Flash Syncing an RB Graflex

[TheFlyingCamera]

Anyone know how to put a flash sync on an RB Graflex focal plane shutter? I've seen other RB Graflex cameras with flash sync, and it usually looks a hideous kluge, with some old household wire coming out of the side of the camera. I've got a relatively pristine RB Graflex that I'd like to use as a portrait camera in my studio, and so I'd like to use it with strobe so I can shoot color negative film with it.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've thought about this with my Press Graflex.

It would involve making a switch that would close when the focal plane shutter was open, say by putting a foil patch on the edge of the shutter curtain and a couple of contacts that would close the circuit when the shutter was fully open, but lacking an instant return mirror, you would still have to close the mirror manually fairly quickly to avoid an excess of ambient exposure--not much better than normal open flash technique.

A really effective but more complex way to do this would be to use the same type of focal plane shutter switch, but have it actuate a solenoid that would fire a leaf shutter on the lens, that would sync to flash normally, but then you need a lens in shutter with a solenoid that all fits in the Graflex, and you lose the option of using barrel lenses.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I can kinda-sorta avoid the ambient exposure problem with my existing strobes- I can set them to turn the modeling light off while the power is recharging. Sounds like my best bet is to build that big fluorescent light I was thinking of for doing wet plate, and rigging it with some kind of dimmer to attenuate the output.

 

[removed account4]

hi scott

maybe bert saunders at graflex.org can point you in the right direction.
he is super-nice and i am sure if it can be done, he can do it, and not leave
you arm+legless ...

john

ps. i have wanted to do the same thing but never bothered to do it ...

 

[darinwc]

What if you modify one of the shutter slits by cutting it to full size, then add the foil contacts to the edge. Then you will end up with a faster flash sync speed that closes automatically.

Before you do this, you should mark the shutter curtain to see if it travels enough to do this.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Given that the shutter in this camera is in perfect working order, I am not about to start cutting up the shutter curtain. If there were issues with the shutter, and the camera were more beat up, I'd be willing to consider that. I think my best options sound like either adding a bit of foil to create a contact patch, or just shooting natural light/daylight fluorescents. Option 2 would be to get a small lens in shutter that I could put on in place of my current barrel lens and use the lens' shutter for flash sync.

 

[DBP]

What about using the B setting and then firing the strobes manually?

 

[juan]

Scott, my RB's focal plane shutter is only open fully in the T setting. With that in mind, I think the only real option is to replace the lens with one in a leaf shutter.
juan

 

[freygr]

If I remember correctly there is one curtain that is full frame. You would have to insert a sensor to trigger the flash. That sensor would have to be part of the curtain. Another way my be just using a Micro-controller (PIC, CX, 8051 or ??). to fire the flash x micro-seconds after the shutter is pressed, but it would only work with the full frame curtain opening.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Bruce-

There really isn't a "B" setting on an RB Graflex. There's T, which means the curtain is fully open, and the dropping of the mirror acts as a closing of the shutter. It has to do with the way the RB Graflex shutters are made, and the way the tensioning spring operates.

 

[darinwc]

Yeah, that is surprising that the Graflex's dont have a Bulb setting. I have a Super D and it is the same issue.. there is no full opening mode and no bulb.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

The Super D's have a kind of flash sync though, for bulb flash if nothing else. The older Series D does not. I've got an older Series D, or maybe even a prior series (B? maybe). It's probably doable to add it in, but given the overall condition of the camera, I'm not going to monkey with it.

 

[2014268]

Graflex Series D flash sync through putting a microswitch to let the MIRROR SETTING LEVER hit it thus activating the flash. The microswitch is wired to the studio power pack directly.

 

[Ian Grant]

The Pacemaker Speed Graphics have flash Sync and it's simply two flat pieces of metal sewn into the edge of the shutter curtain by the full width slot of the curtain, these two strips make contact with two spring strips in the body triggering the flash. All the Graflex shutters use similar multi slot width shutter curtain but flash sync is limited to the slowest speeds.

I'd either use a flash synced lens in a leaf shutter, or a Luc/Gitzo type studio shutter (front mounted single speed leaf shutter) as I have 2 or 3 different sizes with flash sync, but that defeats the purpose of using a reflex camera. Would work OK in a studio though as they are quick and easy to switch from Open to Instantaneous.

Ian

 

[removed account4]

Graflex Series D flash sync through putting a microswitch to let the MIRROR SETTING LEVER hit it thus activating the flash. The microswitch is wired to the studio power pack directly.

i think you are onto something
when i bought my D the former owner removed
a sync that might have been exactly as you describe.
should have asked him to keep it on but i was young and naive ..

 

[Ian Grant]

The problem of triggering flash from the mirror is that will only work with long burn flash bulbs as the mirror is up before the shutter is fully open. Electronic flash needs very much more accurate triggering at the point the curtains full slit width is across the film plane.

Ian

 

[removed account4]

The problem of triggering flash from the mirror is that will only work with long burn flash bulbs as the mirror is up before the shutter is fully open. Electronic flash needs very much more accurate triggering at the point the curtains full slit width is across the film plane.

Ian

in that case .. no clue what kind of sync it was ! LOL
( he just told me he removed it )

 

[shutterfinger]

I have seen a 3rd party flash sync on vintage Graflex SLR's that was a metal housing with Bi Post pins mounted on the side of the body so that the H lever would make the switch contacts when it reached the top of its travel. (the H lever is what is used to set the mirror to the closed position) The sync was period correct for the camera.
The average speed for an aperture opening to travel across the 4 inch dimension of a Graflex SLR is 45 to 55 milliseconds depending on the condition of the shutter.
This is the wind plate from a 1947 Super D 4x5.

The flash sync contacts are bottom center.
It fires the flash on curtain opening. Curtain at O, tension at H (highest tension), tripping the shutter gives about 1/5 second for a flash exposure.
http://graflex.org/RBGraflex/