Usage of swing and tilt in old portrait cameras

[numerus]

Hello,





I find old portrait cameras very interesting. I've noticed that these often have the option of swing and/or tilt built into the front or rear standard (e.g. this Nagaoka, Burke&James Rembrandt, Bossy Box). I was wondering if this was commonly used in studio work for portraits and if so, what for? Do you have any experience with this? Are there any old publications on the subject?





Many thanks for your advice.

 

[koraks]

I don't know what others do/did, but I use front tilt fairly often on portraits, e.g. if a sitter has their hands in their lap and I want the focal plane to include the eyes and the hands, specifically.
Likewise, I can imagine swing is convenient in e.g. group portraits (I don't do those generally).

 

[jimgalli]

I assume you're talking about old Century Studio type cameras on the matching stand on wheels. The stand itself supplied your first couple of options. Raise or lower the camera almost instantly, and while you're viewing. Then tilt the camera down to the subject if that suits. And then the controls at the back can fine tune. If you're using a lens with large aperture and razor thin zone of sharp focus, tilt can set that zone where you think it best, and likewise swing might choose between ears and tip of nose to be sharpest or some other point that looks best. Or if a group and you're at an angle, obviously you'll need swing to get the best most equal focus on the plane. Visual fine tuning. But, those giant cameras go begging. Shipping costs more than the camera these days. So find one close by and buy it and find out first hand. They're marvelous tools.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Looking at the Nagaoka camera you linked to, I can imagine it being used for many other things than just portraits. It's even portable enough to take outdoors. Certainly, still-lifes and product shots in the studio are not out of the question.

And, swings and tilts, especially with a long lens and a wide aperture, are really handy to place the plane of sharp focus where you want it to fall on your subject. Someone sitting at an angle to the camera and looking back at it may need swings to have both eyes/shoulders/etc., in focus.

Best,

Doremus

 

[blee1996]

I don't know what others do/did, but I use front tilt fairly often on portraits, e.g. if a sitter has their hands in their lap and I want the focal plane to include the eyes and the hands, specifically.

+1 on that: face and hands in sharp focus, like Rembrandt paintings.

 

[numerus]

Thank you very much for your answers and thoughts. In the meantime, my second daughter has been born, which has slowed me down.



I have a Nagaoka portrait camera and plan to shoot with it. When my 300mm lens finally arrives, I'm going to try some adjustments on the back. Thank you very much.

 

[Vaughn]

I imagine some older cameras did without front movements in order to use big heavy lenses without the front standard moving around.

My early 1900s Eastman View No.2 only has front geared rise/fall, but tilt and swing in the back. It is an all-purpose camera.

 

[numerus]

I imagine some older cameras did without front movements in order to use big heavy lenses without the front standard moving around.

I think this could also be a point. My Nagaoka has a bellows extension of 480 mm and should therefore also be able to hold the large lenses well. That also seems very plausible to me, thanks for the thought.