Crown Graphic confusion

campy51 · Dec 10, 2020

I want to replace my Xenar 135mm with an Ektar 152mm so do I have to change the focus scales and view frame? I already changed the focus cam. Also looking to find out what I need for filter adapter and hood. If I get a series VII slip on adapter for filters what hood do I get?

cjbecker · Dec 10, 2020

If you want the ability to scale focus besides just scale focus infinity then you will want to change your focus scale. The wire finder needs no change and for the viewfinder, I assume the viewfinder works the same as the side mounted rangefinder viewfinders, and uses the same masks, here is the info on that https://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/viewfinder-masks.html

shutterfinger · Dec 10, 2020

campy51 said:
I want to replace my Xenar 135mm with an Ektar 152mm so do I have to change the focus scales and view frame? I already changed the focus cam.

https://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/top-rangefinder-cams.html
There are 5 cams for 135mm lens, 4 for 152mm lens.
http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/Grafscalst.gif
There are 5 focus scales for 150mm lens. The rail indicator and bed scale were matched at the factory but there is no reference for the rail to bed portions of the scale. The numbers listed are for the bed scale.

The view frame should be good as is. http://www.bnphoto.org/bnphoto/KodakEktarsIndex.htm shows a 44.5mm slip on adapter.

xya · Dec 10, 2020

btw: where did you find the cams? I'm looking for some since ages...

campy51 · Dec 10, 2020

What I did after changing the cam was to pull the lens out until a house well over 100ft was in focus on the gg and then locked the lens down and checked using the rangefinder and it appears to be ok. I took a picture of my grandson using a flash and rangefinder and it came out nice, so I assume the cam, rangefinder and lens are on target. Or am I missing something?
Here is the picture, I think I was around 6 feet f16 Did I miss focus?

Bob S · Dec 10, 2020

Your missing something. Does the camera focus true over the entire focusing range? Not just at 6 feet?

campy51 · Dec 11, 2020

xya said:
btw: where did you find the cams? I'm looking for some since ages...

Ebay

campy51 · Dec 11, 2020

Bob S said:
Your missing something. Does the camera focus true over the entire focusing range? Not just at 6 feet?

This was the only shot, the flash didn't fire on the other . I need to load more film holders. Does this picture look out of focus to you?

shutterfinger · Dec 11, 2020

The overall focus looks soft but the child's eyes are fairly sharp. Looks more like a f5.6 to f8 than an f16.
Camera shake, soft scan that needs sharpening.
Test the focus with the lens wide open on a tripod using a test target at several distances. Rangefinder calibration distances are infinity, 25 feet, 15 feet, 10 ffet, 8 feet, 4 feet.
Download some of these https://www.google.com/search?sourc...hVFrJ4KHQN9DfIQjJkEegQIBxAB&biw=2176&bih=1111 print several copies at the printers highest resolution and mount on a piece of 20x30 inch foam core, focus on the finest detail possible for each distance.

campy51 · Dec 11, 2020

Thanks I try that over the weekend. All my b&w shots seem soft even when using Hasselblad, Bronica or Rolleiflex, but I am comparing it to digital. My eye sight is not the greatest but I think it's my scanning and can't figure out why. I have a V700 and before that a 4490 and I even bought an adjustable film holder with anti newton glass and tried the lowest to highest position with very little difference. They all look much better when printed but still not really sharp like my digital, but I like the overall general look better than digital for b&w.

shutterfinger · Dec 11, 2020

I think my Microtek 8700 was sharper than my V700.
Camera shake with a 4x5 even using the leaf shutter in the lens as with the Crown is easy to induce while tripping the shutter.
Make sure the camera and test target are parallel at the film plane.

Crown Graphic confusion

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