I'll bet there is a posting about making you own masks somewhere in APUG where the subject was discussed until everyone was sick of it but I can't find it. Have any of you made your own out of thin metal, thin plastic, mountboard, anything that you made work? Any information will be greatly appreciated including people who might have a small business making them...........Thank you (in advance)
DIY Masks For 4x5 Crown/Speed Graphic Viewfinders?
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For my Super Graphic I measured the image area of the ground glass and the sports finder frame for 4x5. I used the ratios of the gg to sf in each dimension and made mask for 6x6 cm and 6x9 cm from 1/4 inch foam core.
Why bother.... the most commonly used masks are still fairly easy to find for $15 or so.
I'm assuming you mean the direct finder on the top, not the sports finder.
I use a Crown Graphic or more frequently a Super Graphic while in Turkey/Greece often hand held, sometimes with a bit of tilt and with a variety of lenses -20mm 135mm or 150mm and 203mm. The wire sports finder works so well and far better than the direct viewfinder. I compose and focus on the GG screen will have noted the framing and then once I've slid in the DDS etc will re-frame with the wire finder, it's very quick and I can frame surprisingly tightly.
A couple of years ago I bought a 9x12 Ihagee Zweiverschluss Duplex essentially a pre-WWII German press camera and a previous owner made a mask to fit the front standard wire to shoot with a Rollex 6x9 roll film back. Duplex on this camera means it has a Focal Plane as well as the 135,, f3.5 Tessar's Compur shutter so equivalent to a pre Pacemaker Speed Graphic.
If I wanted a mask for the wire finder on my Pacemaker Graphics I'd make it from Aluminium sheet, quite quick and simple.
BTW the "Similar Threads" feature below (scroll past the reply dialogue box) shows the previous posts on this subject
Ian
I use a Crown Graphic or more frequently a Super Graphic while in Turkey/Greece often hand held, sometimes with a bit of tilt and with a variety of lenses -20mm 135mm or 150mm and 203mm. The wire sports finder works so well and far better than the direct viewfinder. I compose and focus on the GG screen will have noted the framing and then once I've slid in the DDS etc will re-frame with the wire finder, it's very quick and I can frame surprisingly tightly.
A couple of years ago I bought a 9x12 Ihagee Zweiverschluss Duplex essentially a pre-WWII German press camera and a previous owner made a mask to fit the front standard wire to shoot with a Rollex 6x9 roll film back. Duplex on this camera means it has a Focal Plane as well as the 135,, f3.5 Tessar's Compur shutter so equivalent to a pre Pacemaker Speed Graphic.
If I wanted a mask for the wire finder on my Pacemaker Graphics I'd make it from Aluminium sheet, quite quick and simple.
BTW the "Similar Threads" feature below (scroll past the reply dialogue box) shows the previous posts on this subject
Ian
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To see the similar threads you have to be signed in... 
To see the similar threads you have to be signed in...
How many times must I sign in? I am signed in (and paid up) every time I look at any part of APUG. Now what about you?......Regards!
I think that I replied to your comment without thinking and after reading it several more times, I can see that it was meant to help. If that is, indeed the case, then I .apologize. As a matter of fact, I had gone to the recommended source and while I did not read the complete source (not enough time) what I did read made no mention of the masks. Again, I apologize for my remarks........Regards!
Noooooo problem... the only time we log in, sign in, is when we want to make a comment as we are doing now.. or .. I'm liking the tread and want to see what others may be available dealing with the same item, of what the tread is about.. sooo it was just a remark as when Ian Grant made that statement, realized we were not signed in and couldn't view the SIMILAR TREADS. Ha...
But it is an interesting note you made about (not enough time) ... such is the modern whorl.
Years ago, when my neighbor said, Hey.. sell your dad's old camera's and get a digital, and will go shooting.
Well picked up the old nikon Ftn, 35m and it wrapped around me.. looked at all the extra lenses, filters ect.. and said, 'ell we got a full kit here, all I need is some film.
Then in shooting it, over the next year, was first frustrated without instant gratification. That one had to shoot the roll, and then go have it developed locally my Walgreens. Had to wait.. nuts. Over eager
Then slowly, began to unwind, found when taking a picture, we started slowing down. Looking deeper into the scene and what we could see and wanted to do with it. Gradually.. finding we would go to a location, with an idea, but get there, and then just sit a few moments and let the surroundings become known. Often, many many times, the original idea that we went there to shoot, was not centered on, but a new one would develop. Thus, when getting anxious, ect, hmmm... time to go shooting. It's become great therapy.
Its great not having instant gratification.
