Aero Ektar/ilex 5

Dwayne Martin · Dec 14, 2015

Does anyone happen to know who might be the best candidate to mount an 178mm aero ektar on a ilex 5?
I've already spoken with SK Grimes and to my surprise they have never done it before, and we're not sure if they could. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Dan Fromm · Dec 14, 2015

I'm surprised that SKGrimes turned you away.

See http://www.johndesq.com/graflex/aeromemorandum.htm It shows a dismantled 7"/2.5. The glasses are mounted in cells, should be adaptable to a leaf shutter if the cells' outer diameters are smaller than the shutter's tubes' inner diameters. The site shows one mounted in an Alphax 5.

Also see https://www.cameraquest.com/LF_ek_aero.htm, which shows one mounted in an Ilex 5.

I suggest that you share the links with Adam and Joel.

Dwayne Martin · Dec 14, 2015

I'm definitely not saying they turned me away but they wanted me to send in the lens to see if it was possible. I'm hesitant to put my favorite lens in the mail anymore than I have to.

Dan Fromm · Dec 14, 2015

Devorobin said:
I'm definitely not saying they turned me away but they wanted me to send in the lens to see if it was possible. I'm hesitant to put my favorite lens in the mail anymore than I have to.

Send them the links and they'll see that the job can be done.

I live closer to Woonsocket than you do, usually just drive up when I want to talk things over with Adam and Joel. My little projects are sometimes rather more complex than what looks like a straightforward remount.

I can't understand your aversion to USPS, Fed Ex and even UPS. Pack the lens well, send it insured by a method with positive tracking and all will be well. When my jobs are done I have SKGrimes mail the finished product to me. They usually double box everything. And there's a hint for you.

I've done this with lenses much harder to replace than a 7"/2.5 AE.

Richard Man · Dec 14, 2015

I think Adam is being cautious not haven't done it before. I don't think sending the link to him will make him COMMIT, but sending him the lens might once he checks it out. My advice is to ship FedEx 2nd day, pack it well, and you don't need to worry. At worse, insure it for either full amount or a more token $500 or so. We send multi-thousand dollar packages all the time (work, not cameras) without any issues

EdSawyer · Dec 14, 2015

Why bother with a shutter? Much better off with some sort of focal plane shutter.

Dwayne Martin · Dec 14, 2015

Thanks for the advice guys. As for focal plane I shoot the lens with a speed graphic but I shoot in natural light so I would like to have speeds less than 1/30 for dim light.

EdSawyer · Dec 16, 2015

using a tripod presumably?

the earlier Speed Graphics had shutters that would offer a larger range of slow speeds I think. E.g. pre-pacemaker speed graphics. Just another thought.

Could also use a sinar shutter and/or front-mounted shutter of some type possibly (at the cost of lens speed)

-Ed

Aero Ektar/ilex 5

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