MicroPress 4x5 question

"Richard Knoppow" <dickburk DeleteThis @ix.netcom.com> skrev i en meddelelse
news:13iprqn167bb8e7@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Max>>>
>>> The cameras shown on the MPP site above appear to be clones of the
>>> late Pacemaker Speed Graphic and Crown Graphic. More about these cameras
>>> can be found at http://www.graflex.org
>>> There was also a curious camera built briefly by Busch in the USA.
>>> This was evidently intended to meet the military specification for the
>>> Speed Graphic and had a focal plane shutter. Unlike the simple FP
>>> shutter used on all Graphic and Graflex cameras the Busch shutter was
>>> self-capping and had much better speed regulation. I think it also had a
>>> revolving back but am not sure. The standard Busch models certainly did.
>>> I have only ever seen one advertisement for this camera and have never
>>> seen an actual example. Busch cameras were of very high quality and were
>>> an alternative to the Graflex models for press photography.
>>>
>>
>> This graflex page was quite usefull. Now I found out what "drop bed"
>> means and also why the camera can tilt the lens board back.
>> If MicroPress is a clone then maybe it uses the same lens boards as the
>> Pacemaker and it may be eassier to find one to mount a lens with or
>> without built in shutter.
>>
> I don't know the MPP camera well enough to know about the lens boards.
> There are two series of boards for the late Graphics, one for the earlier
> Pacemaker and another for the later Super Graphic. The supers will work in
> the earlier camera but not the other way around. Both of these are stamped
> metal, probably aluminum, with folded in sides. I think the dimensions are
> on the Graflex site. I see these occasionally at local sales, usually for
> around $20 US. You can also sometimes get them from Midwest photo supply
> at: http://www.mpex.com/
> One of the advantages of the focal plane shutter is the ability to use
> barrel mounted lenses.
> It would be interesting to know more about the FP shutter on the MPP
> camera, i.e., is it just a copy of the Graflex shutter or something more
> elaborate.
> If its like the Graflex shutter you must remember to put the dark slide
> back in the holder or adaptor before winding the shutter or it will expose
> the film.
>

It is the same shutter as in the Graflex.
Just read that I can use Pacemaker Graphic lens boards on the
MicroPress so this it a good thing.

http://www.mppusers.freeuk.com/lensboards.htm

Today I got a used 6x9 Horseman back and I also
purchased a 90/6.8 Angulon which I now need a
lens board for. It is a nice little lens and give a bit
more wideangle on 6x9 than the 135 mm Xenar.
I know much better lenses are out there.....Super
Angulon's etc but the 90/6.8 was cheap and good for starting
up I think. It has a Synchro - Compur - P shutter which go
to 1/500. The Xenar is a Rapid which goes to 1/400 and
has no X/M switch. Do you know which type of flash
the Rapid shutter can synch. with?

The Compur shutter on the 90/6.8 has the usual little
knob which normally is used for the self-timer by pushing the
little knob a bit which allows the arm to go a little further.
But on this shutter version it seems to have another purpose?
 >> Stay informed about: MicroPress 4x5 question 

