Pentacon Six and Sonar 180mm

baachitraka · Nov 17, 2025

How to securely mount it on tripod? I know there is a mounting screw on the lens but I don't trust it. So, I rather look for something bracket either custom made that holds the camera and the lens together.

Any ideas?

Ian Grant · Nov 17, 2025

If you look at how old wooden LF camera tripods mounts are used to attach very much heavier cameras to a tripod, you'd realise the Sonnar lens tripod lens mount is sound, balances the body & lens.

Ian

Alexander6x6 · Nov 17, 2025

baachitraka said:
How to securely mount it on tripod? I know there is a mounting screw on the lens but I don't trust it. So, I rather look for something bracket either custom made that holds the camera and the lens together.

Any ideas?

The built-in tripod collar of Sonnar 180 is a very nice thing, never regreted to use it. Using the 645 back with my Hartblei 688 camera I could also turn it in portrait orientation.

blee1996 · Nov 17, 2025

As others mentioned, the tripod mount on the Sonnar 180/2.8 is plenty strong for the combo. After all, the Pentacon Six is not that heavy in term of medium format cameras.

On the other hand, there are plenty"Dual Camera mount tripod bracket" on your favorite e-commerce websites that costs less than $15. If you have to have that kind of peace of mind.

baachitraka · Nov 17, 2025

I just measured the height difference between camera's tripod mount to the sonnar's tripod collar mount to be 20mm.

Yes, I could get a dual camera mount and possibly get one of this (30mm long) for the camera

and drill a slightly wider than 1/4 inch hole and secure everything tightly.
But I have found something like this for Sonnar 300mm f/4 and I wish they made one for 180mm too...

blee1996 · Nov 17, 2025

Search "Foldable Long Focus Lens Support" on amazon and you will find something interesting.

baachitraka · Nov 17, 2025

blee1996 said:
Search "Foldable Long Focus Lens Support" on amazon and you will find something interesting.

yes, that would fit perhaps for all heavy lenses.

loccdor · Nov 17, 2025

I have this lens and on my copy the tripod collar locking mechanism is not very secure, it wobbles, it's a hindrance to using it. Other lenses I have with tripod collars perform much better. But it might just be mine.

Using a metal bar with groove that accepts two tripod screws won't hurt you. I think it's better to use a 3/8th screw directly on the Sonnar if you can rather than adapt it, that can be a point of failure if the metal is soft and also they make adapters in different lengths.

Another reason you would want to use a bar like this is to balance it on a gimbal. Could be more applicable if you plan to add a teleconverter.

baachitraka · Nov 18, 2025

I would never trust that tripod collar on the lens and I was looking for some safer solutions. The tripod collar and camera's tripod mount is not on same level so solutions such as this could be optimal.

reddesert · Nov 18, 2025

You can make a proper lens cradle support bracket that is fully adjustable, out of system parts that use dual 15mm rods. Something like this part from Smallrig:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1554784-REG/smallrig_15mm_lws_universal_lens.html
two rods like this:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...rig_1051_2x15mm_alum_alloy_rods_m12_20cm.html
and maybe two pieces, like this for the under-camera block and the tripod attachment:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...lightweight_15mm_railblock_2_pieces_pack.html

There are a jillion parts for this system (I think it is derived from the professional video world) that you can go Erector-set crazy with. Just poke around on the B&H or Smallrig website.

Alexander6x6 · Nov 20, 2025

baachitraka said:
I would never trust that tripod collar on the lens and I was looking for some safer solutions. The tripod collar and camera's tripod mount is not on same level so solutions such as this could be optimal.

View attachment 411516

I personally find it quite bulky for the Sonnar 180. A quick-exchange plate tightly fixed to the lens collar would put your mind at ease.

baachitraka · Nov 20, 2025

Alexander6x6 said:
I personally find it quite bulky for the Sonnar 180. A quick-exchange plate tightly fixed to the lens collar would put your mind at ease.

I personally would prefer a simple mono-rail of 15cm and try to secure both the camera and lens. But with P6 there is a height difference of 20mm between lens and the cameras' tripod mount.

An extra 30mm screw would help to secure the camera and the other screw that comes with the mono-rail would secure the lens.

Lets me see...

Alexander6x6 · Nov 20, 2025

baachitraka said:
I personally would prefer a simple mono-rail of 15cm and try to secure both the camera and lens. But with P6 there is a height difference of 20mm between lens and the cameras' tripod mount.

An extra 30mm screw would help to secure the camera and the other screw that comes with the mono-rail would secure the lens.

Lets me see...

View attachment 411689

I completely trust the engineers at Carl Zeiss Jena and Pentacon VEB. You, on the other hand, think they're morons, right? It's okay.

baachitraka · Nov 20, 2025

Alexander6x6 said:
I completely trust the engineers at Carl Zeiss Jena and Pentacon VEB. You, on the other hand, think they're morons, right? It's okay.

not really. Threads are bit worn out so I feel a little better when mounted on the tripod and haul it around.

baachitraka · Nov 20, 2025

Alexander6x6 said:
I completely trust the engineers at Carl Zeiss Jena and Pentacon VEB. You, on the other hand, think they're morons, right? It's okay.

Just like this...

source: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/aero-ektar-12-inch-f-2-5-4x5-astro-camera.189944/#post-2518900

Alexander6x6 · Nov 21, 2025

baachitraka said:
Just like this...

View attachment 411696

source: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/aero-ektar-12-inch-f-2-5-4x5-astro-camera.189944/#post-2518900

I am curious to see the final combo with your Sonnar 180. Please share it as soon you get it.

baachitraka · Nov 21, 2025

Alexander6x6 said:
I am curious to see the final combo with your Sonnar 180. Please share it as soon you get it.

Sure...

baachitraka · Nov 21, 2025

Alexander6x6 said:
I am curious to see the final combo with your Sonnar 180. Please share it as soon you get it.

I looking for a bracket that goes from camera to the lens or a bit longer.

Distance from the camera to the tripod socket is 20mm, either a screw or a 3d-printed spacer secured by a screw.

All together compact and light was the intention to ask this question.

blee1996 · Nov 24, 2025

baachitraka said:
I would never trust that tripod collar on the lens and I was looking for some safer solutions. The tripod collar and camera's tripod mount is not on same level so solutions such as this could be optimal.

View attachment 411516

Just to report back that the above shown TB02 flexible bracket does not work with the Pentacon Six + Sonnar 180/2.8. The bracket is too long, regardless of how I adjust the three pieces. So the hunt is continuing.

baachitraka · Nov 25, 2025

blee1996 said:
Just to report back that the above shown TB02 flexible bracket does not work with the Pentacon Six + Sonnar 180/2.8. The bracket is too long, regardless of how I adjust the three pieces. So the hunt is continuing.

if the bracket thickness is 5mm then you may need 30mm mounting screw.

30mm = 20mm (distance between two mounts) + 5mm for the thickness + 5mm for the screw depth (it could be little shallow than this)

Pentacon Six and Sonar 180mm

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