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Whitlaw · Joined: 22 Aug 2003 Posts: 2 Location: NYC

I have a Speed graphic 4x5 with an ektar lens. My contact sheets come back WAY out of focus. the focus is in the wrong place. Anyone have any advice for me? Thank you.

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

If you are using the ground glass to focus then either the lens moved when you closed the shutter or the ground glass and the film aren't in the same spot.

If you are using a rangefinder to focus with, then the rangefinder is not synchronized with the lens.

On rare occasions, somebody has messed with the back and the ground glass is in the wrong spot.

tell us more about the camera and how you are using it.

Les

Barry Scholles · Joined: 23 Aug 2003 Posts: 3

In response to Whitlaw.

Here's a simple test for you. With your camera mounted on a tripod, focus your camera's rangefinder at an object maybe a hundred yards away, essentially at infinity.

Now with no holder in your camera, open the lens so you can look at the ground glass image through the back of the camera.

What you had in focus with your rangefinder should be in focus on the ground glass.

If the groundglass image is out of focus, your rangefinder is out of adjustment.

Don't worry about it. Most serious large format photographers use only the ground glass for focusing anyway. Just don't use the rangefinder in the future.

Barry Scholles
bscholles@adelphia.net

Whitlaw · Joined: 22 Aug 2003 Posts: 2 Location: NYC

Thank you so much for the replies. Thing is, I AM focussing with the ground glass. (To tell you the truth I'm not even sure where/what the rangefinder is). I'm worried that my camera is shaking out of whack when I put the film holders in. I think that might be the culprit?

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2120 Location: New Jersey

45PSS · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 12:50 am Post subject:

When shooting, are you using a tripod or hand holding?
Are you using low shutter speeds or fast ones? Low=<1/60(50) Fast=>1/100.
Does your Speed have a Graflok or Spring back?
Is your Speed a pacemaker? Body release lever on lower right as you hold to shoot.
If a pacemaker, are you using the body release to trip the shutter?
Which shutter are you using, lens, Focal Plane, or both?
Charles

_________________
While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a quality photograph is worth a million.

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2003-08-24 18:00 ]

Barry Scholles · Joined: 23 Aug 2003 Posts: 3

Whitlaw-

One more time. How are you releasing the shutter? Are you using a cable release? For the smoothest, least vibration release you should.

The ground surface of the ground glass should be inside the camera, toward the lens, with the smooth side facing outside the camera. The fresnel lens, if you have one should be inside the camera with the etched, grooved side toward the ground surface of the ground glass.

How's your tripod? I assume you're using one. If not, you should it should be a nice steady/heavy one. If it's light weight and shaky, a Graphic makes a nice large and light weight surface for the wind to blow around.

What shutter speeds are you using? The old rule of thumb is one over the focal length of the lens in mm is the steadest shutter speed you can hand hold. For example,if you're shooting with a 127 mm lens you should not hand hold below 1/125 second.

Confused? A couple more photos should clear things up.

Barry S.