- Joined
- Dec 19, 2017
- Messages
- 2,712
Some cameras have moveable front and rear standards. Many field cameras have only front focus. In general photography, it does not matter which one you use, but for close-up work, it's best to use rear focusing, because moving the front standard changes the lens-to-subject distance which then needs re-focussing... Anyone who's done this will remember being trapped in an endless loop.
Mike's comment about long arms rings a bell.
British tail-board & European Reisekameras were typically used mostly as portrait cameras, almost all have a fixed front standard (with rise/fall & shift)and rear focussing with. There were a few US field cameras all based on British style designs, most US LF cameras were a variation of the Briritish Tail-boards and Reisekameras, only top models had front and rear focussing. Some makes used rear focussing others front. However front focussing was for field use and rear focus portraits or close up copying work.
Ian