Shen Hao HZX45 -- Rear Geared Focus?

BradS · Dec 13, 2009

The specs on the shen Hao HZX45 are kinda sketchy on this but the photos I've seenmake it look like the camera may have geared focus on the back. Can an owner confirm this?

Does the Shen Hao HZX45 have geared focus on the back? or is it only on the front?

Thanks.

HerrBremerhaven · Dec 13, 2009

Geared focus on the front right, with the front left being a focus lock knob. On the back is a lock down cam with lever that holds position; you can do swing and/or shift with that one lever. There are two threaded holes for the lever, allowing you to place that in a pull or push to lock preference.

The two rear side knobs on the bed of the camera are to allow moving the entire back standard forward, an example being when you wanted to use a short focal length lens, or when you want to do macro photography. Those are just lock down knobs, and are not geared to the metal side plates.

If you want a lower cost rear geared focus 4x5, then check out the Shen Hao PTB 45. That is very similar to the Chamonix 4x5. I do not know if either of those has a focus lock, which might be another question for you to investigate. Neither camera has rear shift, though you could fake it with front and rear swings.

https://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=2766

http://www.shen-hao.com

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

Curt · Dec 13, 2009

BradS said:
The specs on the shen Hao HZX45 are kinda sketchy on this but the photos I've seenmake it look like the camera may have geared focus on the back. Can an owner confirm this?

Does the Shen Hao HZX45 have geared focus on the back? or is it only on the front?

Thanks.

No, front only.

Curt

BradS · Dec 13, 2009

bummer.

Thanks guys.

BradS · Dec 13, 2009

HerrBremerhaven said:
The two rear side knobs on the bed of the camera are to allow moving the entire back standard forward ....are just lock down knobs, and are not geared to the metal side plates.

Thanks. That is what I thought but, wanted to be sure.

HerrBremerhaven said:
..... check out the Shen Hao PTB 45. That is very similar to the Chamonix 4x5.

Both of those have front focus only....although the control knob is aft. This is not what I'm looking for. I want to be able to adjust focus by moving the back...NOT the front.

bobwysiwyg · Dec 13, 2009

BradS said:
I want to be able to adjust focus by moving the back...NOT the front.

Newb question here, why that preference?

BradS · Dec 13, 2009

bobwysiwyg said:
Newb question here, why that preference?

It is a good question. I very strongly prefer to focus with the back because, focusing the back only changes the lens to film distance and the lens to subject distance stays constant. When you move the front you change both the lens to subject distance and the lens to film distance.

Why does it matter? There are several reasons and most are pretty subtle. The most important is probably because the size of the image changes when you change the distance from the subject to the lens.

It's not really such a big deal until you try to focus on something close. Even at head and shoulders portrait distances, the change in image size when focusing the front is annoying.

HerrBremerhaven · Dec 13, 2009

BradS said:
Thanks. That is what I thought but, wanted to be sure.

Both of those have front focus only....although the control knob is aft. This is not what I'm looking for. I want to be able to adjust focus by moving the back...NOT the front.

I think you would have to look into the non-folding Shen Hao models instead. The TFC45-IIB is biased for shorter focal lengths, and has front and rear geared focus, so you could use either or both. While it does not fold like the HZX45A-II, it is still fairly compact.

https://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=3165

The other model to investigate is the TZ45A, which was earlier than the current TZ45B model. The difference is that the A has front and rear rack and pinion focus. However, as far as I know, only the B model is currently available.

Keep in mind that you can also contact Shen Hao in Shanghai, and get a custom made 4x5 with features you want. While that is more expensive, it is something they offer as a service.

In case anyone was wondering, I have no commercial affiliation with Shen Hao. I am simply a happy owner and user.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

bobwysiwyg · Dec 13, 2009

BradS said:
It is a good question. I very strongly prefer to focus with the back because, focusing the back only changes the lens to film distance and the lens to subject distance stays constant. When you move the front you change both the lens to subject distance and the lens to film distance.

Why does it matter? There are several reasons and most are pretty subtle. The most important is probably because the size of the image changes when you change the distance from the subject to the lens.

It's not really such a big deal until you try to focus on something close. Even at head and shoulders portrait distances, the change in image size when focusing the front is annoying.

Thanks, it makes sense.

ic-racer · Dec 13, 2009

BradS said:
Even at head and shoulders portrait distances, the change in image size when focusing the front is annoying.

The image size will still change as you focus with the back standard.

bobwysiwyg · Dec 13, 2009

ic-racer said:
The image size will still change as you focus with the back standard.

OK, so does this [make sense]. Hmm, much to learn. :confused: If so, what is the advantage of rear standard focus vs. front standard?

BradS · Dec 13, 2009

ic-racer said:
The image size will still change as you focus with the back standard.

Hmmm, yes...it does - that 9s correct. I suppose that the image size chanes less fast when focusing the rear than when focusing the front. The point is that focusing the rear changes only one variable at a time and so is easier than focusing the front - which changes both image distance and object distance simultaneously. Again, it doesn't seem like a big deal until you try to focus on something close.

bobwysiwyg · Dec 14, 2009

Hmm, I guess I see a little experiment in my future.

ic-racer · Dec 14, 2009

BradS said:
Again, it doesn't seem like a big deal until you try to focus on something close.

Not to say that rear focus is not needed, and with close ups more importantly. One case where I like rear focus is with a monorail and a still life. Sometimes the rail is no where perpendicular to the subject. In that case, front standard focus not only changes lens-subject distance, it also can move the lens up, down or sideways with respect to the subject.

I just wanted to point out that the 'magnifying' effect of focusing is from the standards moving away from each other, and will be evident even with rear-standard focusing.

The neat thing about view cameras is that you can see what is going on. Try moving the whole camera back and forth one inch and see how the image size changes. Then move either standard back and forth one inch and see how the image size changes.

Have you considered a compact monorail? A friend of mine just got a mint Graphic View for $150. That is a fantastic, full-featured, lightweight monorail.

BradS · Dec 14, 2009

ic-racer said:
Have you considered a compact monorail? A friend of mine just got a mint Graphic View for $150. That is a fantastic, full-featured, lightweight monorail.

I've owned quite a few view cameras in my short life. At one point, I had a beautiful Sinar F2....an especially nice camera....but I just don't get on well with monorails for some reason. I had a Canham DLC too for a very short time....I should have kept that one.

Hmmmm....

ic-racer · Dec 15, 2009

I think the rear standard focus is left some modern field cameras in the interest of light weight.

Curt · Dec 17, 2009

I'd like to take mine apart and replace the wood with something else and add some extension right into the body and add rear focus via rack and pinion. Blood wood would look stunning as would Zebra or Purple heart. It would also look better with the black paint stripped off and the brass polished and lacquered or plated silver or gold. This is just a thought I've had. Going a step further I'd used the hardware on a new wood body of the same type but 5x7. I have a Canham bellows that would love to hang out there.

As it's built I think the stock Shen Hao HZX45 with its limited bellows extensions is a perfectly fine 2X3 camera. For the weight and limitations it's an overweight limited 4X5.

A revolving back would be the icing on the cake, no fumbling in the cold taking off and putting back on the gg back.

Shen Hao HZX45 -- Rear Geared Focus?

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