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[Bertilsson-Photo]

I know I'm using this camera for something it wasn't really designed for, but it's the only affordable solution for me.
A lot of my photography takes place low to the ground, where I shoot horizontally out over exposed tree roots, landscapes, what have you. I need depth of field from a few feet in front of the camera to infinity. I know the limitations of my camera, and even at the smallest aperture I don't get enough depth of field, so I was wanting to try tilting the front lens to change the plane of focus, thus increasing or decreasing the depth of field.
My camera only tilts the front lensboard backwards. Is there a way of modifying the camera, or changing it, so that it can tilt the other way?

Very thankful for suggestions or help on this!

- Thom

[ This Message was edited by: Bertilsson-Photo on 2005-04-14 09:37 ]

[RichS]

To get front tilt, simply drop the bed. The front standard can then 'un-tilt' all the way back to vertical. You'll also have to use the rise to bring the lens back to center. From the sound of it though, a little drop may be a good thing for you...

[glennfromwy]

There are three ways of doing what you ask. The first is to run the front standard out onto the long part of the rail and, by moving it back and forth with the focus rail fully retracted (all the way back), get the best focus you can without moving the rail. Then, clamp down the standard, drop the bed, raise the lens board and tilt back a bit at a time until you get what you want. You will have very little focus adjustment available by using the focus rail. You Must NOT put the rail hinges in a bind or force it. The second way is to reverse the standard so it tilts forward by taking off the nut on either side of the lens board mount, spread the standard gently and remove the mount. Slide the standard off the end of the rail and reinstall it the other way around. You will be able to position the clamp lever to point forwar while the standard is off.
The third and easiest way is to just use the camera upside down.

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

[Bertilsson-Photo]

Thank you for the suggestion. How do I drop the bed?

- Thom

[t.r.sanford]

The two brackets that latch the bed into its horizontal position when the camera is opened are designed so that you can push their upper (body) ends down to a second latching position. Put your fingers under the body and your thumbs on the knurling atop the brackets, then push down. All the "Pacemaker" models work this way, as does the "Century."

[glennfromwy]

To drop the bed, push down on the bed arms, as if you were going to close the camera. Then, push the bed down. It can be tough, as the springs can be pretty strong. It will lock in place when you let go of the arms. To clarify my previous post, if you are using a normal or long lens, you can run the rail out until the short section is clear of the box before dropping the bed. Wide angle lenses will usually require that the short section remain inside the box, thus giving very minimal rail movement without breakng something. Experiment a little and let us know how you do.

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

[Bertilsson-Photo]

You guys are awesome! Thanks so much!

- Thom

[Henry]

There's a fourth way, too: hyperfocal distance. Others who post here can explain the theory far better than I, but what it amounts to (as I use it) is to focus on the farthest-away object that you want to be in focus, then on the nearest object etc., and then set the distance to a point between the two. I find that this final distance is a shade inside of the distant object focus point.

There is a way to calculate all this, but I don't have the formula at my fingertips.

[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2005-04-14 14:43 ]

[Bertilsson-Photo]

Thanks Henry,

I was aware of the hyper focal distance and forgot to mention in my original post that I use that. As you say, it helps tremendously.

- Thom

[troublemaker]

Also,
depending on your tripod, you may be able to mount the camera upside down underneath the tripod and thus back tilt becomes forward tilt etc... Sometimes just a little tilt can work in concert with stopping down all the way to gain the desired plane of focus and depth etc... If you drop the bed, note that you will want some rise to center the lens for full coverage.

Have fun...
Stephen

[Bertilsson-Photo]

Unfortunately my tripod does not allow mounting the camera underneath the head. I use a Berlebach with a built-in ball head...

I will have tons of fun with these new possibilities however. Thanks for your input!

- Thom