Graflex.org

[peakbagger]

Hi everyone! I just purchased a GVII body with the popout shade and a few lens boards but no lens or film holders. I'm a total newbie with regards to large format. I'm jumping in with eyes wide shut, basically.

I'm looking for lenses to do portrait with. I'm a bokeh fiend and I really love the swirly bokeh that Petzval is known for. What would I need to mate the petzval with my GVII? Do I need a 'Packard shutter' to use with it, and is there additional modification I have to do to fit the shutter to my GVII?

I apologize if this is the wrong board - maybe this should go under lenses, but since it is View related, thought this would be a good start.

Thanks!

[45PSS]

Graphic View II instruction manual: http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/GVII-Instruct2.pdf
Graphic View I &II service manual: http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/GraphicView2Service.pdf

Old view cameras oft times had the Packard mounted to the rear of the front standard with a hole cut into the bellows and the air tube run through it and sealed to the tube.

It is easy to make a lens board to fit the Graphic View from 1/4 inch thick Plywood. A box that locks into the front standard with the Packard mounted in it and a lens attached should be easy to design and make. Paint the inside flat black, finish the outside to suit your taste.

Most lens from the 1940's and prior have 9 or 10 blade apertures which form a near perfect circle which is what gives the boketh you are looking for. Expect to pay more for a lens if it was designed as a Portrait lens.

[peakbagger]

Thanks much for the advice! I guess I am biting off more than I can chew if I were to attempt that at this point. I'll search for 9/10 blade aperture lenses.