New LFer's confusions; Lensboards, and tripods, and film, oh my!

[Removed Account]

Thanks to everyone on this site for being so helpful! I have a few more questions surrounding my approaching entry to LF photography. So at this point I have a camera, Graphic View 4x5 monorail, a lens, Wollensak Raptar 135mm f/4.7, and some film holders, all soon to be on their way to me. Some points of confusion, or at least uncertainty, around things. Graphic view lens boards seem to be hard to come by on ebay, would speed or crown graphic boards fit the Graphic View, or any other company's boards? The Wollensak comes in a Rapax shutter, which the seller says fits in a Copal #0 hole, would I be able to do this myself, or does it require special skills or tools? And lastly, I have some sheet film hanging around from a foray into pinhole cameras (T-Max 100, probably fogged by now). Thanks again for the great help you've all been!

- Justin

 

[Nick Zentena]

I think they have some wood in BC. Making a board to fit a Graphic view is pretty simple affair. IIRC the Graphic view uses the same board used by older press cameras but I'm not 100% sure. The same/similar board fits some other cameras. Calumet 400 I think for one. But my memory may be off.

Take the lens apart. Place the front of the lens on the front of the lens board. Usually screw the retaining ring on the back. Screw the back of the lens back into the front. That's about it really.

 

[Les Newcomer]

The Graphic View uses metal lens boards 4" square. Theoretically a board from a Kodak Master View or Calumet 400 view camera should fit but have heard that some filing may be needed. The later Crown and Speed Graphic cameras used a stamped sheetmetal lensboard that won't fit directly, but ebay has an endless supply of Graphic View to Pacemaker lens boards for sale.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

The Graphic View and View II use the same size lens boards as the Anniversary Speed Graphics 4"x4". 1/4" Baltic Plywood can be cut into squares for use as a lens board. To cut the lens opening I use this circle cutter in a drill press:

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=800-705&LARGEVIEW=ON

There are also lens board adapters that will allow lens boards from the newer Crown, Speed and Super Graphics to be mounted on the Graphic View or Anniversary Speed Graphics for that matter.

Wayne

 

[bdial]

There are also lens board adapters that will allow lens boards from the newer Crown, Speed and Super Graphics to be mounted on the Graphic View or Anniversary Speed Graphics for that matter.

Last time I checked, these were even more dear on the auction thing than regular Graphic View boards. I agree with Wayne and Nick, try wood first.

 

[Monophoto]

According to the Grimes data base, a graphic view takes a 4x4x1/4" lens board with a 1/8" rabbit around the edge. The rabbit depth is about 1/4". Note that this rabbit is part of the light seal and is required. I've made similar boards for my Zone VI from standard 1/4" thick poplar that I bought at Lowes.

The copal 0 hole is 34.7mm, or about 1-3/8", so if the lens board is wood, cutting (drilling) your own is not difficult. Drill bits are readily available at Home Despot, Lowes, etc. A rabbit (1/4" x 1/8") around the hole on the inside of the board is common but may not be required. I used a router to do both the inner and outer rabbits on my boards.

Larger sizes are more problematic because they don't correspond to standard drill bit sizes. You could try an adjustable hole cutter (probably undercut a bit and then expand the hole with a rasp) but it would definitely be more work. Also, cutting metal boards takes a bit more skill than cutting wood.

 

[juan]

I've made lens boards for my Graphic View by making them in two layers - cut one 4x4 for the outside piece, then a second, slightly smaller piece that just fits in the hole. That takes care of the need to rabbit around the edge. Glue the two pieces of wood together, then cut a hole for the lens.
juan

 

[BrianShaw]

I built a couple using the same method that Juan describes using 1/8 inch birch plywood from the hobby store... all cut with simple hobby shop tools and edges finished with a sheet of 80 grit sandpaper. It only takes about 20 minutes to do the cut/fit and glue.

Waiting for the glue and flat black paint to dry takes the longest!