"Max Perl" <max_perl.RemoveThis@post11.tele.dk> wrote in message
news:472cf8e4$0$2109$edfadb0f@dtext02.news.tele.dk...
>
> "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk.RemoveThis@ix.netcom.com> skrev i en
> meddelelse news:13iprqn167bb8e7@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>> "Max>>>
>>>> The cameras shown on the MPP site above appear to be
>>>> clones of the late Pacemaker Speed Graphic and Crown
>>>> Graphic. More about these cameras can be found at
>>>> http://www.graflex.org
>>>> There was also a curious camera built briefly by
>>>> Busch in the USA. This was evidently intended to meet
>>>> the military specification for the Speed Graphic and
>>>> had a focal plane shutter. Unlike the simple FP shutter
>>>> used on all Graphic and Graflex cameras the Busch
>>>> shutter was self-capping and had much better speed
>>>> regulation. I think it also had a revolving back but am
>>>> not sure. The standard Busch models certainly did.
>>>> I have only ever seen one advertisement for this
>>>> camera and have never seen an actual example. Busch
>>>> cameras were of very high quality and were an
>>>> alternative to the Graflex models for press
>>>> photography.
>>>>
>>>
>>> This graflex page was quite usefull. Now I found out
>>> what "drop bed"
>>> means and also why the camera can tilt the lens
>>> board back.
>>> If MicroPress is a clone then maybe it uses the same
>>> lens boards as the
>>> Pacemaker and it may be eassier to find one to mount a
>>> lens with or
>>> without built in shutter.
>>>
>> I don't know the MPP camera well enough to know about
>> the lens boards. There are two series of boards for the
>> late Graphics, one for the earlier Pacemaker and another
>> for the later Super Graphic. The supers will work in the
>> earlier camera but not the other way around. Both of
>> these are stamped metal, probably aluminum, with folded
>> in sides. I think the dimensions are on the Graflex site.
>> I see these occasionally at local sales, usually for
>> around $20 US. You can also sometimes get them from
>> Midwest photo supply at: http://www.mpex.com/
>> One of the advantages of the focal plane shutter is
>> the ability to use barrel mounted lenses.
>> It would be interesting to know more about the FP
>> shutter on the MPP camera, i.e., is it just a copy of the
>> Graflex shutter or something more elaborate.
>> If its like the Graflex shutter you must remember to
>> put the dark slide back in the holder or adaptor before
>> winding the shutter or it will expose the film.
>>
>
> It is the same shutter as in the Graflex.
> Just read that I can use Pacemaker Graphic lens boards on
> the
> MicroPress so this it a good thing.
>
> http://www.mppusers.freeuk.com/lensboards.htm
>
> Today I got a used 6x9 Horseman back and I also
> purchased a 90/6.8 Angulon which I now need a
> lens board for. It is a nice little lens and give a bit
> more wideangle on 6x9 than the 135 mm Xenar.
> I know much better lenses are out there.....Super
> Angulon's etc but the 90/6.8 was cheap and good for
> starting
> up I think. It has a Synchro - Compur - P shutter which go
> to 1/500. The Xenar is a Rapid which goes to 1/400 and
> has no X/M switch. Do you know which type of flash
> the Rapid shutter can synch. with?
>
> The Compur shutter on the 90/6.8 has the usual little
> knob which normally is used for the self-timer by pushing
> the
> little knob a bit which allows the arm to go a little
> further.
> But on this shutter version it seems to have another
> purpose?
>
>
The knob is for a "blade arrester" which allows you to
open the shutter for focusing or composing without setting
it on "time". Push the button over or down (depending on the
shutter) and trip the shutter, it should stay open. To take
the picture re-cock the shutter. Usually synch shutters with
blade arrestors do not open quite enough to trip the flash
contacts.
Most shutters with unmarked synch sockets are X synch
for strobe. You can check this easily by hooking up a strob
and seeing if the shutter is fully open when it trips. If
the shutter is set up for flashbulbs the synchronizer delays
the opening until enough time has passed for the bulb to
come up to full brightness, typically about 20 milliseconds.
By then a strobe flash will have flashed and gone back to
reading the paper.
The type of shutter makes the Angulon a fairly late one.
These are pretty good lenses. Some of the pre-war Angulons
were not good. You can date any Schneider lens from the
serial number charts on the Schneider web site.
The Angulon is essentially the same type as the Dagor
except the order of power of the cemented elements is
reversed. The outer elements are made extra large to reduce
mechanical vignetting. The lens should be stopped down to
about f/22 or smaller for best sharpness away from the
center. Even though the Super-Angulon is a much better lens
the older design remains popular because it is so small and
light in comparison and its performance is satisfactory.
If the MPP is the same as the Speed Graphic it will take
the 90mm Angulon on the regular flat lensboard.
Unfortunately, the bent metal design of the Pacemaker
type lensboard makes them difficult to make yourself unlike
the earlier Anniversary Graphic lensboards. However, there
were tons made so they are not too difficult to find.
If you get one with a hole too large for the Angulon
shutter you can always make a patch of sheet metal of
similar thickness cemented to the lensboard with epoxy
resin. A new hole is cut in the patch. Of course smaller
holes are simple to enlarge.
I think you probaby have a very good camera. I have five
Speed Graphics of various ages and they are among my
favorite cameras.


