it seems when i print 35mm w/ my 50mm lense that i have to have the focus ALL the way up...to the point that it will not go further...and i can just barely get sharp focus(and it wants to creep down because its all the way up)..am i doing something wrong ? or? when printing 6x6 w/ a 75mm lense the focusing bellows are in the middle of their extension range and focusing is an easy task

what should i do? please help

-- Rob Rust (rrust@fieldtec.com), October 09, 2000

Answers

What size prints are you trying to make? Do you have a flat lens board, or an extended board? If you are trying to make large prints, your lens will be very close to the negative. If you do not have a flat board, you will also have to raise the lens stage very high and may not be able to make small prints.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), October 09, 2000.

Rob, have you adjusted the condensers on the side of the head to correspond with the format being used?

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), October 09, 2000.

The condensor adjustment will have no effect on focus. It is important for ensuring even illumination, but at any position, should evenly cover 35mm.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), October 09, 2000.

Make sure you are using a flat lensboard or a recessed lensboard.

Perhaps your lens is damaged & out of alignment. What you are describing should not occur with a 23C.

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), October 09, 2000.

Hi Rob,

I notice a similar situation with my Beseler; since I have not had focus creep, I have not worried about it.

Since you mentioned the problem, I changed my 50mm lens in the lensboard to be more recessed, and thus closer to the film. This gave me a bit more extension in the focussing bellows, but I could no longer use the red slide: it would hit the lens. In your case, that may be preferable to being unable to maintain focus. In my case, I changed the lens back to the non-recessed position.

-- Paul Oosthoek (pauloosthoek@hotmail.com), October 12, 2000.