what does DB mean in a lens(board)

game · Nov 15, 2006

Hi guys, I have a feeling this is basic knowledge, but still I dont know.
I know a lens should be fitted in a lensboard and combined with a shutter, copal or something like that in aorder to work.
I am looking for a 90mm lens, and every now and then I spot a 90mm lens in a board with the letters DB....
What does that mean? Instead of a shutter there is a closed ring or something...

is it just a board with lens and no shutter?
do I need a shutter?
Is DB for losers?

anyhow, lots of questions, can someone clear one or two thing up for me?
THANKS VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!
game

Dead Link Removed

MarkS · Nov 15, 2006

Lenses in Sinar DB mount are not for losers. They are meant to be used on a Sinar with their behind-the-lens shutter mounted on the front standard.
The lensboard has a cone on the front, so that the entire lens will sit in front of the Sinar's front standard (and the shutter). Of course there's no between-the-lens shutter; so it's pointless to try and use these lenses any other way.

game · Nov 15, 2006

ok, so I guess that DB is useless for me since my sinar works with a shutter in the lens board right?

Thanks game

pgomena · Nov 17, 2006

That's correct. The DB shutter is quite a contraption, most useful to studio photographers doing a lot of tabletop work. Lenses in a DB board are useless without the shutter. Lenses with a shutter won't work with the DB shutter.

Peter Gomena

wiseowl · Nov 18, 2006

Can a DB lens be removed from the board and fitted into a normal shutter? Or is it a special fitting.

Cheers

Martin

Ian Grant · Nov 18, 2006

No reason at all why the lenses cant be fitted into a regular shutter, but finding a good shutter can be is difficult and a new one is expensive, and the chances are it will cost you far more than finding and buying a lens already mounted in a shutter.

The BB stands for "Don't Buy" unless you have a Sinar and it's shutter.

Ian

dphphoto · Nov 18, 2006

The front elements on my old 210 mm Caltar HR seperated, for some unknown reason. Also, I got severe paint flaking behind the very front element. I unscrewed the lens from the still perfectly good Copal 1 shutter, and got a Caltar S II on a DB board from KEH for about $200. The front and back of the lens screwed right into the shutter, and as a unit it performs flawlessly. And, I got $32. for the board on eBay. All and all, a pretty good deal for replacing a bad lens. Dean

wiseowl · Nov 18, 2006

Ian Grant said:
No reason at all why the lenses cant be fitted into a regular shutter, but finding a good shutter can be is difficult and a new one is expensive, and the chances are it will cost you far more than finding and buying a lens already mounted in a shutter.

The BB stands for "Don't Buy" unless you have a Sinar and it's shutter.

Ian

Thanks, I figured it would work that way but wanted to be sure. I've seen DB mount lenses sell for less than a lens in shutter, and as I have a prontor press with nothing to wear then getting a Db lens is an option I can consider if the price is right.

Cheers,

Martin

S.K. Grimes · Nov 18, 2006

wiseowl said:
Can a DB lens be removed from the board and fitted into a normal shutter? Or is it a special fitting.

Cheers

Martin

Not all DB mounted lenses are a direct fit into a modern Copal/Compur/Prontor shutter. Typically, the larger and longer focal length lenses which appear to fit a Copal #3 shutter do in fact fit a #3 shutter. It's the shorter focal lengthed lenses which will may require adapters (most often for the rear optic).

It's also important to keep in mind that even if a lens screws directly into a shutter from a barrel, the distance between the optics and their relative location to the aperture may be different.

-Adam

wiseowl · Nov 20, 2006

Thanks for the extra information.

Cheers

Martin

S.K. Grimes said:
Not all DB mounted lenses are a direct fit into a modern Copal/Compur/Prontor shutter. Typically, the larger and longer focal length lenses which appear to fit a Copal #3 shutter do in fact fit a #3 shutter. It's the shorter focal lengthed lenses which will may require adapters (most often for the rear optic).

It's also important to keep in mind that even if a lens screws directly into a shutter from a barrel, the distance between the optics and their relative location to the aperture may be different.

