Camera Resources - LENS DATA

CHOOSING A LENS FOR THE DIGITAL VIEW CAMERA

Several factors determine whether a lens is compatible with your mirrorless or DSLR digital camera when you use it as the capture device on one of our view cameras.

  • The internal flange focal distance (FFD) of your digital camera
  • The flange focal distance of the large format lens (FFD)
  • Mounting flange to lens end distance (the rear of the lens)
  • The clearance between the rear end of lens and the digital camera sensor

To help you navigate the complex world of camera and lens compatibility, we are providing some helpful information. In the Camera Data Table below we provide flange focal distance and sensor size for a variety of cameras. Using this first table, find your digital camera's flange focal distance. The Camera Data table is sorted from shortest to longest flange focal distance, so you can quickly find the best cameras to pair with a large format lens.

In the Lens Data Table below, we provide data for Rodenstock and Schneider large format lenses in wide, normal and long focal lengths, plus - image circle, filter size, flange focal distance, flange to lens end distance, and lens to sensor clearance information. In the last row we provide the important Lens Clearance, which is the flange to lens end distance (FLED) subtracted from the flange focal distance (FFD). Compare the camera flange focal distance to the lens clearance data.

You'll need to choose a large format lens with a greater amount of clearance than the flange focal distance of the digital camera. Clearance is necessary to allow room for view camera movements without interference, and to achieve infinity focus. The greater the lens clearance, the more freedom of view camera movements without risk of damaging the rear optical group of the lens or the digital sensor.

Last, make sure to select a lens with a larger image circle than your digital camera sensor, to allow additional coverage needed for tilt and shift view camera movements.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When using the ARCA-SWISS Rotafoot, add 8 mm to the Camera flange focal distance (FFD).

three examples to FIND A COMPATiBLE LENS

Rodenstock 40mm HR Digaron lens with Fuji GFX

Fuji GFX FFD = 26.70
40 mm lens clearance = 25.1

The lens clearance is shorter than the digital camera’s flange focal distance by -1.6 mm. Therefore, the 40 mm Rodenstock lens is not compatible with the Fuji GFX digital camera. The lens clearance of 25.1 mm is shorter than the flange focal distance of 26.70 mm required by the Fuji GFX camera. This -1.6 mm difference means there is no room for view camera movements and the lens will not be able to focus to infinity.

Schneider 47mm Apo Digitar XL lens with Fuji GFX

Fuji GFX FFD = 26.70
47 mm lens clearance = 30.3

The lens clearance is greater by 3.6 mm, but clearance for rise/fall/tilt/swing is minimal, and the rear group of the lens is extremely close to the camera. As a result, there is a risk of damage to the lens when focusing or using view camera movements. Therefore, it is not recommended to use the Schneider Apo-Digitar 47 mm XL lens with the Fuji GFX, and extreme caution should be exercised if attempting to do so.

Rodenstock 55mm Apo Sironar Digital lens with Fuji GFX

Fuji GFX FFD = 26.70
55 mm lens clearance = 35.6

The lens clearance is greater than the flange focal distance of 26.70 mm required by the Fuji GFX camera. With a lens clearance of 8.9 mm, you have sufficient clearance, allowing for some rise/fall/tilt/swing movement. This means that you can make adjustments using these movements while maintaining the proper distance between the lens and the camera. This lens is not recommended when using a RotaFoot with Fuji GFX.