MPP Mk VIII Range-Finder Question.

[Keith Tapscott.]

Will the range-finder for my 150mm Xenar also work accurately with other LF lenses of the same focal length?

[CNNY]

It will work to approximate focus, but it will not likely be accurate. It varies from lens to lens, so you could be lucky. I'm not sure how the MPP works, but since it is a Linhof copy, it probably has a cam of some sort. On Linhofs these are matched to the serial number of a particular lens. It may be possible to adjust your cam, or make a new cam matched to the lens you want to use.

[JasonC]

MPP Mk VIII uses cams for the rangefinder. The cams are matched to each individual lenses. So no, 150mm Xenar cam will not work with other focal lengths. However, you could approximate the focus like CNNY said.

[P C Headland]

IIRC, the club site has some templates or describes a method for working out your own (it's a while since I last looked).

Of course, it's easy enough to try it out, and if necessary, note and differences. If the differences are not too great, then your DoF should cover you.

[Roger Hicks]

Camming is not difficult: I cammed a 150/4.5 Apo Lanthar for my Mk. VII. Join the MPP users' club: http://www.mppusers.com/ Instructions for making cam plates are at http://www.mppusers.com/diycamplates.htm

There are some of my hand-held Polaroid sepias at http://www.rogerandfrances.com/sgall...sepia%202.html

Cheers,

R.

[Keith Tapscott.]

I had been thinking of replacing my 150mm Xenar with either a 150mm Symmar-S or Sironar type.

However, it would also be nice to have another option of a lens which will give better film coverage than the Xenar, but will still allow me to close the camera with the lens attached.

The Symmar-S is tempting, but is physically bigger than the Xenar.

Thanks for the replies and links.