-Adam

andyvan · Aug 23, 2023

DB stands for Digital Back, as the lens is essentially a barrel lens, aperture control only, so is suitable for use by leaf, mamiya and Phase One backs ( OR a Fuji GFX camera body), as they have an electronic, or curtain shutter in their mf or digital 135 format body, This is what you use to do the exposure!, unless of coarse you have the appropriate sinar shutter, a linkage behind the lens connects the shutter to the aperture control, like that found on slr lenses, the shutter is fitted between the bellows and the front standard, the lens is fitted in front, as normal (BUT with the red dots aligning!- to mate the linkage to the aperture control on the db module).
the one positive about this system is the third cable it uses, for, of all things a film holder actuated preview lever! this connects the format back to the shutter and when the holder goes in, the shutter shifts mode to taking mode, auto-cocked, and ready to fire!- no blushing when you realize that the lens was open when you opened the darkslide; this system gives you a fighting chance of getting an image on film successfully.

FotoD · Aug 23, 2023

While the system works the way you describe it, I can't find any mention of 'Digital Back' by Sinar. As far as I can tell they refer to the DB feature as 'auto-aperture' or 'spring-loaded diafragm'.

Considering that the feature has been around since the 1970s I find it unlikely they had digital backs in mind when creating it.

https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/02096/02096.pdf

Edit:
It may be worth mentioning that even with a digital back you would need the Sinar shutter to set the aperture on a DB lens.

juan · Aug 23, 2023

The DB lens board works (with a Sinar shutter) on my Norma made in the 1950s, so digital wouldn't figure in. Also, they are 5 1/2 inch lens boards, so they wouldn't fit on Mamiya, Leaf, PhaseOne, or Fuji GFX camera bodies.

andyvan · Aug 23, 2023

juan said:
The DB lens board works (with a Sinar shutter) on my Norma made in the 1950s, so digital wouldn't figure in. Also, they are 5 1/2 inch lens boards, so they wouldn't fit on Mamiya, Leaf, PhaseOne, or Fuji GFX camera bodies.

yes, what I meant was fitting these bodies to the sinar f\p standards, cambo Actus style, but thanks to Photo D for the manual\ brochure link; the B is the standard model of sinar shutter, the D is for diaphragm control, ON the shutter board, the B system has a butterfly knob\rod which actuates the iris,from the lens board end; in the DB there is a kettle style gauge and a knob, so Both functions are controlled from the shutter board end, also this allows for viewing of this from the back, not having to "dance around" as the litterature puts it, but yes, no direct explanation of these model identifiers, unless, in a logical method, the B would stand for bi-control, aka the fact that the iris and shutter are split into two (bi) units, unlike the Copal system, where both are between the lens elements.
another epiphany,like a pistol the D could stand for double action, as this 'cocks' itself, and can fire rapidly, no re-cocking required, just pressing the cable again.

andyvan · Aug 23, 2023

FotoD said:
While the system works the way you describe it, I can't find any mention of 'Digital Back' by Sinar. As far as I can tell they refer to the DB feature as 'auto-aperture' or 'spring-loaded diafragm'.

Considering that the feature has been around since the 1970s I find it unlikely they had digital backs in mind when creating it.

https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/02096/02096.pdf

Edit:
It may be worth mentioning that even with a digital back you would need the Sinar shutter to set the aperture on a DB lens.

thanks for the link, very informative, and a great research for the system, as I already have a F2 system, so I can understand what is involved in it.

MattKing · Aug 23, 2023

This thread awakes after 17 years of sleep, and then turns out to be vibrant and alive again!
Will it continue to be lively, or return to slumber?
Isn't the internet amazing?

JensH · Aug 23, 2023

FotoD said:
While the system works the way you describe it, I can't find any mention of 'Digital Back' by Sinar. As far as I can tell they refer to the DB feature as 'auto-aperture' or 'spring-loaded diafragm'.

Considering that the feature has been around since the 1970s I find it unlikely they had digital backs in mind when creating it.

https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/02096/02096.pdf

Edit:
It may be worth mentioning that even with a digital back you would need the Sinar shutter to set the aperture on a DB lens.

+1

or see

https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/02527/02527.pdf

DB from Druckblende...

numerus · Aug 24, 2023

DB is definitely „Druckblende“ for use with the HLV („Hinterlinsenverschluss“ - behind thr lens shutter).

what does DB mean in a lens(board)

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what does DB mean in a lens(board)

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