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BobF · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 41 Location: Canada

I recently bought a Crown and so far am happy with it. Like most any field camera there's a tradeoff of movements for convenience.

I found (by accident) that if I drop the bed before pulling the bellows out that they will come off the track, essentially allowing any type of side to side movement. So my question is if I were to find some way to secure the thing in place to take the shot, would taking the bellows off the track allow me to have some additional movements? Focusing would be more difficult but not impossible I wouldn't think. Would have to use the ground glass as opposed to the rangefinder but that's not a problem.

So, what do you think?

AWT · Joined: 05 Sep 2002 Posts: 57 Location: Upstate SC

Once the bellows are "off track" you lose the linkage to the Rangefinder so, yes, you'd have to use the ground glass (my prefered focusing method).

The big question to me is, once you have the bellows flopping around, how are you going to hold them in place?

The other question is: Will your lens support the extra movements? My 135mm Ektar barely covers 4x5. When I use what movement my Crown allows, I get vignetting.

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BobF · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 41 Location: Canada

AWT, I'd have to check on the lens. It's the Ektar 127 and I think it covers more than the 4x5 film but would have to check, that's a good point.

As for what I'd use to hold the bellows in place, another good question. A small clamp or something similar would do the trick. I was looking at it on the weekend and I think it'd be fairly easy to find something for that job.

The ground glass is my preferred method as well. I'm used to it with my Mamiya C220 TLR so nothing new there.

Nick · Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 494

I noticed that the front standard on my B&J will actually slide off. It's got plenty of shift on it's own but I would think using a spring clamp [kind of look like a clothes pin] would let me have even more. Assuming your lens has the coverage needed I would think it could work. Obviously it's going to be more hassle to make sure everything is setup right but if you're doing landscapes just making sure things look good on the ground glass should be good enough. But then how much movements are you using for landscapes?

Nick · Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 494

Go to the Lee Valley website and look at the spring clamps. They've got a few stores around Canada. I use a couple of the smaller sized ones to hold the dark cloth on. The kit with more clamps then you'll ever need isn't too expensive.

BobF · Joined: 20 Jul 2003 Posts: 41 Location: Canada

Thanks guys. I'm very familiar with Lee Valley and that is a place I'd look for decent quality spring clamps.

Did a bit more research into the lens I have and it may not be adequate to the task. It barely covers the 4x5 frame without movements so even using the available movements in the camera could be an issue. I had considered buying a different lens anyway so if I do, may look for one with a larger circle of coverage.