Graflex.org

greg*o · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 1 Location: tx

I have recently picked up a speed graphic with a kalart side rangefinder. My plan was to calibrate the rangefinder with a Nikon 360mm.

I have been able to reset infinity stops and get good focus with rangefinder at infinity.

When I try to set focus at 25' on the ground glass, the "long" adjustment does not go far enough.

I have tried to search and see a potential reference to a focal length limit, but nothing specific.

Have I not done enough, or is there a focal length limit with the rangefinder?

Is a 15" Wollensak tele optar any easier?

Thanks

john wilton · Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 26

If you check the Kalart user manual (free at butkus.org) you'll see that 165mm setting is 19. 150mm is 17, and the scale only goes to 21. I've been told that the maximum focal length that can be calibrated for is 203mm.

15" is ~375mm so it will be worse; both far out of range.

bertsaunders · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject: RF limits

Greg,
The new fellows forget that these cameras are not new technolegy, the company went out of busness many years ago! The cameras in spite of their age, are very functional but require carefull planning and setup for every shot taken with them! There are a few limitations, but the cameras from this era and back to the invention of the camera, are the ancestors of every camera and most every inovation and improovements found on your modern film camera and much of the digital world!
Have a nice day, and enjoy the inovations of the old timers and their wonderfull cameras!...........Bert

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

Naw, those lenses are just way too long.
The Kalart starts to get fussy even with 162mm normal lens but they do set well up to about a 7-1/2" lens and then get weird. They are really good with the semi-wide 127 and 135mm lenses the press guys and crime photographers used a lot. A 203mm lens is too long and will cause the calibrator fits.
Sooooooo, I think what they used to do ( I was young then) was keep the Kalart set for the standard lens, and add a scale or two on the bed, and used the safe set method.
So if your stuff is set up correctly, and the long lens is set for the say fifteen feet marks, so too should the standard lens scale and the RF be in synch. You just move in or out until the RF is alligned and take the shot.
But even the 15" Tele lenses that allow less bellows draw will probably suffer camera shake without added support. I've only shot mine with a tripod focussed on GG and I use an added support plate under the camera as the front standard gets shakey with all that glass up front. Don't know what you are doing with the lens, but if protraiture and shallow DOF I would think it too critical to use RF focussing anyway.

Top · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

FWIW, the manual for the Kalart 'F' says 'adjustable for use with lenses of 10.5cm to 30cm. But I don't think the OPs camera is equipt with this model.
Top

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

E-6A 4x5 standard probably.
What does your catalog call out for the limits for it?
I pretty much already know by way of setting them up, but would like to know the factory spec anyway.
Thanks

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

At 360mm the rangefinder is a moot point. Your camera doesn't have enough bellows draw to utilize a 360mm lens.
_________________
Glenn

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

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

Isn't it a Tele?
But yeah, pretty moot anyway.

Top · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject:

renes · Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 42 Location: Warsaw

My Century is equiped with Graflex 103mm f/4.5 lens but I am going to replace it for Voightlander Heliar 105mm f/3.5 I also have.

Do I need to adjust Kalart rangefinder? The difference is only 2mm...

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2147 Location: New Jersey

renes · Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 42 Location: Warsaw

Thanks.

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

Notice that the 30cm lens is a tele.
_________________
"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison

willysmb · Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 128 Location: France _ Europe

Dear Sir,
How is it possible to make the difference between a Kalart E and a Kalart F.
I do not find any inscriptions on my differents rangefinders.

(I want to adjust my new Pacemaker with a 10" Tele-Optar)

Cheers
Laurent

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

The first digit of the serial number is the best place. The F is the 'tubular' rangefinder used on early Annys and late model Pre-Anns. I say tubular because there isn't a cover like the E, the scales and adjustments are on the outside and the body is a tube.

Before that came the K which was longer and had external linking (around through the body/bed opening.

There are six versions of the E, Well I know there is at least an E6 wether they went through all the numbers in between I don't know. I think the firs model E has a silver cover. One version need's a special sheet metal wrench to adjust and the later models used a prism at the bottom instead of a mirror.
_________________
"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison