side and is placed "grove-to-groove" OVER the existing standard fresnel. You may have to bend the retaining clips slightly to reduce the tension that results from having two fresnels under the cover glass.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I did a search and found one other posting re: wide-angle lenses and recessed lens boards. However, it only referenced 110mm lens, and the consensus was, it should work on a flat board. At what point, in 4x5 format, is one likely to need to resort to a recessed lens board?

 

[Trevor Crone]

At what point, in 4x5 format, is one likely to need to resort to a recessed lens board?

This depends on camera design. How close the front and rear standards come together to achieve infinity focus.

With my Ebony SW45 the only time I need to use a recessed lens board (10mm) is when I use the 35mm Apo-Grandagon.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Thanks. That's pretty wide! I ask, because the 4x5 set-up I have came with an empty recessed lens board and I was just curios.