G-Clarons

[Chris Lee]

Having just read another thread about G-Clarons I have got quite excited!

I rescued 3 (150,210,240) from an old flatbed camera that was being scraped! At the time I thought they were just enlarger lenses, and they sat in my darkroom unused because I did no large format. Having just bought a 54 camera (see my other thread) can I use these lenses? from a quick search they seem to have a v.good reputation.

As they are they have no shutter mechanism, but they are mounted in an aperature ring. Can I unscrew the front and back elements and mount them in a copal shutter?

 

[lee]

Chris you are lucky fellow indeed. Yes, they can be screwed directly into a copal #0 for the 150 and the 210 fits a #1 and I think the 240 also fits a #1.

lee\c

 

[Jim Chinn]

No, it is impossible. they are really quite worthless. Just put them in a box and mail them to me and I will take them off your hands.


Actually, you have a find that many would kill for. I am not sure of the specific requirements but i believe they can all be matched to copals directly or with a spacer or two. You will get a wealth of knowledgable answers here but for a little background go to SK Grimes web site and the Schneider web sites. Sk Grimes has a chart on lenses and shutters which may tell you specifically which shutter works for which lens.

However, know for sure, because there are variations in each shutter size depending on when the shutter was made and its spcific application. Don't just try to screw one into a shutter with out using a caliper and checking glass to shuttter blade clearences. this is where the need for spacers may come into play.

 

[lee]

Jim,

All the g clarons I have ever seen screwed in without spacers. Certainly the two I have do not need them.

lee\c

 

[bmac]

I processed two 8x10 negs shot with my new 210 G-Claron last night. They are incredibly sharp!

One of the shots was of the inside of my messy shed. Only light coming through was the light from the doorway. 15 feet back into the shed, you can read fine print on the side of a box of rose food :O

The second shot is of a fence with twine tied to it for bean stalks, you can see individual hairs of the twine from 10' away. I'm totally blown away. I think you'll be very happy with it.

FWIW, You might want to mount them to lensboards and play around without a shutter. I am finding with the type of work I do, I am doing multi-second exposures at f45 or above.

 

[Jim Chinn]

Lee,

I will defer to you. I thought I remember reading a posting on photonet about someone having trouble mounting a Claron into a copal and that the shutter had fewer threads for the front element thus causing the front element when turned all the way in to hit the shutter blades. But it may have been a different make of lens. If I made a copy of the posting I will find it and post the link. The only Glaron I own came in a shutter so i do not have the experience that you have.

 

[Chris Lee]

Thaks for the replies guys!

But please bare with me! As I said, at the moment they look like enlarger lenses. when I unscrew the front and back elements I am left with the aperature mechanism. Is this whole mechanism replaced by the copal shutter? and if so does the aperature range change because at the moment the largest aperature is f9?

Also if they do work as camera lenses I hardly feel I need a 210 and a 240 for 54 work. If i was to sell one which one should I keep? and which would get the better price (and more to the point will it be enough to buy myself a new copal shutter!!)

Thanks again everyone!

 

[lee]

Chris,
That is correct. The front element unscrews from the aperture mechanism and screws into the front of the copal shutter. Same goes for the back. When I got my first G Claron I sent it all to SK Grimes and paid him to remark the Copal #1 that I had. He sent it back and I just screwed in the elements and Viola, a new lens. As to which lens to sell and which to keep, that is gonna have to be your discission.

lee\c

 

[argentic]

Don't sell any of them. They are all very useable LF lenses. My 150 G-Claron mounted in an old # 0 Synchro-Compur is one of the sharpest and the smallest LF lens I own. I just leave it on my 4x5 Wista flatbed when folding the camera. I love it.

Gilbert