Horseman VH-R


Horseman VH

Horseman ER-1
  
 

FEEDING YOUR 6 x 9 HORSEMAN GROWTH HORMONES:
THE HORSEMAN EXPANSION PROJECT

  
 

Decades ago when view cameras were made of wood and brass, cameramakers often did scaling. Bodies were offered in various sizes to accomodate standard film sizes. At some point, it occurred to a camera maker that smaller film backs would fit on larger camera bodies and a common convention remains of making reducing backs for VLF and ULF cameras.

Though it is very dangerous to make conclusive statements, perhaps we could say that Horseman is the only major manufacturer in recent memory to make for a smaller camera a back that allowed it to use larger film.

 
 

 

 

 

The 4 x 5 conversion back for Horseman 6 x 9s is modestly called '4 x 5" Universal Ground Glass Back' but it isn't at all modest in its aspirations--to make a 6 x 9 camera capable of using 4 x 5 film. The front of this unit fastens solidly to the camera using the Graflok bars. The unit weighs 2 lb.-1 oz. so a VH equiped with the conversion back weighs 5 lb.-5 oz. or about the same as a Wista VX. The conversion back provides adjustable extension; in the compressed position it adds 55mm, to which its own focusing rack can add an addtional 40mm of extension. Without front extension tubes, this should allow VH/VH-R/ER-1 cameras to focus a 360mm lens at infinity, since the total extension is about 15.5 inches. With front extension tubes, I think this would focus a 400mm lens at infinity.

This converter back is compatible with other Horseman back accessories. The Type 2 Rotary Back for 4 x 5 mount can be attached to the 4 x 5 converter. About the only advantage I can see to this combination over the Type 1 attached to the 6 x 9 camera back is the extra extension, allowing longer lenses to be used with 120 rollfilm backs. Without the Rotary Back the converter back can be used as any 4 x 5 international G back with duplex or Grafmatic sheetfilm holders, Rediloads, Polaroid or 4 x 5 mount rollholders. One very nice advantage is the ability to use 6 x 12 rollholders or even fit this combination with a 6 x 17 conversion back. An irony is that the 6 x 17 conversions and the 4 x 5 conversion accessories would be four to five times larger than a folded VH.

When fitted the converter back makes the VH much bulkier than a Horseman FA, so if your principle interest is in shooting 4 x 5 sheet film and some 120 rollfilm, you are better advised to buy an HD or FA. The VH/VH-R/ER-1 with the 4 x 5 converter does retain the advantage of their rotating backs. This combination works best when your principle interest is in 120 film use, with the possibility of a daily excursion where you want the possibility of 4 x 5 sheet film. Apart from the added bulk, I can find few problems in using the VH as a 4 x 5 camera, since its front standard, movements and extension are the same as those of the FA and HD. In fact,the VH with the 4 x 5 converter has about 95mm more extension that the larger format models; this can be a plus when using longer lenses that might be desirable for the larger format. The added extension is a definite disadvantage for mounting short focus lenses, not one of the strong suits of the Horseman technicals.

  
 

Is this a system camera, or what....

 

International G? Horseman established a strategy of making all of their back accessories attach via an international G structure. This was probably somewhat selfless and also a self-interested move, since owners of other camera systems might then buy Horseman back accessories. However, as one wag would have it, "The beauty of standards is that there are so many to choose from."

The 4 x 5 converter back clearly fits VH and VH-R models, and since the ER-1 appears to have a similar back, I assume the converter will fit the ER-1. I do not have older 6 x 9 Horseman equipment, so I can't check that fit. The converter cannot be mounted on my Crown or Speed Graphic 23 units; the Graflok bars on those were set closer to the body and don't properly engage the Horseman mounting flange.

The Graflex XL bodies had redesigned Graflok bars that had been able to accept Horseman back accessories, so I was anxious to see how this might work out, particularly how the 100mm Planar and the 180mm Sonnar would cover 4 x 5. Well, I won't easily find out this way, since the extension range is controlled by the length of the Graflex XL lens tubes and the ranges the native tubes offer won't work with the converter. There were a collection of Graflex XL tubes designed for the variety of Zeiss and Rodenstock lenses offered. It is possible that mounting lenses in tubes not intially designed for them might allow use with the focusing feature of the 4 x 5 extension unit.. Since the lens plate for the XL tube unscews, this could be a quick swap for successful combinations.

 

  
 
 
 

05/19/2009 19:09