I have a Zone VI 4 x 5 Classic Camera and am interested in buying a very wide angle lens for it. Specifically, I am considering the Schneider Super Angulon 47mm XL or 58mm XL. I have the bag bellows for the camera and use a 90 mm f8 SA with no problem. Calumet claims in its catalogue that the Zone VI 4 x 5 "will handle lenses down to a 47mm XL Super Angulon." As much as I like and trust Calumet, I am not going to buy a 47mm or 58mm XL until someone who has actually tried it confirms that the Zone VI will handle these lenses. I realize that I will have to use some extreme movements (back standard tilt, etc.) to get the rails out of the picture, but that's OK. My concern is whether these lenses can be racked back close enough to focus at infinity. Can anyone help me?

-- John Boeckeler (boeck@midcoast.com), April 20, 2001

Answers

The optical center of the lens should more or less equal the plane of the lens board, so if you put a board on the camera and adjust the space between the standards to give you 47mm or 58mm from the board to the groundglass, you will have a pretty good idea of what these lenses will require in camera geometry for infinity focus. Closer focus will increase the distance between standards, so things will be better for closer focus points. Don't take getting the bed out of the way lightly, these lenses have very wide angles of view.

Good luck, David Rose

-- David Rose (DERose@msn.com), April 20, 2001.