Using Horseman Rangefinder with Non-Horseman lenses?

Stephen Power · Nov 6, 2020

Does anyone know if it's possible to use the rangefinder on a Topcon Horseman 6x9cm camera with 47mm super angulon? Would I need to get a 47mm cam? Or is there another way use it?

Thanks for any suggestions.

madNbad · Nov 6, 2020

I foumd this:https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/widest-lens-for-a-horseman-vh-or-vhr-6-x9-field-camera.4269/

Stephen Power · Nov 6, 2020

madNbad said:
I foumd this:https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/widest-lens-for-a-horseman-vh-or-vhr-6-x9-field-camera.4269/

That is very useful, thank you. It looks like the 65mm is the widest that can couple with the cam for rangefinder use.

madNbad · Nov 6, 2020

I had a VH-R for several years. Love those 6x9 negatives.

Stephen Power · Nov 6, 2020

madNbad said:
I had a VH-R for several years. Love those 6x9 negatives.

5 times bigger than 35mm, and the same aspect ratio (3:2). An old photographer I met in the 80's told me...'a good big 'un always beats a good little 'un'. (Read that with a Northern English accent.)

Dan Fromm · Nov 6, 2020

OP, you can always focus with the GG. I don't have a 2x3 Horseman, do have several 2x3 Graphics with Kalart RFs each of which works, practically speaking, with only one lens. I use lenses on the from 35 mm to 480 mm (tricks are involved with lenses longer than around 200 mm), focus all on the GG. There are worse punishments.

Besk · Nov 6, 2020

The Horseman cameras use interchangeable cams for each lens for the rangefinder. The cams from the factory were for Horseman lenses of various focal lengths.
Horseman never sold a 47mm lens.
It is possible to focus the lens using the ground glass as mentioned. However, the lens standard must be pushed
back into the body to do this and you will then have to slide the standard back and forth by hand to achieve focus on the ground glass.
Doable but very difficult to obtain good focus IMO.

Stephen Power · Nov 6, 2020

Dan Fromm said:
OP, you can always focus with the GG.

Great advice, thank you.

Stephen Power · Nov 6, 2020

Bob Eskridge said:
you will then have to slide the standard back and forth by hand to achieve focus on the ground glass.
Doable but very difficult to obtain good focus IMO.

Thanks for that. I did experiment with this using a 105mm lens, to focus closer than is possible with the lens set to infinity. As you said, possible but not easy.

Paul Howell · Nov 6, 2020

One of the reasons I put off buying either a Horseman or Lindhoff was as I understand you need cams matched to lens, buying a complete set with body and matched lens seemed always pricy. Will stick with my Mamiya Universal.

ic-racer · Nov 6, 2020

The Horseman cams are matched to the lenses by focal length, not serial number. That is like a massive difference.
Using the 47mm with the Horseman is something what would be in the "Camera building and modification" section
The 65 is pretty wide (like a 28mm in 35mm format). Even with the 65mm I align the detents on the front standard with a laser. If the detents are not perfect the lens alignment is akin to attaching a lens to a Hasselblad with duct tape.

Horseman is a nice camera to learn view camera movements. Because with a rollfilm back the rollfilm is easier and cheaper than 4x5 sheet film while one is learning.

Stephen Power · Nov 7, 2020

ic-racer said:
Horseman is a nice camera to learn view camera movements. Because with a rollfilm back the rollfilm is easier and cheaper than 4x5 sheet film while one is learning.

I keep mentally kicking myself that I didn't spend another €150 to buy a Horseman with front TILT (my 970 only has back tilt), as that seems to be one of the most useful camera movements. I didn't know there was a difference in the tilt movements between the 970 and 980/5 etc, when I bought it.

ic-racer · Nov 7, 2020

My most used movement with my VH-R is front rise. Have you had a chance to use you 970 to expose some nice negatives for printing?

Stephen Power · Nov 7, 2020

ic-racer said:
Have you had a chance to use you 970 to expose some nice negatives for printing?

I have indeed. Quite a number (exposed about 7 rolls through it so far). See thumbnails and the video.

Using Horseman Rangefinder with Non-Horseman lenses?

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