mounting LF shutters--orientation?

[MikeSeb]

I have a new Chamonix 4x5 and three CLA'd Compurs to mount in its lensboards. Here's an incredibly silly micro-detail question for the class:

How do you mount the shutters? I mean, at what orientation? Seems to me like you'd want to mount them with the cable-release sockets oriented so that the cable release hangs vertically, minimizing strain. Assuming I can still see the shutter speed and aperture settings, that is.

How do you all do this? Any other thoughts? And yes, I need to get a life. This is the sort of question that pops into my head during my morning commute. Maybe it's obvious with shutters and boards in front of me....

 

[nemo999]

I have a new Chamonix 4x5 and three CLA'd Compurs to mount in its lensboards. Here's an incredibly silly micro-detail question for the class:

How do you mount the shutters? I mean, at what orientation? Seems to me like you'd want to mount them with the cable-release sockets oriented so that the cable release hangs vertically, minimizing strain. Assuming I can still see the shutter speed and aperture settings, that is.

How do you all do this? Any other thoughts? And yes, I need to get a life. This is the sort of question that pops into my head during my morning commute. Maybe it's obvious with shutters and boards in front of me....

The "right" way would be with the shutter name at the bottom. This often results in the aperture and speed scales being at the top, which means you can't see them when the camera is on a tall tripod. I always mount lenses so that the scales are on one side and clearly visible. Of course, with smaller lens panels, it's often a matter of finding an orientation where the adjusting levers don't foul on the front standard.

 

[Jeff Bannow]

I keep a cable release on each lens, so I make sure that I can wrap the release around the front of the lens without the connector hanging off the end of the lens board. I also try to direct the shutter speeds on one side and the f stops on the other side - conveniently this places the preview lever on my copal shutters on the bottom. Not sure if this is "standard" but it works well for me.

 

[Ian Grant]

Older Compur's were factory fitted with the Dial set shutter speed ring at the top 12:00. More modern Compur's fit the same with the speed ring marker at 12:00.

Ian

 

[archphoto]

I have nearly all my lenses mounted on Linhof Technica boards with quick cable release adapters.
These adapters force you to mount the shutter in just one way.

If you don't use them you can mount your shutter in any position you feel comfortable with.

Peter

 

[PHOTOTONE]

The modern Copal and Compur shutters will work in any position. The main "issue" is clearance for the cable release in relation to the construction of the front standard of the camera. As an example, copal 3 shutters have the fitting for the cable release sticking straight out, not at an angle like the Copal 1 shutters. Thus it is possible that the cable release may be blocked by the posts that hold the front standard unless you angle the shutter up or down a bit. Older "pneumatic" shutters, the ones that have air pistons that descend by the pull of gravity need to be orientated with the top of the pistons up.

 

[mjs]

You can mount them in any orientation which pleases you: they'll work fine. And if you decide later that you'd like them rotated to another orientation, you can do that, too.

Who said LF was difficult?

Mike

 

[Ian Grant]

Not all lenses can be mounted in any orientation. Some have a locating pin that sits in a small slot on the edge of the mounting hole on the lens panel this is to stop the shutter turning on the lens board. Of course you can remove this pin, or position another slot elsewhere around the hole.

Ian

 

[L Gebhardt]

I orient them slightly crooked so I can see the scales from either side. Rarely am I directly over or under the lens.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

I mount them so the scales are vertical - so either I look straight down on them or have to crouch and look straight up.

Clearly it is a very personal choice.

As MJS points out - try one orientation - and if it works for you then great, otherwise you can trying until you are happy

Have fun

Martin