Miniature Graflex lens fitment chart/list?

[Digger Odell]

I've searched for hours, I know I ran across it once. I'm looking for a chart/list that shows what modern lenses will fit in a 2x3 baby Graflex. Either a speed or crown. It had the diameters of the rear lens cells. Specifically will a Fujinon 105mm CMW fit AND allow the camera to close? Dan Fromm? Thanks in advance!

 

[Dan Fromm]

Which 2x3 Graphic are you thinking of? Miniature Speed Graphic (also called Mini), 2x3 Pacemaker Speed Graphic or 2x3 Pacemaker Crown Graphic (same as, practically speaking, the Century Graphic)?

The key dimension for easy lens fitting is the size of the front standard's lens throat. I don't know how big the Mini's is; the Pacemakers' are all 48 mm square. No idea how to tell whether a lens will fit in a closed Pacemaker, I suppose one could measure the distance from the front of the lensboard to the inside of the door with the door closed and the Graflok focusing panel removed.

If the camera has a Graflok back, a lens whose rear cell's diameter is > 48 mm can sometimes be mounted on the camera. Unscrew the rear cell, mount board with shutter and front cell, remove the Graflok focusing panel, reattach the lens' rear cell to the shutter from behind. This can be fiddly, won't work if the rear cell won't pass through the back's gate.

For general information about lenses' dimensions and a table of short lenses that can be used on 2x3 Pacemaker Graphics, click on the link in the first post in this https://www.largeformatphotography....to-look-for-information-on-LF-(mainly)-lenses discussion and download the pdf it takes you to. The pdf's index won't work in on-line pdf readers.

 

[Dan Fromm]

OP, I don't have the 105/5.6 CM-W. When I was looking for a normal lens for 2x3 that would cover 6x12 and then some I settled for a 105/5.6 Fujinon W. Adequate coverage and much less expensive used than the CM-W. If I were you and shopping for a normal lens for a 2x3 Graphic I'd get the -W over the CM-W. Better than good enough and less expensive. FWIW, my -W replaced a 105/5.6 Boyer Saphir BX (= Zircon). Also better than good enough for 2x3 but not enough coverage for 6x12.

I just broke down and asked one of my 2x3 Crowns whether it can close with my 105/5.6 Fujinon W (later version with lens ID etc. engraved on the side of the front cell's barrel and with s/n engraved in the side of the rear cell's barrel) mounted. Not the lens you asked about, but similar. The camera can't quite close with lens attached without its snap-in front cap. With the cap, it doesn't come close to closing.

 

[Digger Odell]

Dan, Thank you for all the info, and your one drive link, What a goldmine that is! OK I did some measuring, and the CM-W will not fit and close. but it looks like the Nikkor 105mm 5.6 w series will fit and close. On both my crown and speed the depth from the lens board to the front door is 27mm and 29 mm respectively. The Width between the bellows when folded is 47mm. and the depth of the crown behind the lensboard to the ground glass is 33 mm. I didn't measure this on the speed as it is plenty deep.

 

[Digger Odell]

Just to follow up on this. I bought a Nikkor W 105mm f/5.6 in black copal shutter. I does fit and close, but just barely, with some adjustments. The cocking lever has to be orientated so that it is in a corner of the front standard track, and I had to make an aluminum washer .055 thick to space the lens out from the lens-board This is because the aperture control lever would hit the lens-board locking ears.


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[darinwc]

Thanks for the follow-up info! I did not realize that lens was so big on the front side!