Looking for an 8x10 to replace my Kodak 2-D. I am need of a camera where the lens board and film back "click" into place (Zero stops). What I mean is that lens and film plane are parallel unless movements are made. I have looked at other "modern" cameras and they too do not have "zero stops"( Wisner, etc.)My Deardorf is a pain to use compared to the Kodak and also does not have "zero stops". Any recommendations? I would consider a monorail camera also.

Kreig

-- Kreig (kmcbride@memes.com), January 13, 2001

Answers

I am not sure I follow you here. Unless he has changed the design, the Wisner has spring loaded ball bearings that press out on the front standard - creating a "zero stop" for the front. The rear standard has a notch cut in the base tilt arms/struts which achieves the same function.

-- Sean yates (yatescats@yahoo.com), January 13, 2001.

Why not get an angle-finder. They can be purchased at Sears for under $7. While not a solution to your problem, they can none-the-less enable you to easily align the standards. The smaller of the two that Sears carries is about 3-4 inches square.

-- neil poulsen (neil.fg@att.net), January 13, 2001.

What you want are "witness marks" for you movements. One way is to take the time to find the "O" spots where, if you had ball indents, you would zero out the movements. Once you had identified those settings [as described by others above] mark your camera. Then, just reset the camera's movements in those places when you want everything back to "start" or "normal". Hope that makes sense. I can't see buying a camera just to get indent stops.

On the other hand, if you have to have ball indents, then check with Richard Ritter at: rrlg4mat@sover.net I'm sure he can add them to any wooden camera at a reasonable cost.

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), January 13, 2001.

Gandolfi Variant. Clicks right into place. james

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), January 13, 2001.

Actually , I think that the only real solution for your problem is a metal field and I am afraid that the Toyo is your only option in that format. Metal fields tend to be consideravbly preciser about the way the front and back are allined, the reason being the way the close and the materials which are used in the construction, have a look at that. It isn't unusual to fin this Toyo 810 at convenient second hand prices. Some people love them some hate them. Tilts are at the base, it isn't everybody's cup of tea. Regards

-- Andrea Milano (milandro@multiweb.nl), January 14, 2001.

Kreig, On the Tachihara triple extension 8x10 field, the front and back tilt support arms are notched so that when the lock knobs come to rest in the notch the lens board and film back are perpendicular to the bed and parallel to each other. (The same is probably true of the double extension model, but my spec sheet drawing is unclear on this point). All the best, Nick.

-- Nick Jones (nfjones@pitt.edu), January 14, 2001.

I think Alec has the right idea. But how do you go about finding where the "witness marks" should be? I'd like to do this on my Deardorff.

-- Arthur Gottschalk (Arthurwg@aol.com), January 21, 2002.

The Wista 810 has detents so the lens is zeroed to the back when it is opened.

But you have to tighten the locks to maintain that position.

-- Bob Salomon (bob@hpmarketingcorp.com), January 21, 2002.