I'm using the list at
http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/top-rangefinder-cams.html as a guide for which lenses are useful with a crown when using the rangefinder.

I was just reminded today that in my search for a portrait lens, I've got to keep in mind the limited bellows draw of my crown graphic. With the rangefinder still engaged, I measure it as about 230mm. Ideally, I'd like to find a lens somewhere between 270 and 320mm. Clearly, I only have enough bellows draw to focus a straight 230 at infinity, so I'll need a telephoto, which requires much less bellows draw for the same focus distance.

I presume that a rangefinder cam that works on one 300mm telephoto won't necessarily work with another. Does anyone have any idea WHICH of the graflex cams (if any) were made for specific telephoto lenses?

I don't think the focusing excursion of a true telephoto is different from that of a lens of conventional design. The back focus is just shorter.

I suspect that the difficulty you may have with the cam is that the effective focal length of any existing lens almost always is slightly different from its design focal length -- they're almost always a little longer or a little shorter. Graflex service agencies used to make the necessary slight adjustments when installing the cam and infinity stops for a customer's lens.

There's a good article on this site of making rangefinder cams, which might be a more satisfactory procedure than trying to find the exact cam you need, and then finding out whether it works, and if it doesn't, modifying it.

I have a number of range finder cams and I will give you the number and focal length stamped on each.

90mm - P14
100mm - P28
127mm - P4
152mm - P10
8" - P26 (Can be used with 203mm)
15" - P21 (Approx 375mm)

I also have one scribed as a P68 for 10"

Quote:

On 2004-07-27 18:18, kfritch wrote: I have a number of range finder cams and I will give you the number and focal length stamped on each. 90mm - P14 100mm - P28 127mm - P4 152mm - P10 8" - P26 (Can be used with 203mm) 15" - P21 (Approx 375mm) I also have one scribed as a P68 for 10"

kfritch
Thanks for listing your cams. I have several with different P#'s. I guess it just shows the variety available?
127mm - P3
135mm - P5
152mm - P9
Do you have lenses for the 90 and 100mm cams? If so, Is your Crown setup with infinity stops for those lenses? Also, do you have viewfinder masks to fit the above lenses? If so, What are the #s and what film size do they match?
Thank You, Harry

You might like to know what viewfinder masks in my possession.
For my 135mm lens:
2x2inch (6x6cm)film = #14
2x3inch (6x9cm)film = #8
4x5inch (sheet)film = #4

For my 152mm lens:
2x2inch (6x6cm)film = #15
2x3inch (6x9cm)film = #10
4x5inch (sheet)film = #3
I have infinity stops for the 135mm and 152mm lenses and use a small piece of wood behind the last infinity stop for the 127mm lens.
My 127mm lens is close enough to my 135mm so I use the same viewfinder masks. It works for me!
For my 6x7cm back (C2N back made in Holland) I use my 135mm lens/cam and #8 viewfinder mask (6x9cm) except in the 9cm direction I use the tip of mask's spikes as the 7cm width. It's very close to the right dimension.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: worldphoto on 2004-07-29 09:34 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: worldphoto on 2004-07-29 11:55 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: worldphoto on 2004-07-30 08:49 ]</font>