Focal Plane Shutter Accessory Backs?

[Fragomeni]

Hi all. I have a Horseman 980 and it is my MF camera of choice for a number of reasons i.e. movements which I'm accosutomed to with my LF cameras, has a rangefinder, is perfect for my homemade lens projects...almost. If this camera had a focal plane shutter it would be unstoppable! Hence my question: Has there ever been any type of focal plane shutter accessory back for the 980? I know that Linhoff once made a focal plane shutter back accessory for the Tech models.

If there was never a focal plane accessory for the Horseman line has anyone ever successfully pulled off a mod for it? Lastly, if I really ended up not being able to live life without a focal plane shutter, what camera with a focal plane shutter would be a good replacement for my 980? It would have to take 120 size film, have movements, and have the focal plane shutter. A rangefinder would be a nice advantage but not entirely necessary.

Thanks for the help!

 

[ic-racer]

2x3 Speed Graphic with Graflok back. I think this camera will accept your existing Horseman film backs.

A more modern solution would be to get the Shen Hao XPO 4x5 camera and a Rollfilm back and a Sinar/Shutter lensobard. Then you can mount your shutterless lenses on that.

 

[Fragomeni]

The speed graphics are far too limited in movements. Way back when I originally got my Horseman I was considering a 2x3 Speed Graphic and although they're fun little cameras, for my purposes they don't have anywhere near the necessary movements. The Horseman is basically a full fledged view camera with full movements and the benefit of having a rangefinder if you want to use it handheld (which I do very little of these days). The size is also a factor. I shoot mainly 8x10 and now going up to 11x14. I have a 20x24 in my living room as well so size is a major consideration. The Horseman is heavy but remarkably compact. I've thought about maybe picking a 2x3 Speed and seeing if I could modify it to have full range of motion in tilts/swings but I dont know the likelihood of this. I've also been keeping an eye out for the Linhoff Tech with the focal plane shutter accessory back but I dont know anything about them and information is scarce and the cameras are even rarer.

I'm wondering, do you think there is any way to mount the Sinar/Shutter lens board to the Horseman? I've never seen one so I'm wondering if there would be any possibility that it could work. Thanks.

 

[Dan Fromm]

They're limited, but you could put a roller blind shutter on a Horseman board and attach your lens to it. Think Thornton-Pickard and similar.

You might be able to attach a Sinar/Copal shutter to a 4x5 Horseman, 2x3 seems iffy. Get a Sinar and if you must shoot 2x3 get a 2x3 back for it.

 

[ic-racer]

The 8cm by 8cm Horseman lensboard will be probably the least likely candidate for any kind of shutter conversion. You could look into a FRONT MOUNT Packard option for your lenses. That is, put the Packard shutter on the front of the lens.

 

[Fragomeni]

Yea, thanks for the help guys. I'm pretty limited to what I can do with this. Oh well, it still works!