The view camera (fig. 4-20) is a flexible and useful camera that, due to laziness, is frequently overlooked by Navy imaging personnel. Through the use of rising or falling fronts, swings, tilts, and shifts, you have complete control over the composition of the subject. View cameras are excellent for photographing construction, large groups of people, landscapes, small parts, damaged material, buildings, and many other subjects, because distortion can be controlled or corrected The camera has bellows that may be extended to make it suitable for copy work and photographing small objects. Most view cameras used in the Navy use 4x5 sheet film. View cameras are not suitable for sports or uncontrolled action situations where a hand-held camera is needed.

View cameras do not have viewfinders or range finders. Viewing and focusing is done on ground glass. The ground glass is located exactly the same distance from the lens as the film; therefore, the image viewed on the ground glass is the same that is recorded on the film. View cameras have interchangeable lenses and between-the-lens leaf shutters.

BASIC CONTROLS AND FUNCTIONS

All view cameras are basically the same. Generally, all view cameras have the following standard parts:

Monorail or bed. Serves as the base or support to hold all the other components.

Front lens standard. Permits the lens to be locked into any position on the monorail. The front lens standard also permits the lens to swing, slide, tilt, rise, and fall.

Rear standard. The rear standard holds the film holder and has swing, tilt, and slide controls.

Figure 4-21 Swing movement of front and rear standards.

Figure 4-22. Correction for horizontal distortion.

Bellows. Connects the front and rear standards and allows the two standards to move for focusing or to accommodate various focal-length lenses.

Tripod head. Holds the monorail to the tripod.

Lens.

Ground glass. Used for focusing, viewing, and composing the image.

There are four basic movements or adjustments used on a view camera. These basic movements perform specific functions. The four basic movements are as follows:

1. Horizontal or lateral swing. Both the front and rear standards swing horizontally (fig. 4-21).

The swing back is used to correct distortion, or perspective, in the horizontal plane. When you are photographing subjects from an angle, horizontal lines appear to converge at the distant side. To correct this distortion, swing the camera back so it is more parallel to the horizontal plane of the subject (fig. 4-22).

Figure 4-23. Front and rear vertical tilt movement.

The front standard swing allows the lens to pivot horizontally around its optical axis. The swing front is used to increase the depth of field. When the swing back is swung, the film is not parallel with the image produced by the lens. By swinging the lens, you can bring the image onto the same plane as the film.

2. Vertical tilt. Both the front and rear standards tilt vertically (fig. 4-23).

The tilt back is used to correct distortion, or perspective, in the vertical plane. When you angle the camera up to photograph a subject, such as a building, the vertical lines on the ground glass appear to converge. When this distortion is not corrected, the subject appears smaller at the top and the vertical planes bend toward the center of the image (fig. 4-24, view A). To correct this distortion, tilt the tilt back so it is parallel to the vertical plane of the subject (fig. 4-24, view B).

The tilt front is used to focus and increase the depth of field. When the tilt back is tilted to correct for vertical distortion, the film plane is no longer parallel to the image produced by the lens. By tilting the front standard, you can bring the image of the lens onto the same plane as the film.

Figure 4-24. Uncorrected and corrected vertical distortion.

Figure 4-25. Sliding front and rear of view camera.

Figure 4-26. Using sliding controls to center image.

Figure 4-27. Using rising and falling front-to-center image vertically.

3. Slide or shift. Both the front and rear standard shift or slide from side to side (fig. 4-25).

The sliding front or sliding rear is used to center the image on the ground glass horizontally (fig. 4-26). The sliding front or sliding rear is used when the image is not centered after the camera is set on a tripod. These controls are used instead of moving the tripod. When the tripod is moved, the horizontal corrections are altered and must be reevaluated.

4. Rising and falling front. The rising and falling front is used to center the image vertically on the ground glass (fig. 4-27). This control raises and lowers the lens board. This prevents you from tilting the entire camera and nullifying the distortion corrections made on the vertical plane.