Do I need to refocus front lens on folder after removing shutter?

kingbuzzie · Jun 16, 2019

I have an isolette that I'm ready to replace the bellows on (with a really nice kodak 66 bellows). Do I need to refocus to infinity after removing and replacing the shutter, all things being equal? I don't have any ground glass, and I can't see very well with the scotch tape method.

Kino · Jun 17, 2019

Well, as a matter of course, I would check that infinity is infinity.

You can use a short length of 120 film that has had the emulsion sanded off to make a faux ground glass. Make sure it lays flat in the film plane...

Or, just gamble a roll and see what you get.

removed account4 · Jun 17, 2019

^^ what he said !
==
KB
waxed paper works much better than scotch tape !, I had never heard of sanding off the film, Kino, what a great idea !

Kino · Jun 17, 2019

jnantz said:
^^ what he said !
==
KB
waxed paper works much better than scotch tape !, I had never heard of sanding off the film, Kino, what a great idea !

It's an old cinematographer's trick for gate-focusing a hand cranked camera without a reflex viewfinder...

Luckless · Jun 17, 2019

Kino said:
Well, as a matter of course, I would check that infinity is infinity.

You can use a short length of 120 film that has had the emulsion sanded off to make a faux ground glass. Make sure it lays flat in the film plane...

Or, just gamble a roll and see what you get.

That is a handy suggestion.

Also means that the various rolls of film where I've managed to not properly release the shutter 'obviously' weren't screw ups, but rather they were clearly an effort to prep some extra film to become a useful tool to have lying around...

I had been trying to find 'the right piece of glass' to make into a test ground glass for some of my medium format cameras, but just using film really makes far more sense.

Kino · Jun 17, 2019

If you get ambitious, it's not too hard to make your own ground glass out of normal plate glass and a simple glass cutter. Doesn't take long...

kingbuzzie · Jun 18, 2019

My first bellows install. Kodak must have sunk all their money into the bellows of the 66 II. Even though they are cr*p cameras I felt guilty dismantling it. The kodak 66 II bellows are a little smaller / tighter fit but the forums didn't lie. Too bad the price has gone up on them.

Sirius Glass · Jun 19, 2019

jnantz said:
^^ what he said !
==
KB
waxed paper works much better than scotch tape !, I had never heard of sanding off the film, Kino, what a great idea !

^^ what he said !

kingbuzzie · Jun 20, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
^^ what he said !

I didn't have any bad 120 to sand, but I am happy to report that the wax paper did work quite well and the focus didn't appear to be off one bit.

Trask · Jun 20, 2019

An alternative to wax paper is tracing paper available from an art supply store, often available in various thicknesses and finishes according to need. I'm glad the wax paper worked out for you.

Do I need to refocus front lens on folder after removing shutter?

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