How to do focus?

normmamiya · Jan 15, 2010

Hi

I just got a Super Angulon 90mm f/8 (for Linhof).

I don't see how to maintain blades opened exept with the B position.
What's wrong? The saleman is not an expert with 4X5. It's not a big big problem but I'm curious. I don't see any lever to open the blades.

Thank you

eddie · Jan 15, 2010

If the lens doesn't have a T setting, use a locking cable release.

largeformat pat · Jan 15, 2010

It should have a little tab that will open the shutter, some will do it only when the shutter is cocked, It also depends on what shutter you have.

George Collier · Jan 16, 2010

I have a late 70's Caltar version of that lens (so they told me). It has a slider "knob" on the lens barrel. The cocking lever is near the top on the leftr as you face the lens from the subject side. This knob, kind of triangular shaped (thumb and forefinger fit nicely into the sides), is on the right side about halfway down from the top. You just slide it around the barrel to open or close the shutter, no matter what the speed is set on - very handy. My other two lenses have a similar device, I would suspect yours does too.

removed account4 · Jan 16, 2010

hi norm

you might have one in a copal "00" shutter ..
the small metal tab ( bumpy ) slides and
opens the shutter, it is like a DOF preview lever, and can be
used with the fstop wide open to view / focus.
if your lens isn't the "00" the time / bulb setting on your shutter
works in a pinch. i only started to use the preview levers on all my lenses
it works OK but it can be easy to forget that it is "open" when you pull your darkslide.
using the T/B i like better since you have to reset the speed and close the shutter,
and the only thing to remember is to stop down the lens ..

good luck!
john

ronlamarsh · Jan 18, 2010

Focus

Norm,

You may have a compur shutter version of this lens in which case there is no preview lever you have to use bulb with a locking release. its a little more painful than a preview lever but works. mine is a very late 50's early 60's version with compur shutter, since it was in a compur shutter they sold it to me for $95!!!!! I had Sk grimes CLA it and its worked perfect ever since BTW did i mention the glass is mint and the images are sharp enough to cut steel.

mjs · Jan 20, 2010

A photo of the lens, or actually a couple of photos showing the lens and shutter clearly, would obviously help a great deal. Failing that, please let us know the name on the shutter (Copal, Compur, whatever.) You should have a lever to adjust the aperture and a way of setting the shutter speed. For shutter speed, do you see a "B" and/or "T" setting? Are there any other levers, buttons, or dials on the shutter which can move? Where are they and what do they look like?

Go to this web page: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses-primer/

Does your shutter look like any of the ones shown there? It shows the details of Copal shutters, some of the most common ones out there. Did the page answer your questions?

Dan Dozer · Jan 22, 2010

I got a Technica Schneider Symmar in an older black Linhof shutter and was faced with the same dilema until I figured out how it works on mine. When I cock the shutter, there is a little button/tab on the top side of the shutter (at about the 1 o'clock position if you are looking at the lens from the front) that pushes out a little bit as the shutter is cocked. If you push it back in, the shutter blades open up and stay open to focus until you release the shutter. Obviously, you need to release the shutter and re-cock it to take your exposure. Not sure if your shutter works the same or not.

How to do focus?

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