Graflex.org

[Micah in NC]

Hi folks,
I've read a lot of info on this site and determined it was time for me to get my feet wet in large format photography, and it had to be a Speed Graphic. So I saw a "steal" on that online auction place (you know which one) and picked up my first Graflex for $78.99.

It was advertised as an 4x5 Anniversary model Speed Graphic with Graphic spring back and 15cm Carl Zeiss Jena lens, 1/200 dial set Compur firing same at all settings. Seller said FP shutter on body works fine.

Well, he's right but he apparently didn't remove the lensboard and look at the lens. Fungus!

All is well, or so I thought, becuase I had already purchased a 127mm f/4.5 Ektar lens in 1/400 Synchro-Compur for only $70 in great condition, no fungus, shutter fires right on all speeds--maybe 2 sec. on 1 sec. It was mounted on a metal lensboard, # D30852 P14, with solenoid attached (Graflex #2 type).

Well, I think I understand the FP shutter OK now, so I put it on T setting. Since the Zeiss lens' Compur shutter isn't working--I discovered it won't cock on B or T, so I can't use it 'til I get it repaired--I took the Zeiss off the Pre-Anniv. wooden lensboard and wanted to put the Ektar on the wooden board. The wooden board is stamped "C" on it. Does that mean anything?

I got the Ektar mounted on the wooden "C" board, though the Ektar is smaller than the hole in the threaded plate which held the Zeiss lens. Luckily, it worked--but the retaining ring on the Ektar nearly diappeared into the hole on the back side of the lensboard!

Well, I push in the little lever on the Ektar's shutter which holds the shutter leaves open, then make sure the FP shutter is on T, and try focusing the Graflex on the ground glass. Well, an object about four feet away is a FAR away as I can focus.

What am I doing wrong? Do I need to move the infinity stops? (This is a Pre-Anniv., so they don't fold down.) Will this Ektar not work on this camera?

Thanks in advance! I hope to get the hang of this old Graflex as I have some Polaroid film--Polapan 57 sheet film--and #500 Polaroid back on the way.

--Micah in NC

[ This Message was edited by: Micah in NC on 2003-06-26 22:10 ]

[45PSS]

I play with newer stuff but the procedures are the same. 15cm=150mm. 127mm is 23mm less than 150mm. The 127mm ektar will infinity focus 23mm closer to the groundglass than the 15cm Ziess.
Place camera on a tripod.
Open camera.
Pull front standard out 2 or 3 inches.
Run the rails into the camera body as far as they will go, then foward 1/8 inch and lock with the focus lock.
Open lens and focal plane shutters.
Point camera on infinity target, should have sharp verticle lines and be at least 1/2 mile away.
Move front standard on rails until infinity is in sharp focus with standard locked.
If setting infinity stops, slide them up to touching the standard and tighten the screws.
Otherwise mark the rails or bed with pencil or tape to identify that lens infinity or starting point.
Charles

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

[Les]

RE: ziess lens. Dial compur shutters don't follow what is now tradition----you DON"T cock it to use B or T, you just set the dial and touch the release. Are you sure it's fungus in the lens? A good cleaning might do wonders.

Re: Short focus on ektar. It sounds like you had the lens pulled out to far. A 127mm lens set 150mm away from the ground glass (the infinity point of a 15cm lens) would focus short.

Set the camera up on a tripod open the rear shutter (set it to O. Since I never use the FP my saying is O is for OPEN , T is for Trouble) then with the rails racked all the way back, pull the lens standard out with one had while looking at the ground glass. When its close, stop. Then you can use the rails for final focus. And yes it sound like you need either another set of stops, or a way to mark the infinity point, this could be nothing more that a piece of wood or metal that fits between the current stops and the standard, so that when the standard his the spacer block its close to infinity.

If you have a rangefinder, it will need closer tolerances, if you don't have an RF then the fine focus will be done on the ground glass, so close is good enough.

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

[Micah in NC]

Charles and Les:

Thanks for the wonderful information! I printed out your instructions so I can reset the infinity stops for my 127mm f/4.7 Ektar lens. Now I think I'm beginning to see the light--pun intended--at least as far as focusing different focal length lenses on a Graflex is concerned.

I hope I can get a newer Graflex one day, but this one should serve me well. I'll use the Ektar since it has flash sync and I've got some old flashbulb flashguns with ASA post connections.

Les, I never knew the old dial-set Compurs used B and T settings without cocking! I thought my Compur didn't work on B and T until I tried your instructions and, voila! Itworks! (Sort of. The ol' Compur only releases the shutter to closed position if the lens/shutter is either straight out or pointed downward. If pointed upward, the leaves S-L-O-W-L-Y close. And 1-200 sec. still all fire the same--at something fast like 1/100 or 1/200 sec.)

Anyway, I hope to set infinity stops for using this Ektar for now and get the Zeiss lens/Compur shutter cleaned. I cleaned Zeiss lens by unscrewing rear group and cleaning that, opening the shutter on T and aperture wide open, and cleaned rear of front group. And, of course the front of the lens.

Some more questions:
1) Does the bed drop on this Pre-Ann? I can't find a way to drop it.
2) What movements does the front standard allow? I loosened the thumbscrews but could only get the lensboard to slide up/down, not tilt up and down.
3) Is it okay to use electronic flash on my Ektar/Synchro-Compur unit, or would I risk pitting/burning the shutter's flash contacts inside? (This 1/400 shutter has a small green lever on top marked "M" and "X" for bulb and electronic flash sync. Plus, I picked up a Paramount ASA-to-PC adapter cord so I can attach an electronic flash to ASA posts.)

OK. I've rambled on enough--for now.

Thanks in advance,
Micah in NC

[Les]

The Pre-Ann doesn't have a drop bed, nor will it tilt. they made an accessory set of short rails that you used with wide angle lenses ( you would disconnect the struts and let the bed fall completely.

think of it as a very big point and shoot camera.

[jdman]

Rise is the only movement avaliable on the front standard.
The bed drops according to the book, but, not with the locks in place. You can disconnect the braces but I do not see anyway to lock it in the drop position.

Do not worry about the shutter contacts, they can handle your Strobe. Russ

[Micah in NC]

Russ and Les:

Thanks! Well, I can live with rise as the only movement. I don't have anything wider than the 127mm Ektar presently, so I'm not worried about being able to drop the bed.

Glad to hear the Synchro-Compur can withstand strobe use!

Thanks,
Micah in NC