Need advice on a shutter for Imagon

[mikewhi]

I own a Rodenstock Imagon 360mm that is not in a shutter. I would like to get one for it for a portrait project that I'm going to do.

The lens comes with a mounting flange. The diameter of the barrel of the lens is about 3 3/8th inches. The lens does not come in 2 parts that can be screwed into a shutter like most LF lenses, it is a solid barrel with the lens element encased.

I have an old, but working, Wollensak Betax No. 5 shutter that seems like it should somehow work with the lens, mounted in some way behind the lens. The opening of the shutter is only 3 inches, but it looks like it would not interfere with the image. Does anyone know if this would work?

I don't have any experience with behind-the-lens type shutters. Are there any big enough for this lens? Do you know where I can get one and how much they are?

I will be using this on a Canham 5x7 or 8x10. But I'm not even sure what the 360 Imagon will cover. Does anyone know?

Any help\advice would be appreciated.

-Mike

 

[Nick Zentena]

http://www.skgrimes.com/ilex/index.htm

The Ilex #5 seems to be the same size. I don't think any thing but a packard will be bigger. If you look around the Skgrimes site you should find a section on rear mounting shutters and front mounting to. It'll cover the issues.

Will you be using flash?

http://www.hubphoto.com/packard-shu...er no. 6 For Time And Instantaneous Exposures

How big is your lensboard? I think the #6 syncro has flash sync. Might be all you need.

 

[smieglitz]

...I will be using this on a Canham 5x7 or 8x10. But I'm not even sure what the 360 Imagon will cover. Does anyone know? ...
-Mike

Mike,

A regular 360mm will cover an 8x10 with some room left over. I assume the Imagon would do the same but have no experience with the lens to be absolutely sure. I think this particular focal length was meant for 5x7 head and shoulders portraiture although it should be a fine lens for 3/4 8x10 work as well. There was also a rarer, longer version (maybe 480mm ? IIRC) for larger formats. Most of the Imagons I have seen in shutters were in older Compound shutters.

As far as mounting the lens in the Betax, have a look at:
http://skgrimes.com/fits/index.htm
which shows a list of barrel lenses the folks at S.K. Grimes have mounted into older shutters. I didn't see an Imagon on the list, but I think it could be done by these folks or another machinist. It will probably be pricey though. I enquired a few months ago about putting an old barrel lens into a new Copal 3 and the quote was around $850 including the shutter. IIRC, the adaption alone with me supplying a Betax #5 was around $350-$400.

What size are your lensboards? Perhaps you could build/mount a Packard Shutter
(http://www.hubphoto.com/packard-shutters.htm)
or shutter box
(http://mysite.verizon.net/fowler/photo/packard2.htm)
to the camera and use it with several lenses including the Imagon. You can buy synched varieties of Packard Shutters as well.

Joe

 

[David]

The longer Imagon is a 420mm. It seems to cover 11x14 pretty well. I've had mine about a year but can't seem to find any info on it except it's age courtesy of Bob Salomon. I use mine with a Packard shutter and it works very well. The barrel diameter of the lens is pretty close to what you describe.

 

[mikewhi]

The longer Imagon is a 420mm. It seems to cover 11x14 pretty well. I've had mine about a year but can't seem to find any info on it except it's age courtesy of Bob Salomon. I use mine with a Packard shutter and it works very well. The barrel diameter of the lens is pretty close to what you describe.

Can you tell me what Packard shutter? Is it like the ones earlier in the thread? Does your shutter have only one shutter speed?

Based on what you relate, it seems the 360mm should cover 8x10.

Thanks.

-Mike

 

[David]

Packard shutters are manual shutters that fit behind the lens inside the view camera or in sime cases in front of the lens. They have various diamters for different lenses and cameras. The shutter is run by squeezing a bulb which air activates the shutter. The shutter speed can be as quick as you can squeeze or as long as you might want. They come in at least two varieties: one with electricalposts for flash work and those without the flash possibilites.

http://www.hubphoto.com/packard-shutters.htm should get you lots more information.

Cheers,
David

 

[bobfowler]

I use a lot of Packard shutters for barrel lenses. As I have posted here before, I have a page on my web site that shows how I build box lensboard to house the Packard so you don't have to modify the camera.

Front mounting is also a good option. I have a page on that as well.

My 12" and 14" Artars share a common flange, so I only needed to make one box lensboard to serve both lenses. I got lucky, my 305mm APO Nikkor and 9" Copy Paragon lenses can share a common front mounted Packard assembly. I built an interchangable plate system for my Century 4a so 1 Packard can be used with both my B&L RR and Wollensak Triple Convertible (those use the Packard just for flash sync).