Toho owners

I recently bought a FC-45A and it came with one (Copal #0) lens board. I was able to find another for sale on eBay (Copal #1). Kumar is looking into possibly getting a machinist he works with to make some boards he can sell. In the mean time, while I'd prefer metal, I worked on a 3D model that I could send off to a 3D printing service, and now I have 10 3D printed boards. (five C0, three C1, and two C3)

One thing that suprised me is that linhof boards don't fit. According to the instructions for the FC-45A you need an adapter board which came with the camera (and which was not in what I got with the camera.)

Because the front standard appears to be different, based on the Technika board fit, I don't know with certainty that my 3D printed board will fit a FC-45X. So I'm wondering if someone out there has an X model that could test fit one of my boards? I'd like to confirm before I make the 3D models publically available. Post in here if you have an X model. I have one spare board for test fit, I can send it to someone (preferably in the USA) to test, and I don't need it back, so no cost to be my first guinea pig. Please let me know by replying to this thread.

Also, I'm now modifying my original 3D printed lens board design into a design that should be very similar to the Toho eccentric lens board to allow movements even when the bellows are over compressed. If I had a copy of the Technika lens board adapter, I'd look at modeling that as well since most of my lenses are in Technika boards, and I'd love to be able to use all my lenses without moving them back and forth between lens boards.

WOW. ROUND lens boards. I had no idea -- but this guy might be of some help -- http://www.thalmann.com/largeformat/toho.htm

People should not confuse your TOHO with TOYO -- but also TOKO cameras (which DO use Technika boards):

http://www.subclub.org/toko/

the round boards are funky, but they actually have an advantage since the Toho doesn't have a bag bellows option. The eccentric lens board I'm working on has a spinning disk mounted off-center on the main board. Then the spinning disk has an offset C0, or C1 hole. When the spinning disk is at it lowest point, it will be centered on the outer board, then as you rotate the disk the lens moves further away from center. Since doing that adds shift and rise/fall at the same time, you can rotate the outer board to remove that shift (or rise/fall if shift is the movement you're trying to make.

I have an FC-45X.

Alan9940 said:

I have an FC-45X.

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I'm curious--have you used linhof board on yours? When I got my FC-45A there was nothing noted anywhere online that to use linhof boards you needed an adapter. Then I got a copy of the (japanese) instructions and google told me that instructions call fro an adapter board. I assume for yours the board can be used without an adapter?

Anyway, if you dont mind, I can send you a board to test fit. Then you can keep it free. (It doesn't have a hole for the shutter, but its plastic so if you want to use it, you should be able to drill it.) PM me your address and I'll get it sent in the next few days.

abruzzi said:

I assume for yours the board can be used without an adapter?

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Trying to put a round plug in a square hole. Where have I heard that before?

abruzzi said:

I'm curious--have you used linhof board on yours? When I got my FC-45A there was nothing noted anywhere online that to use linhof boards you needed an adapter. Then I got a copy of the (japanese) instructions and google told me that instructions call fro an adapter board. I assume for yours the board can be used without an adapter?

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If by Linhof board you mean the typical 96x99mm board, then yes but only a couple of times. I much prefer the round Toho boards. I've never even seen an A model, but on my X the board needs to be placed at 45 degree angles to the front standard such that two opposing corners go under the securing bars. I hope this makes sense.

the issue on the FC-45A is that the hole in the front standard is smaller than the light trap ring on the rear of the linhof board. It definitely doesn't fit, which is why I want to confirm that my 3D model works for the X as well as an A.

abruzzi said:

the issue on the FC-45A is that the hole in the front standard is smaller than the light trap ring on the rear of the linhof board. It definitely doesn't fit, which is why I want to confirm that my 3D model works for the X as well as an A.

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Interesting. That must be one of the design changes for the X model.

While perhaps not the most elegant approach, I was able to make workable extra lens boards for my Toho by rounding some Technika boards. The light traps on the Technika boards fit OK and work for me, although I am not sure whether I have the X model or not.

The FC-45A has a fixed 300mm rail, with an option for a fixed 400mm rail. This is the model I have and it requires an adapter to mount Technika boards. The later FC-45X has a split telescoping rail where the bottom half is fixed and the two upper halves can slide apart but are anchored by the the bottom rail. The later X is more flexible, but the earlier A is .3kg lighter. (1.4kg vs 1.1kg.)

Thanks for the clarification. I evidently have the X, so that solution would not work for the OP.