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk.RemoveThis@ix.netcom.com
 >> Stay informed about: MicroPress 4x5 question 

"Richard Knoppow" <dickburk.DeleteThis@ix.netcom.com> skrev i en meddelelse
news:13iqgon2ur6usb9@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Max Perl" <max_perl.DeleteThis@post11.tele.dk> wrote in message
> news:472cf8e4$0$2109$edfadb0f@dtext02.news.tele.dk...
>>
>> "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk.DeleteThis@ix.netcom.com> skrev i en meddelelse
>> news:13iprqn167bb8e7@corp.supernews.com...
>>>
>>> "Max>>>
>>>>> The cameras shown on the MPP site above appear to be clones of the
>>>>> late Pacemaker Speed Graphic and Crown Graphic. More about these
>>>>> cameras can be found at http://www.graflex.org
>>>>> There was also a curious camera built briefly by Busch in the USA.
>>>>> This was evidently intended to meet the military specification for the
>>>>> Speed Graphic and had a focal plane shutter. Unlike the simple FP
>>>>> shutter used on all Graphic and Graflex cameras the Busch shutter was
>>>>> self-capping and had much better speed regulation. I think it also had
>>>>> a revolving back but am not sure. The standard Busch models certainly
>>>>> did.
>>>>> I have only ever seen one advertisement for this camera and have
>>>>> never seen an actual example. Busch cameras were of very high quality
>>>>> and were an alternative to the Graflex models for press photography.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> This graflex page was quite usefull. Now I found out what "drop bed"
>>>> means and also why the camera can tilt the lens board back.
>>>> If MicroPress is a clone then maybe it uses the same lens boards as the
>>>> Pacemaker and it may be eassier to find one to mount a lens with or
>>>> without built in shutter.
>>>>
>>> I don't know the MPP camera well enough to know about the lens
>>> boards. There are two series of boards for the late Graphics, one for
>>> the earlier Pacemaker and another for the later Super Graphic. The
>>> supers will work in the earlier camera but not the other way around.
>>> Both of these are stamped metal, probably aluminum, with folded in
>>> sides. I think the dimensions are on the Graflex site. I see these
>>> occasionally at local sales, usually for around $20 US. You can also
>>> sometimes get them from Midwest photo supply at: http://www.mpex.com/
>>> One of the advantages of the focal plane shutter is the ability to
>>> use barrel mounted lenses.
>>> It would be interesting to know more about the FP shutter on the MPP
>>> camera, i.e., is it just a copy of the Graflex shutter or something more
>>> elaborate.
>>> If its like the Graflex shutter you must remember to put the dark
>>> slide back in the holder or adaptor before winding the shutter or it
>>> will expose the film.
>>>
>>
>> It is the same shutter as in the Graflex.
>> Just read that I can use Pacemaker Graphic lens boards on the
>> MicroPress so this it a good thing.
>>
>> http://www.mppusers.freeuk.com/lensboards.htm
>>
>> Today I got a used 6x9 Horseman back and I also
>> purchased a 90/6.8 Angulon which I now need a
>> lens board for. It is a nice little lens and give a bit
>> more wideangle on 6x9 than the 135 mm Xenar.
>> I know much better lenses are out there.....Super
>> Angulon's etc but the 90/6.8 was cheap and good for starting
>> up I think. It has a Synchro - Compur - P shutter which go
>> to 1/500. The Xenar is a Rapid which goes to 1/400 and
>> has no X/M switch. Do you know which type of flash
>> the Rapid shutter can synch. with?
>>
>> The Compur shutter on the 90/6.8 has the usual little
>> knob which normally is used for the self-timer by pushing the
>> little knob a bit which allows the arm to go a little further.
>> But on this shutter version it seems to have another purpose?
>>
>>
> The knob is for a "blade arrester" which allows you to open the
> shutter for focusing or composing without setting it on "time". Push the
> button over or down (depending on the shutter) and trip the shutter, it
> should stay open. To take the picture re-cock the shutter. Usually synch
> shutters with blade arrestors do not open quite enough to trip the flash
> contacts.
> Most shutters with unmarked synch sockets are X synch for strobe. You
> can check this easily by hooking up a strob and seeing if the shutter is
> fully open when it trips. If the shutter is set up for flashbulbs the
> synchronizer delays the opening until enough time has passed for the bulb
> to come up to full brightness, typically about 20 milliseconds. By then a
> strobe flash will have flashed and gone back to reading the paper.
> The type of shutter makes the Angulon a fairly late one. These are
> pretty good lenses. Some of the pre-war Angulons were not good. You can
> date any Schneider lens from the serial number charts on the Schneider web
> site.
> The Angulon is essentially the same type as the Dagor except the order
> of power of the cemented elements is reversed. The outer elements are made
> extra large to reduce mechanical vignetting. The lens should be stopped
> down to about f/22 or smaller for best sharpness away from the center.
> Even though the Super-Angulon is a much better lens the older design
> remains popular because it is so small and light in comparison and its
> performance is satisfactory.
> If the MPP is the same as the Speed Graphic it will take the 90mm
> Angulon on the regular flat lensboard.
> Unfortunately, the bent metal design of the Pacemaker type lensboard
> makes them difficult to make yourself unlike the earlier Anniversary
> Graphic lensboards. However, there were tons made so they are not too
> difficult to find.
> If you get one with a hole too large for the Angulon shutter you can
> always make a patch of sheet metal of similar thickness cemented to the
> lensboard with epoxy resin. A new hole is cut in the patch. Of course
> smaller holes are simple to enlarge.
> I think you probaby have a very good camera. I have five Speed Graphics
> of various ages and they are among my favorite cameras.

