Graflex.org

docmaas · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Northern California

I've been working on a front end for my Sigma Digital camera consisting of a front standard from a Bronica bellows with horizontal and vertical shift, swings and center tilt coupled to a homemade bagbellows made from Neoprene. I have acquired a Zeiss 80mm planar and 127mm Ektar and been trying to make stitched images by keeping the lens stationary and moving only the camera which is mounted on vertical and horizontal rails.

Last week it suddenly occurred to me that I could easily add a film camera to the system and I purchased a 2x3 century graphic with a 105mm Xenotar and 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9 backs as well as a homemade polaroid back. The century has been stripped of the rangfinder and is intened to be focused using the ground glass.

Here's my question. With my Sigma I just set the lens on T and use the camera shutter. If I were to get a 2x3 speed graphic I could do the same thing using the focal plane shutter.

Since I already have a bellows I would like to extend the size of the homemade one and remove the bellows from the speed graphic. If I'm going to do that it seems it would also make sense to cut the body down to just in front of the focal plane shutter making it less bulky and lighter.

I've only seen pictures of the shutter and camera and not laid hands on one so I'm wondering if my idea is really feasible. I'd also want to hook up a graflok back and keep the 6x9 rollfilm back. Will I be able to mount the back end of the bellows close enough to the film plane to use a short lens like the 47mm angulon or am I going to limited to the 65mm or so range. With my Sigma in which the sensor is 44mm back from the lens flange I can get my 80mm to focus to infinity with a little room to spare but I really doubt I'll be able to go much shorter.

I'm thinking of doing this so I don't have to restrict myself to leaf shutter lenses and can try out some barrel lenses (The ektar is a barrel lens) and particularly some enlarger lenses. I'm a little concerned though that it might be more trouble than it's worth.

Any feedback/comments appreciated.

thanks,

Mike

djon43 · Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 18 Location: Albuquerque NM

"I'm a little concerned though that it might be more trouble than it's worth."

Would Packard or Sinar shutter concept contribute?

My hat's off to you. Sounds like you love "trouble"

resources:
http://www.sinar.ch/down/sup/prka_verschl_e.pdf
http://www.skgrimes.com/fits/
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/shutters.html#packard

docmaas · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Northern California

I had thought about a packard shutter but they seem to limited in speed. I also thought about a big front mounted leaf shutter but it seems to awkward and prone to vignetting and it would need to be part of the front end and thus present even when using a digital camera. The sinar shutter is a possibility but a little too expensive and rare. So I think my choices realistically are focal plane on a cutdown speedgraphic or just use leaf shuttered lenses.

thanks,

Mike

djon · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 174 Location: New Mexico

I think a great-great uncle used a hat with the
coffee-can-sized Voigtlander und Sohn N.2986 that's gathering dust over my desk.

What happened to hats? Have they gone digital too?

docmaas · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Northern California

Great idea. What kind of hat would you suggest? I have baseball, Cowboy, USMC floppy jungle, an Australian leather fullbrimmed, and Navy watchcaps.

I'm hoping to see a junk minispeed with a converted graflok back and a good shutter on ebay soon. If anyone has one they would consider selling please email me at docmaas at yahoo dot com.

Best,

Mike

djon · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 174 Location: New Mexico

I'm looking for a lens-less 2X3 sumthin' that's otherwise good, with Graflok...I'll show you what I find if you show me what you find

docmaas · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Northern California

Djohn,

Sounds good to me. I've been primarily haunting Ebay as it seems the market secondary to ebay has just about disappeared. I also watch apug, photo.net, galbraith and FM where a real sweet ebony 2x3 just showed up.

I don't know of anything that meets either of our needs right now.

The century graphics 2x3 I have right now has been modified to have swings. It has the red bellows but no top viewfinder or rangefinder. I have 3 rollfilm backs, rh8, rh10 and rh12 and a custom polarizer back with offset gg as well as a 105mm Xenotar. It also has the Graflok back with gg but no fresnel and the metal snapout hood. If there is some subset of the you are interested in let me know.

Best,

Mike

slithy · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Denver, CO

Hey docmaas - congrats on the purchase. I was looking at that one too, but I won the crown that ended just before that one. I was curious about the swing modification - does it compromise the stability of the front standards? I haven't seem the article that describes it, but I have been looking at my camera, wondering how it would be done without totally butchering it.

docmaas · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Northern California

It is probably a little less stable when it is unlocked but seems fine once it is locked up. The modification is surprisingly simple and was described in an article in view camera magazine the seller sent me a copy of. Basically the edges on the bottom of the sliding part are filed to a curve allowing it to swing either direction. The article was in May-June 2005 and was written by John Blackford whose email is john at jblackford dot com. He notes to be sure to leave enough unfiled for the rails to grip. Looks like you pretty much have to shorten it a little though or it may not turn. I don't have an original to compare it to.

Best,

Mike

djon43 · Joined: 16 Oct 2005 Posts: 18 Location: Albuquerque NM

Mike, I'll keep my eyes open. Your Century hotrod isn't quite what I'm after, though it sounds like something that'd be nice with a $12K Leaf digital back

...I want something that'll work well handheld..an oversized Leica IIIF...I'll adjust it for my 80 if I'm successful converting that Century to 135. Otherwise, I suppose I'll want a 101-105.

docmaas · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Northern California

Well there is the Norita but you would have to do a lot of chopping and it is a heavy camera to begin with.

Howabout a Graflex or Mamiya Press. The Mamiya has that SLR breadth with its rollfilm back it seems. But if you want a shutter in the camera the choices are pretty limited.

I'd like to get a digital back too and will someday I am sure but I'd want it to be foveon based and so far there is no sign of that happening.

Best,

Mike