Graflex.org

ferlopezperez · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 Location: Mexico City

Hi, I've been working with my Crown Graphic almost every weekend, using B&W film (negatives and positives) having very fine results in landscape and some portraits. But, the last week I did a professional assignment in 4x5 format, and I tought it was a fine opportunity to test my graflex in a pro-job, I also used my toyo field, but used the graflex as a support camera, and when I saw the graflex results I noticed a little lack of focus, I was shooting with fuji quickload 100ASA in very bright conditions (it is a golf club)I tought the deep of field would cover those errors but it didn't. The photos taken with the toyo were perfectly focused. The problem could be in my old schneider 135mm?
Please help because I've been wondering and found no answear.
Thanks again for all the support I have received from all you guys.

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

Is the entire image slightly soft or are there sharp areas, just not what you had hoped was sharp?

If it's an overall lack of sharpness problem it could be the lens. Which lens is it? An "old Schneider Xenar" might not be that sharp, but an "old Schneider Symmar" should perform exceedingly well.

Also what what your aperture?

What was the lens that was on the Toyo? that did so well?

ferlopezperez · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 Location: Mexico City

Hi les, the lens I've got in the graflex is an old schneider xenar 4.7 and the one I've got in the toyo is a 210mm rodenstock.
The lack of focus was not in the entire frame, was only in some far areas, for example I took a picture with some detail in the fore focus but the area behind the principal subject was completely out of focus, the f number were 16, 22, or 32, never used lower f numbers. My concern is that maybe the lens is missaligned or something like that, but the panoramic shots with similar f numbers were in focus the whole frame... The question is, is there a trouble with the lens or it's a typical behavior of this kind of lenses? most of all in close up photography? I don't know, I'm a little disappointed of these lens, I'll buy a new lens plate in order to use my other lens in the graflex. But I tought the enchantment of these cameras were the old fashioned lenses... I'm afraid that thses kind of cameras maybe are not suitable for professional jobs.
I'm going to scan a picture to send you a sample.
Thank you so much for your valuable advice.
Best regards
Ferlopezperez

45PSS · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 12:15 am Post subject:

Were you using the A). ground glass, B). rangefinder, or C). distance scale to focus with?

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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

ferlopezperez · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 Location: Mexico City

hi, I was using the ground glass, as a matter of fact the focus trouble was evident even in the GG. The sharp area in the picture is reduced, the out of focus area is a little strange, because there is sharpness in some areas and not in some others. I believe it's a depth of field trouble caused by the lens

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

The quality of the old Xenars varied considerably from lens to lens and from one production run to the next. One may be sharp and ten more may be awful. They were a "budget quality" lens. If you put your good lens on the camera and everything is fine, then you will know if you got a bad one, or if there is another problem.

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Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2144 Location: New Jersey

MikeS · Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 71 Location: East Tennessee

I would suggest that you try swapping the 2 lenses between cameras, and try some test shots. If you have the same problem with the lens on the other camera, then the problem is the lens. If you don't have the problem, then try the other lens on the graphic, and see if it has a problem there.

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-Mike

ferlopezperez · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 Location: Mexico City

Thank you all, I'll try to gather all the information in order to understand the problem, first of all I was focusing with the lens wide open, last night I checked the lens and it is properly attached, the lenses are tightly screwed inplace, also I did another excercise of focusing and... there it was again! the focusing was strange, the fore subject is in perfect focus but the sorrounding area (and I mean the very next subject is 3 or 4 inches away)and the bellows is in "normal" extension... I really think my old xenar is the problem. Could I use a modern rodenstock (of course with the appropiate lens board)? because I really want to continue using this "perfectly-restored" graflex.
thank you so much

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

You can use any lens within bellows length limitations. 150 to 210mm would be a good all around choice. If you shoot landscapes and architecture, the 150mm may be the best choice. I hope you can continue to use your Graphic camera. They are very versitile, lots of fun to use and capable of producing outstanding results. Good luck ---

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

45PSS · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 3:30 am Post subject:

As long as the shutter will fit on the lens board, the front and rear cells can be attached to the shutter (some large rear cell wide angle lens require their rear cell to be removed, the shutter/lensboard installed then the rear cell installed thru the back of the camera) without interfering with the bellows movement, and achieve infinity focus with spare movement for closer focusing, mount 'em up and go shoot something. Other lens outside these paramaters can sometimes be used with modifications to the lens board/mounting. A 12"/300mm in an Ilex #4 (3 inch mount hole, 3.8 in shutter body diamater) is ~~pushing~~ , approaching the physical limit of a Pacemaker 4 x 5.
Charles

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

ferlopezperez · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 Location: Mexico City

Thank you all, Of course I want to continue using my beautiful crown graphic, I insist in using it as a working camera, I will buy a undrilled lensboard to install a new (late version) 150mm lens. I believe the trouble is in the lens, not in the back or film holders, anybody knows where can I find a new lensboard? I could buy it right away, I have the other lens but it's diameter is different. Last weekend I shot some portraits in B&W Scala, the results are wonderful, but the focus is lost in some areas of the bodies I shot. A friend of mine works with a photographer named Lee Crum, the link to his page is: http://www.leecrumphotographer.com/index_swf.html
And he works with a graflex, I remember it's an RB model, my friend (his mexican gaffer and production mannager)tells me the lens he uses is a schneider... and the results are excelent. I guess my lens is one of the "budget value" that were malfunctioning... Anyway, Thank you all, because of navigating in this web site I decided to buy my "almost new" graphic. I'm happy now I realized the lens is the only trouble.
I'll send you pictures of my last assignment in the golf club of Acapulco.
I am really grateful for your advice.
Best regards
Ferlopezperez

45PSS · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 2:10 am Post subject:

New lens boards, as well as used Graflex, is avaliable at Midwest Photo . Click on current stock>large format department>graphic.

Happy shooting.

Chalres

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.