Thank you for the answers!
Can see there are some lens boards for sale on ebay.
It is a shame it is not at flat lensboard but I can see the
idea by benting the metal to make it light proof.
The Angulon goes to f/32 but for these LF lenses it seems
loss of sharpness caused ny diffraction is not at problem.
 >> Stay informed about: MicroPress 4x5 question 

Flat lens boards on Graphics

I don't know if the flat board versions on the Graphics (Graphic View,
Mini Speed, etc), or even my Busch Pressman C have different front
standard light baffling than those with the stamped '3-D' bords.

The hassle I have had with flat board on my Crown Graphic has been
getting them the right size to fit under the board locks.

I made & gave someone a flat aluminum one, painted black, with rounded
corners doen on a belt sander, & he said he had no light leaks.

I had suggested an inner section of foam core. Many people make a '2-
step' flat one instead of the stamped deep ones.

The slide locks really irritated me with the flat boards. If you make
yourself replacement slide locks that are longer, you can run into the
opposite problem from the lens board not staying locked...difficult to
remove.
 >> Stay informed about: MicroPress 4x5 question 

"murrayatuptowngallery" <murrayatuptowngallery.DeleteThis@yahoo.com>
wrote in message
news:1194505268.864828.129540@50g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
> Flat lens boards on Graphics
>
> I don't know if the flat board versions on the Graphics
> (Graphic View,
> Mini Speed, etc), or even my Busch Pressman C have
> different front
> standard light baffling than those with the stamped '3-D'
> bords.
>
> The hassle I have had with flat board on my Crown Graphic
> has been
> getting them the right size to fit under the board locks.
>
> I made & gave someone a flat aluminum one, painted black,
> with rounded
> corners doen on a belt sander, & he said he had no light
> leaks.
>
> I had suggested an inner section of foam core. Many people
> make a '2-
> step' flat one instead of the stamped deep ones.
>
> The slide locks really irritated me with the flat boards.
> If you make
> yourself replacement slide locks that are longer, you can
> run into the
> opposite problem from the lens board not staying
> locked...difficult to
> remove.
>

The Graphic View uses metal lens boards which are other
wise the same as the wooden ones for Anniversary Speed
Graphics. Well, there _is_ a difference. The wooden boards
are thick with a thiner border to fit the opening in the
camera. This provides a light trap. The metal boards have
constant thickness but have a raised boss around the holder
which fits into the front standard and provides the same
sort of light trap. However, the center of the board is
thinner so it can take some lenses with retaining rings or
the flange on the back that could not fit on a wood board
without undercutting.
For 4x5 cameras 4x4 inch boards of the Graphic wood type
will fit the Graphic View, the Burke & James press camera,
and the Calumet CC-400. However, the CC-400 boards will not
fit into the other cameras because it has a sliding lock on
both top and bottom and no taper on one edge. The lack of a
taper prevents the edge of the these boards from fitting
into the bottom of a Speed Graphic or Graphic view. Calumet
boards are flat, thin, and have a raised boss around the
edge but a much shallower one than the Graphic View board.
I think the rounded corners you mention must be for a
Pacemaker Graphic. These use a completly different design
made of stamped sheet metal with a bent down rim around the
edges. The rim forms a light trap. These boards will not fit
other cameras without an adaptor.


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk.DeleteThis@ix.netcom.com
 >> Stay informed about: MicroPress 4x5 question