Setup

After mounting the camera firmly on your tripod, release the strap and fold open the top cover. There are 3 options for use of the cover/extension:
   1. To use a long lens, lock the cover in place by pressing firmly, as shown in fig. 1 and engage the 3 locking pins.
   2. To use a short lens, where little wind is present, let the cover hang in the manner of any drop-bed field camera.
   3. For short lens use at odd angles or where wind stability is an issue, remove the extension as shown in fig.   2 by first lifting both pivot pins to the top of both slots and pinching one side off with the other hand. To replace, simply reverse the process. It is important in each case to work with the pins at the TOP of the slots.
4. This camera is designed to operate dry, or free of lubricating oil. If you are uncomfortable with this, use only silicone lock lubricant.
5. The knobs on this camera are designed to fully stabilize the setup with light finger tightening. This is easy on the fingers and will greatly extend the life of the camera.
6. To close the camera: loosen all knobs, push the front standard back as far as it will go, fold the front standard forward, push the front standard back again, fold the rear standard forward, line up the notches on the side of the camera with the notches in the slides, fold the front extension to it's closed position and close the strap.

Fig.1

Fig. 2

Rear Swing

This mechanism is unique to this camera. To achieve focus and swing, 3 knobs are used: The swing and center lock knobs, shown in Fig. 3 tighten in a clockwise direction. With the center lock knob loose, both sides of the camera are free to slide. When the swing lock is loose, both sides are free to move independently, affecting swing.

There are many ways to use the swing/focus mechanism. The fastest way to get left-to-right focus is to loosen both knobs and, holding the slider plates in each hand, simply push and pull until an approximate focus is achieved. Then you can fine-tune it by tightening the swing lock and using the focus knob, focusing the left side first, then loosen the swing lock and, holding the slider plate firmly as shown in Fig. 4, focusing the right side. Tighten the swing lock again and repeat if necessary. Then you tighten the center lock when you are finished. If the camera is pointed up or down at a steep angle, you will need to put some drag on the center lock to keep the whole rear standard from sliding due to gravity.

Focus is achieved with a rack and pinion attached to the focus knob on the right of the camera. If you try to focus with the swing lock on the left of the camera, you risk loosening the locking mechanism.

The zero position of the rear swing is established when the camera is in its closed position. To maintain this square position, tighten the swing lock and leave it tightened when the camera is opened. To establish a squared up position when the camera is open, loosen the swing lock and the center lock so that both the left and right slides are free to slide, then pull them back so that they protrude slightly beyond the back of the camera frame. With a thumb on the back of each slide, push the slides forward so that they are even with the back of the camera frame and tighten the swing lock. The back is now square.

Fig. 3

Fig.4

Lens with Camera
Another unique feature of this camera is the reversible lens board. This enables lenses of more compact design to be left in the camera when the camera is folded. You are simply putting the more bulky, shutter side of the lens inside the bellows, where there is more room. When doing this, you need to be careful that the lens does not interfere with either the camera bed or the ground glass.

Some lenses that store in this manner are the: Fujinon AS 240mm, Fujinon C 300mm, Fujinon C 450mm, Nikkor M 300mm, and most of the G Clarons.

Pressure Plate
Pull the wire tab until it snaps into place. This opens one end and leaves the other end tight, to prevent the holder from moving while the pressure plate is lowered.

On the Road and in the Field
A Plexiglas ground glass is included with your camera. It is not installed, however. Most people like glass because it does not scratch. I prefer the Plexi. It doesn't break and whatever scratches it picks up don't bother me. It also helps get the weight down to the specified 8.7 Lb. You can pack it, ship it, and not worry about it breaking in transit.

This camera is not designed for architecture, in that bag bellows is not supported. The thinking here is that photographers working out of a backpack are not doing extensive front rise with wide angle lenses that necessitates a bag bellows. And photographers doing architecture with wide angle lenses are working out of their cars and would be better off with a monorail.

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