Item needed for project. Looking for help

[StephenS]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find a Copal shutter for a project I want to complete. I'm going to be modifying a plastic camera lens onto another body and need an inexpensive but working shutter to do this.

Any suggestions as to what to look for? I'm thinking a #00 and I'd like something old but working. Maybe someone out there has something they could help me out with? Anybody have anything laying around they'd like to part with?

And if anyone out there has already done something like this, details would be awesome!

Thanks!

 

[SteveH]

Stephen,
I would highly recomend you purchasing an old shutter from a folding camera, etc. There's a BUNCH of them on ebay, etc. I wish you would have posted this earlier, as I just saw a PRONTOR type shutter go for $0.99. Just go to ebay and search for 'old shutter', or something to that effect. You can probably get a whole camera with a lens for under $15.

Regards,

 

[Jon Shiu]

Hi, is there some specific reason you need a Copal shutter? I have been thinking also about doing something like that (ie putting a better shutter on a holga, or Diana lens on 4x5) and was wondering about whether to use the toy camera aperture and whether to front mount or rear mount the shutter. The lens to film distance is important for focus obviously.

Jon

 

[StephenS]

Yes, I see there are some on eBay but you never know what's working and what's not! I will try to find one there. Good idea.

I want a shutter with aperture because I really don't think the 'aperture' on the Diana is effective at all - in fact I don't even know if they work or achieve anything. And I plan to be shooting in very bright sun conditions so I'd like the extra control.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Stephen, not to discourage you or anything, but if the shutter's diaphragm is in the wrong place relative to the lens' elements, all it will do is vignette the image. If you want to control exposure, consider using neutral density filters.

Since you're screwing around with a lens from a Diana, I don't think image quality matters much to you. So call up B&H, ask for a Rosco Cinegel Swatchbook. It will cost $0.01 plus shipping, and contains more than enough 1 stop, 2 stop, and 3 stop ND gel to do you. Stack 'em as required. Also many colored gels.

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

 

[StephenS]

I know other people have done this, but it's hard to track them down. So I know it has, and is, being done. What would be great is if one of these people came out of the woodwork and told me about what they did.

I have a bunch of swatchbooks, so thanks for the tip.

I'm actually very concerned with image quality - that's the reason I want to use one of my Diana lenses! Of course what that 'quality' is may be another matter!

 

[Ole]

First of all: There are no Copal 00's, and there never were.

There are lots of Compur 00's, and some Prontor 00's, and both and several others on 0. Most of them are sitting on old folding cameras, or have been removed from same.

A functional one can usually be found for less than $5 in any one week, but it may be attached to a camera. Fortunately they're easy to remove if the camera is not the one you want, or the lens is too sharp for your taste,

 

[StephenS]

Don't think I said there was a Copal 00. Sorry that was implied from my post. I'm looking for something old as to keep costs down so I was thinking Prontor, etc.

My problem is cameras can be found but people usually want a crazy price for something worth a few dollars and then on eBay shipping is $15 for the $2 item. So its been hard to find something you'd think would be easy to get!

 

[dmax]

Stephen,
I build and design custom roll film cameras using a variety of bodies, helicals, lenses, shutters, and such. Not to dissuade you, but since you want to preserve that unique Diana look, here are some considerations. The lens elements of the Diana are spaced a certain way. Grafting them into a 00 shutter would most certainly cause you to lose that peculiar Diana effect even if you could transplant portions of the plastic lens housing onto the shutter. If I recall right from an experimental camera I tried to build for a client (this was many years ago), there was no way I could get the hybrid assembly to focus at infinity at all. This is an after-effect of altering cell-to-cell spacing. Assuming that somehow the correct spacing was met, you will also have to consider the fact that once in a 00 shutter, you have to figure out a way to focus the entire assembly. If you can provide more details of exactly what you intend to achieve, I may be of further help. As to 00 sized shutters, I have a small mountain of them. (But certainly nowhere as large as Jim Galli's reputed private hoard!) If you need more assistance in developing a workable design approach, PM me.

 

[Ole]

... As to 00 sized shutters, I have a small mountain of them. (But certainly nowhere as large as Jim Galli's reputed private hoard!) ...

Oh what a relief! I thought I'd gone over the edge with my "big heap", but that's surely less than a "small mountain"!

 

[Jon Shiu]

Just to clarify, a Diana lens only has one element, although I have seen some with a dome shaped lens and some with a flat shape.

Jon

 

[StephenS]

Yes Jon, that's why I am a bit surprised by some of the responses so far as it is a single element lens and it would seem to me getting this to work is mostly a matter of correct film plane to lens distance.

'Focus' for these things simply alters this distance a bit - nothing as complicated as element moving within a housing.

 

[Dave Wooten]

Stephen,
As to 00 sized shutters, I have a small mountain of them. (But certainly nowhere as large as Jim Galli's reputed private hoard!) If you need more assistance in developing a workable design approach, PM me.

I haven't confirmed, so don't quote me on this, Jim can clarify, but I heard that the town of Tonopah Nevada is requiring Jim to take out a wrecking yard license...and it is not because of his antique vehicles, they are in the garage!

 

[dmax]

Oh what a relief! I thought I'd gone over the edge with my "big heap", but that's surely less than a "small mountain"!

Ole,
It's all a question of relative scale. Living as I do in a tight, overcrowded, cluttered tiny apartment, the volumetric scale quickly gets distorted. With horizontal space at a major premium, everything gets piled in heaps and hills and small mountains. You should see the really HUGE mountains of paper stuff! (And I really mean HUGE!)