autofocus speed graphic?!

Christopher Colley · Jul 1, 2011

howdy y'all!!

Has anyone ever heard of anyone doing a conversion would allow autofocus of a speed graphic or similar?

I was talkin to a pal and we figure that it might not be so difficult to rig a system to measure the distance and move the focus rail to the appropriate point with a linear actuator...

and with the ample space for attaching stuff to one of these cameras it seems like it shouldnt be too hard to make it work.

just in the discussion phase at this point...

anyways... anyone have any experience with doing similar? ..ideas? comments? threats?

-

Steve Smith · Jul 1, 2011

They are quite common. Usually seen on the first of April: http://graflex.org/articles/auto-focus.html

Steve.

Christopher Colley · Jul 1, 2011

haha.

but uhm,. this is for real this time

Pgeobc · Jul 1, 2011

2F/2F · Jul 1, 2011

I doubt that anything that could be rigged up would be faster or more accurate than just doing it by hand/eye. Even the AF systems of the best of the best AF cameras made are inherently limited in what they can do. And an AF system is still only as good as the person behind it, and always will be. With all the monkeying around you have to do to get a rangefinder, or even an SLR, AF system to work ideally for you in every shot, you may as well just use the Kalart, take the shot and be done with it. I don't mean to discourage you from your idea just for the sake of doing it. It's just my two completely honest cents.

Christopher Colley · Jul 1, 2011

2F/2F said:
you may as well just use the Kalart, take the shot and be done with it.

its a pain to change the focal length on the model kalart rangefinders ive access to... which is the reason the idea came up... interchangeable lenses in the field quickly

2F/2F · Jul 1, 2011

Christopher Colley said:
its a pain to change the focal length on the model kalart rangefinders ive access to... which is the reason the idea came up... interchangeable lenses in the field quickly

If that is the issue (and I agree that it is a big one), I'd invest in a Super Graphic. There are other advantages in addition to the RF cams too, such as a rotating back, more movements, and an excellent distance/DOF scale. It is kind of like the poor-man's Linhof, for only a few hundred bucks. There are Horsemans as well, and some other similar "Linhof-clone" cameras that are very reasonably priced for what they can do.

BrianL · Jul 2, 2011

Sad the company did not develop the camera. If they announced iit, I wonder if there is a prototype kicking around in there storage facility.

Dan Fromm · Jul 3, 2011

BrianL said:
Sad the company did not develop the camera. If they announced iit, I wonder if there is a prototype kicking around in there storage facility.

Hmm. The announcement was posted on www.graflex.org on an April first.

Chris, until you've done it its all fantasy.

Discoman · Jul 5, 2011

idea: post the idea to instructables. someone there might know how to rig up a device.
i'd think you just need a rangefinder, arduino board, stepper motor driver, and a stepper motor.
hook it together, write up the code for it, and it should be able to focus your graflex.
use a rubber bit on the motor so you could just have alternate versions of the code and just attach it to other cameras as well.

rmolson · Jul 6, 2011

autofocus speed graohic

Autofocus speed graphic

Weight and gearing aside ,at onetime press cameras came with Kalart rangefinders .Later models had an attachment that fit onto the top of the rangefinder and drew power from the flash gun battery case. The unit projected a beam of light down through the mirrors and out into space. When you moved the lens bed the two beams converged and you were in focus . It was mainly for work in very dim light where normal viewing through the rangefinder was difficult. If one hooked up a small battery operated laser pointer instead of the light bulb used, it would project beams bright enough to use in daylight. Just a thought.

tim k · Jul 6, 2011

You dont suppose people would get nervous with a lazer dot on their chest, do you?

Sirius Glass · Jul 6, 2011

tim k said:
You dont suppose people would get nervous with a lazer dot on their chest, do you?

What about on the center of the forehead?

JohnArs · Jul 6, 2011

Has anyone ever heard of anyone doing a conversion would allow autofocus of a speed graphic or similar?

Take for an example a Horseman Very Wide put a Schneider 47 XL on it focus on 2-3 meters stop down to f22 and it will be the fastest Autofocus/Fixfocus you have ever seen. Sharp from about 1m to infinity;--))))

Cheers Armin

autofocus speed graphic?!

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