Shen Hao 4x5 Lens Shade Options

[bobwysiwyg]

Looking for some input on what direction to take. I have a 4x5 Shen Hao and on the few occasions I feel the need for a filter, I use a Cokin P holder and filters. I also have a 4x5 monorail that I use occasionally and it has a compendium which I like when the need arises.

Back to the Shen Hao though, I know there is a compendium and it has a filter slot, but much larger than the Cokin filters and it seems there are no alternative filters avail. that fit and I'm not axious to have two sets anyway.

Cokin has a compendium, pretty pricey, a gaudy red, and nobody seems to have them in stock.

Finally, Cokin has stackable lens shades to fit their holders. My question is, has anyone ever used these, are they affective?? They would be easier to fit in my kit and a bunch cheaper than compendium alternatives, but if they are not a viable solution, I guess neither of these attributes matters much. I know a lot of folks just shade their lens with the dark slide, but I'm interested in your thoughts on an actual lens shade. Thanks.

 

[fschifano]

Would it not be possible to adapt the compendium you already have to the Shen Hao? Shouldn't be that difficult. But on to your question about the stacking Cokin lens hoods. Yes, they work, and fairly well. Only problem is some vignetting (maybe) if you use movements. I have them and no, I haven't had the vignetting problem when using modest movements. Heck, you can always use the dark slide as a shade anyway. It's not like you're using the Shen Hao as a hand held camera.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

fs, thanks for the reply. The compendium I have is for a Cambo, much too big 'and' heavy.

 

[pgomena]

Check out the Lee filter/lens shade system. Flexible bellows-type lens shade and fairly light.

Peter Gomena

 

[tchamber]

As pgomena says, go with the Lee. It's cheaper than the Cokin and works fine.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

As pgomena says, go with the Lee. It's cheaper than the Cokin and works fine.

Really? I did a quick search earlier and it looked like the filter holder alone was $150. I'll have to look again.

 

[Curt]

I had a similar situation with my Shen Hao, I put a Schneider Symmar 210 on it and then screwed a filter and then screwed the largest rubber lens hood I had on the front. The negative was great but I made one mistake, a rookie one, I raised the front up and ended up with a nice cut off on the top. It would have been a fine photo but it was flubbed. The problem with this camera is the front is small and it's not that easy to just hook on a lens shade.

I'd love to have an Ebony type lens hood dark cloth setup.

 

[pgomena]

No, the Lees are not cheap. But, I've had mine for 15 years and it's held up just fine. A nice feature of the shade is that you can bend it into position and it stays there.

Peter Gomena

 

[archer]

I made a bellows lens shade from an old enlarger bellows, glued to two 1/8 in mahogany plates with tabs used to accept rods made from wood dowel that can follow the movements of the front standard by merely using two different length rods on either side of the shade to match the swing, tilt, rise and fall. Although the movements are limited compared to a dedicated compendium, for my work they are sufficient and the front of the hood could easily accept a 4x4inch filter holder and the flocking added to the front hood surface will hold masking blades that have hook tape attached to them. The step ring that screws into the filter threads on the lens, is sized for the largest lens I use and all my other lenses use step up rings for use with the hood. I have used the hood with lenses from 90mm to 355mm and have suffered no vignetting. The entire hood is very light and quite rigid.
I have enclosed a couple pictures.
Denise Libby

 

[Curt]

I made a bellows lens shade from an old enlarger bellows, glued to two 1/8 in mahogany plates with tabs used to accept rods made from wood dowel that can follow the movements of the front standard by merely using two different length rods on either side of the shade to match the swing, tilt, rise and fall. Although the movements are limited compared to a dedicated compendium, for my work they are sufficient and the front of the hood could easily accept a 4x4inch filter holder and the flocking added to the front hood surface will hold masking blades that have hook tape attached to them. The step ring that screws into the filter threads on the lens, is sized for the largest lens I use and all my other lenses use step up rings for use with the hood. I have used the hood with lenses from 90mm to 355mm and have suffered no vignetting. The entire hood is very light and quite rigid.
I have enclosed a couple pictures.
Denise Libby

This put a big smile on my face when I read the first line. I too was thinking bellows, old bellow, old camera bellows and then I when up and looked in storage for something. I opened a box that had a spare upper head with the two bellows, lens stage, rack and pinion, an entire old Beseler enlarger part. The top bellows is of course the square one but bottom bellows is a tapered one on this old model.

I removed the tapered bellows and it's going to be my lens shade for an 8X10 Calumet C1. It seems that every time I get a great idea I often see it here right after the fact. I'm thinking on mine that I'll hang it from the top of the metal front riser plate, this camera is big, and do an extendable crossed metal for the extension. Similar to the RB67 large lens shades.

Your bellows lens shade is excellent, I have a Shen Hao also, back to topic, and I'll be looking for another bellows to make one for it. The real fun of this site is that I can sit in my room here and exchange ideas with people everywhere and anywhere. No big revelation but when you sit down and think of it, it's really a great thing.

When it's done I'll post a picture. The Shen Hao model will be a little longer. Forgive me, extendable is not in the spelling dictionary so I'm not sure it's a word.

Best,
Curt