Preferred Lens Mount Orientation?

craigclu · Jul 4, 2008

I'm just piecing together a Zone VI (Tachihara based) kit and deciding on preferred orientation for the controls on the lens. These boards are slightly rectangular and only mount in one direction. I'm feeling like I'll be more comfortable with the shutter speed/f stop controls on my Copals aimed to the right side of the camera and the diaphragm control pointing upward. Am I thinking correctly here or are there good reasons for having the controls at the 12:00 position or another position?

Dan Fromm · Jul 4, 2008

Upside down and backwards is best.

In other words, the shutter and lens don't care. Suit yourself.

John Kasaian · Jul 4, 2008

Just be sure that the cable release dosen't want to dangle in front of the lens

Maris · Jul 4, 2008

The standard Tachihara 4x5 lens board is rectangular according to the Linhof pattern BUT a square board will fit. I made many 96mm square boards out of 2mm aluminium plate.

These boards fit the Tachihara 45GF four different ways so I can have the f stop and shutter speed numbers facing me irrespective of camera orientation.

Another advantage of square boards is the possibility of off-centre mounting of wide angle lenses. My 65mm lens needs tightly compressed bellows but the off-centre mount gives me rise, fall, right shift, or left shift depending on the way I put the lens on the camera.

df cardwell · Jul 4, 2008

I do portraits, I shoot at eye level.

One day, 38 years ago, I thought,
"HEY ! if I rotated the lens so the aperture scale was on the SIDE
I could SEE IT !!!!!"

I correct the image when I frame it.

.

BradS · Jul 5, 2008

df cardwell said:
...I correct the image when I frame it.

Frank Szabo · Jul 5, 2008

Craig - Fiddle with the orientation for yourself. It's doubtful you'd care for the way I (or anyone else) would set up a LF camera.

These things are personal items - much more so than, say, a Hassyblad or anything else photographic. I know it sounds silly, but try having someone not related to you rearrange your clothes closet - same thing.

Dave Miller · Jul 5, 2008

John Kasaian said:
Just be sure that the cable release doesn't want to dangle in front of the lens

Dam! That's what those fuzzy lines are that I get with my new lens.

Preferred Lens Mount Orientation?

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