Nikon M 300/9 on Tachihara ?

I sold my Fujinon "C" 300mm one year ago to buy film for the Merry Go Round project, and now I'd like to replace it.

There's a Nikon "M" 300/9 in a shop, for a decent price, but I'm wondering if it's flange distance is OK for my 4x5 Tachihara.

I was able to focus the Fujinon at 2.5 m, which was quite OK for me, so I'd be happy if the Nikon is in the same range.

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The Fuji is 282.3mm, while the Nikkor is 290mm.

I show an FFL of 293.8mm for the Nikkor M in one Nikkor catalog, and 290.0mm in another. Whichever is correct, it's still a bit longer than the Fujinon C.

My specs for the Tachihara 4x5 show a bellows draw of 33cm.

I have the Nikkor M 300/9 lens, so it's in my database. Give your extension of 330mm, I show a highest magnification of 1:8 and a close focus of 8.3 feet using the 293.8mm FFL.

- Leigh

I use the Nikkor M 300mm on my Wistas with a top-hat lensboard. This allows pretty close focusing even. Might be a solution for you if the Nikkor doesn't quite focus as close as you want. I made mine.

That said 10mm = 1 cm = .254 inches. That's the largest difference between the Fuji and Nikkor as far as bellows draw is concerned.

I can't remember if the Tachi also has axis tilt on the front. If so, one can often use the base tilt to get a little more bellows extension and bring the lens stage back to parallel with the axis tilt. Works on my Zone VI with the 450mm Nikkor for a little extra draw.

Best,

Doremus

Thanks for your answers,

The Tachi does not have axis tilt, so I guess a "top hat" would be a good idea (I understand that with 20mm extension it would focus at 1.8m, which seems more comfortable than 2.7)

But I think I'll soon be the owner of a Nikkor M (except if a Fuji 300 crosses my way)

I think the Tachi does have axis tilt if you don't put the tabs into the front standard slots and then tilt the base forward a bit.

Jon