Now more into MF, but have all three formats, and shoot old manual classic camera's. The only one that has a battery is the old Nikon. Converted an old Weston Ranger 9 to modern batteries.. and slowly the images are getting better.
Its in the time, and having enough of it, and being in that moment.
Ha.. here's a shot example. Had to attained some weekend meetings this last weekend down in Phx, so my wife and I took the camper and stayed at Lost Dutchman State Park. Shooting and getting a good composition shot of a saguaro has been difficult. There so tall and slim, so this time down there was trying to see them differently. So I'm rotating around this one, trying to see something that might work, and was visited by a European green woodpecker. Didn't have to think, just hit the trigger.
Now, after this long winded Bio.. back to the op's question.
I often make my own, for the finder on top, but finding more and more using the quick wire finder as Ian Grant stated. After looking at the Ground Glass image with the lens we have on the camera, especially for the 2x3, as do not have to use a tripod, as with the bigger 4x5 and double polar lens. Its much faster, and makes me feel like I'm a press photographer out on a job.
But it is an interesting note you made about (not enough time) ... such is the modern whorl.
Years ago, when my neighbor said, Hey.. sell your dad's old camera's and get a digital, and will go shooting.
Well picked up the old nikon Ftn, 35m and it wrapped around me.. looked at all the extra lenses, filters ect.. and said, 'ell we got a full kit here, all I need is some film.
Then in shooting it, over the next year, was first frustrated without instant gratification. That one had to shoot the roll, and then go have it developed locally my Walgreens. Had to wait.. nuts. Over eager
Then slowly, began to unwind, found when taking a picture, we started slowing down. Looking deeper into the scene and what we could see and wanted to do with it. Gradually.. finding we would go to a location, with an idea, but get there, and then just sit a few moments and let the surroundings become known. Often, many many times, the original idea that we went there to shoot, was not centered on, but a new one would develop. Thus, when getting anxious, ect, hmmm... time to go shooting. It's become great therapy.
Its great not having instant gratification.
Now more into MF, but have all three formats, and shoot old manual classic camera's. The only one that has a battery is the old Nikon. Converted an old Weston Ranger 9 to modern batteries.. and slowly the images are getting better.
Its in the time, and having enough of it, and being in that moment.
Ha.. here's a shot example. Had to attained some weekend meetings this last weekend down in Phx, so my wife and I took the camper and stayed at Lost Dutchman State Park. Shooting and getting a good composition shot of a saguaro has been difficult. There so tall and slim, so this time down there was trying to see them differently. So I'm rotating around this one, trying to see something that might work, and was visited by a European green woodpecker. Didn't have to think, just hit the trigger.
Now, after this long winded Bio.. back to the op's question.
I often make my own, for the finder on top, but finding more and more using the quick wire finder as Ian Grant stated. After looking at the Ground Glass image with the lens we have on the camera, especially for the 2x3, as do not have to use a tripod, as with the bigger 4x5 and double polar lens. Its much faster, and makes me feel like I'm a press photographer out on a job.
I sent you a PM about one that I have available.
Would you believe from $15.00 to $20.00 each IF YOU CAN FIND THE RIGHT ONE like maybe a #10 mask. You folks have evidently bought them all.......Regards!
By the way, if I wanted to view the ground-glass to take my picture, I would take a pencil and mark the size opening on the ground glass. Have done that before but now am looking for an easier way to shoot hand held.....Regards!
It's been decades since I've had to make a Graphic viewfinder mask. My preferred technique is to lay out the needed opening on a flat sheet of aluminum or (preferably) brass sheet. Clamp the sheet in a vise with clean sharp-edged jaws with one layout line even with the top of a jaw. Shear along the line with a sharp cold chisel. Rotate the sheet and shear the other three sides of the opening. Then trim the outside and bend the top lip down. Don't bother with the centering triangles as in the original masks -- they aren't worth the considerable bother.
Im not sure if this helpful at all since I don't know what the viewer is like on the crown/speed graphic but here are two templates I made in Illustrator for the Polaroid 405 back and my Calumet 6x7 back. They work great for me! I went to JoAnn's and found some nice sturdy paper and made a 2-ply version and laminated it with packing tape. Sits snugly on the ground glass so even when I take the built in hood off of my camera (I shoot on an original Graphic View thats been retrofitted with a Graflok back) for loupe focusing it doesn't fall off.
You folks have inspired me to try shooting with the wire finder. I've always used the top viewfinder but (for lack of masks) never with a longer-than-normal lens.
SometimesI use the wire frame. It shows an area smaller than that covered by a 135mm lens, so it tells me that I can cover that area. I think that it is closer to the 210mm lens field of view.
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