Wista 45 DX front tilt detent

J

JFont

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I am curious as to whether other users of the Wista 45DX or indeed other cameras have the same experience as myself when adjusting front tilt. The detents mean that it is very easy to slip from small adjustments back into the detents. This means that the hand with focussing loupe under the dark cloth has to be taken out so that both hands can be used to release the movement from the detent and then try once more to adjust front tilt. Frustrating! Or maybe it’s my technique?
 
It happens to us all.

It's the downside to the upside of having quick and easy parallel standards. Minimal tilts and swings will always test the camera's mechanical urge to self-allign, unless they are disengageable ie Linhof Technikardan 45S.

How many degrees are we talking about?

I've just read that your camera has base tilts only with no centre tilts. So while the theory may be the same the handling may be different.
 
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I've been using my 45DX for nearly 40 years and never had an issue, but then what is minimal tilt? I would guess that I wouldn't use any tiltless than about 10º, and usually no more than about 25º. Below 10º lens DOF would typically be sufficient.

The exception maybe when I use my 65mm SA but then I have to tilt the camera and tilt both standard backwards to stop the front of the camera being in the frame, so I'm well away from the indents,

It changes when you shoot 10x8 where lenses typically have much shallower DOF.

Ian
 
I’m talking tilts of round about 5 degrees to achieve foreground sharpness on a 150 mm lens
 
I just got my Wista out and tried it, no problem setting very slight tilt. 5º or less. Maybe it's technique, I push both the struts in towards the rear of the camera so out of the indents, at the same time pulling the front standard forward. Once one side is locked the stand stays set.

I'm typically using very slight tilt with my 75mm & 90mm lenses.

Ian
 
My technique too but with slight tilts it’s all too easy to fall back into the detents when moving back and forth. Maybe I’m just too ham fisted!
 
It's probably just practice, I have been using my Wista for a long time. So it's second nature.

Ian
 
JFont said:
My technique too but with slight tilts it’s all too easy to fall back into the detents when moving back and forth. Maybe I’m just too ham fisted!
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It's not just you. I've had exactly the same experience when trying to adjust the front tilt a small amount from vertical with one hand. In the end I decided I didn't like the base tilt design on my Wista as much as on axis tilt so I bought a Chamonix which I really like. I still enjoy using my Wista 45DX which I bought from Teamwork brand new in 1990 but only when I don't plan on using movements.
 
This is where a reflex viewer comes into a league of its own, both hands are free.
 
MartyNL said:
This is where a reflex viewer comes into a league of its own, both hands are free.
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Very true. It took me many years to find a Graflok back for my Wista 45DX. In the end I had to buy a whole kit containing the camera, lenses, roll film holders, developing tanks and even a huge tripod. I kept the Graflok back and sold the camera because I already had my original one. I bought a reflex viewer from eBay fairly cheap because the magnifier eye piece was missing. I didn't realise it's not very usable without it and they're not available on their own. Doh! Over a year later I bought a mixed box of stuff at a camera auction and when I collected it I found a magnifier eye piece in there. I still can't believe my luck.
Bit of a long story but if you want a reflex viewer for your Wista 45DX make sure you've got a Graflok back and make sure the viewer comes with the magnifier eye piece.
 
I've got into the habit of pulling the front tilt with one finger while making adjustments. It means taking most of the tension off one side and controlling the motion and lock on the other with one hand. Though I wonder if I subconsciously avoid cases of 1-2 degree front tilt now?

I made a Graflok compatible back for my DX, mostly because the Wista spring back does not like my 6x12 roll film back. I hadn't thought of using it to hold my loupe in place.
 
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