Graflex.org

kino_eye · Joined: 01 Jul 2002 Posts: 7 Location: Los Angeles

Hello folks, I haven't been able to find out which, if any, viewfinder mask fits a 90mm lens on an Anniversary Speed Graphic. I would also appreciate a conversation from "#4" to what size lens a #4 finder mask will cover.

Thanks,
Christopher Lockett
Los Angeles

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

graphic Graflex Photography, says a #4 covers lenses from 5" to 5 7/8" or 127mm to about 152mm

it also states its good for a 100mm wa lens (just goes to show how accurate these are supposed to be)

the 90mm on a 4x5 used either a slip in optical mask that had a negative element in front of the view finder or, for later cameras with removable viewfinders, they made a "wide angle viewfinder"

kino_eye · Joined: 01 Jul 2002 Posts: 7 Location: Los Angeles

I've got a properly sized viewfinder mask for that matches my Zeiss Tessar 135 and it is removable. So, any idea which # finder mask will slip into my tube viewfinder - and will cover a 90mm lens?

I've got the 1947 Graphic Graflex Photography book and can't figure it out from the book.

Thanks,
Christopher Lockett
Los Angeles

PS - that previous post of mine should have read "conversion" instead of "conversation."

alecj · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 853 Location: Alabama

Try re-reading Les' response to your initial inquiry. Especially the last paragraph.

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

kino_eye · Joined: 01 Jul 2002 Posts: 7 Location: Los Angeles

Alecj wrote: Try re-reading Les' response to your initial inquiry. Especially the last paragraph.

Thanks for the sarcastic response. It did not help. Nor did it show much reading comprehension. But that's another matter. I came here for answers, not attitude.

Dan Fromm's response did help, though. He recognizes that I understand that my camera uses a slip-in mask and that I am asking for the appropriate sized one to pair with a 90mm lens. Thank you, Dan Fromm. Very helpful, as this forum is intended to be.

Cheers,
Christopher Lockett
Los Angeles

alecj · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 853 Location: Alabama

Christopher, you keep refering to a "slip-in mask and that I am asking for the appropriate sized one to pair with a 90mm lens", but Les clearly told you, and I was trying to get you to understand this ISN'T A MASK! It is a LENS! There isn't but ONE - they don't come in sizes. If you understood that, why didn't you just say so?

Calling a lens a mask does not indicate you understand the terms. I just naturally assumed you overlooked Les' explanation. I don't care whether you think it was sarcastic or not. You're the one with a comprehension deficit!

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

"A picture is worth a thousand flames." Confucius@graflex..org.

This is what the "mask" looks like that you need for a 90mm lens on a 4x5 or a 65mm lens on 2x3.
The dots are for parallax correction.

[ This Message was edited by: Confucius on 2002-10-23 20:18 because he can't get the f*&#!!ing html tag to f%$#!! work!!!

]

[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2002-10-23 20:24 ]

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

Keno_eye,
I suspect/assume that with a Zeiss Tessar you are using either a Pre-Ann or Anniversary Speed where the tubular view finder is not removable. In that case you need what I showed in the previous post. It's not perfect but it is what Graflex came up with for a 90mm lens.

For the early Kalart Pacemaker Speeds and the smaller speeds and crowns too, they made a special tubular view finder. This finder shows a wider view than than the optical mask on a normal finder.

In all photos the wide angle finder is the bottom, and you can tell from the smaller circle that the front lens is much different. It's also labeled on the bottom. Maybe somebody else with access to more partnumbers can tell us exactly what Graflex intended this to be for and maybe what the stamped 6 is. -6 diopter???

_________________
"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison

kino_eye · Joined: 01 Jul 2002 Posts: 7 Location: Los Angeles

Apologies to AlecJ and anyone else I annoyed.

I DO, contrary to my less than accurate posts, understand that I am in search of a LENS and not a MASK. My post was incorrect. I stand corrected. I always knew it was a LENS and not a mask, however, the term "mask" stuck in my head for some reason. AlecJ was right, the pictures helped. And, of course, this forum once again proved its worth. Thanks one and all and apologies for the confusion.

I have an Anniversary model with tubular finder. The viewfinder lens on mine is removable.

Seems that I'm probably better off ground glass focusing on the 90mm lens anyway.

I had hoped that I could use the 90 the same way I use the Zeiss 135 - handheld with a depth of field/hyperfocal chart that I printed out - I love being able to handhold a 4x5! With the 90 on there, I have to drop the rail bed and I'm not 100% sure that the focus marks on the side of the rail bed are accurate enough with the rail bed dropped, accurate enough to set at say, 15 feet and trust that it IS indeed focused at 15 feet, so I can use the hyperfocal/dof chart and handhold on that lens as well.

It's late. I'm tired. Does that make sense? Hopefully more than my last posts.

Again, thanks for taking the time to correct me and answer the questions. I honestly appreciate it.

Christopher Lockett
Los Angeles