New To Me Century Graphic Special. Help.

[btaylor]

It is mounted on a board for the camera, that’s why I said I couldn’t focus. I meant the 135mm was intended for a 4x5 camera, the board is for the 2x3 Century. At this point I suspect the lens is not assembled properly or has some other defect that caused the problem. Glad to hear focus is possible up to about 200mm- sorry if I muddied the waters- and now I know my 135mm is defective.

 

[Cholentpot]

It is mounted on a board for the camera, that’s why I said I couldn’t focus. I meant the 135mm was intended for a 4x5 camera, the board is for the 2x3 Century. At this point I suspect the lens is not assembled properly or has some other defect that caused the problem. Glad to hear focus is possible up to about 200mm- sorry if I muddied the waters- and now I know my 135mm is defective.

No worries.

I'd like to hear more about how you calibrated the rangefinder. I re-read the instructions, they still sounds a bit convoluted.

 

[shutterfinger]

At this point I suspect the lens is not assembled properly or has some other defect that caused the problem

Should be a basic Tessar design.

Light travels the direction of the arrow, | is the aperture/shutter blades.

 

[shutterfinger]

I'd like to hear more about how you calibrated the rangefinder. I re-read the instructions, they still sounds a bit convoluted

Set the yoke to forward from fully retracted .040 ± .010 inch; pull the front standard out until an infinity target at least 5000 feet away is in sharp focus, install the infinity stops against the front standard.
Now with the lens sharply focused on an infinity target at least 5000 feet away turn the eccentric on the yoke until the rangefinder shows considence at infinity. (fig A page 5)
Now with the camera mounted on a tripod and level focus the lens on a target 25 feet from the film plane. Loosen screw 2 and adjust the rear scake until the focus target is in considence then tighten screw 2. (fig F page 7)
Move the target to 15 feet, focus the lens on the target and check that the rangefinder is in considence. Adjust as needed using the 25 foot scale.
Recheck infinity.
Recheck 25 foot setting.
Set the focus target to 8 feet, focus the lens on the target, loosen screws 1 and slide scale 3 until the focus target is in considence. (fig F page 7)
Set the target to 4 feet and repeat as in the 8 foot adjustment. Tighten the screws.
Recheck infinity and if no adjustment is needed check that the rangefinder shows considence with the lens focused on any target at any distance.
Do all focus test with the lens wide open.
Yes you may have to remove and install the rangefinder cover several times and take the camera out doors to find a suitable infinity target.
Tedious, yes, convuloted NO.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Should be a basic Tessar design.
View attachment 254553
Light travels the direction of the arrow, | is the aperture/shutter blades.

Charles, AFAIK Graflex sold two 135 mm lenses as Optars. One made by Wollensak, the other by Rodenstock. Both are tessar types.

 

[Cholentpot]

Set the yoke to forward from fully retracted .040 ± .010 inch; pull the front standard out until an infinity target at least 5000 feet away is in sharp focus, install the infinity stops against the front standard.
Now with the lens sharply focused on an infinity target at least 5000 feet away turn the eccentric on the yoke until the rangefinder shows considence at infinity. (fig A page 5)
Now with the camera mounted on a tripod and level focus the lens on a target 25 feet from the film plane. Loosen screw 2 and adjust the rear scake until the focus target is in considence then tighten screw 2. (fig F page 7)
Move the target to 15 feet, focus the lens on the target and check that the rangefinder is in considence. Adjust as needed using the 25 foot scale.
Recheck infinity.
Recheck 25 foot setting.
Set the focus target to 8 feet, focus the lens on the target, loosen screws 1 and slide scale 3 until the focus target is in considence. (fig F page 7)
Set the target to 4 feet and repeat as in the 8 foot adjustment. Tighten the screws.
Recheck infinity and if no adjustment is needed check that the rangefinder shows considence with the lens focused on any target at any distance.
Do all focus test with the lens wide open.
Yes you may have to remove and install the rangefinder cover several times and take the camera out doors to find a suitable infinity target.
Tedious, yes, convuloted NO.

Thanks.

I'll go print this up and try it on a lonely afternoon. It seems my laterals are off in the finder too. I'm sure there's a screw for that somewhere.

 

[shutterfinger]

It seems my laterals are off in the finder too. I'm sure there's a screw for that somewhere.

9, 12, 13 fig F page 7. This adjustment changed over the years with the late version having a screw on the top rear of the cover that operated the lever (13).

 

[Cholentpot]

First results in,

First shot was taken on Svema 64 120 in a 6x9 roll film holder. I used a Polaroid lens with a Copal shutter. It was windy and I missed the focus.

I shot this one today using Arista EDU 400. 1/5, f/8, developed in Rodinal 1:100 stand for an hour. I stuck the 2x3 sheet into the 6x9 holder. It worked sort of. 135 Xenar Compur shutter

Here's how I developed if anyone is interested. It's a downspout strainer thingy that I snipped off the top (or bottom) of.

Other photos from the roll came out fine and sharp.

 

[Cholentpot]

For my next question.

Will this stuff work in a 2x3 camera?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dental-int...749021?hash=item1ccb3b5add:g:y7YAAOSw~65cd-EZ

If so, is there a way that I can find the speed of it or it'll be a trial and error. It's cheap and looks to be good stuff to learn on.

 

[shutterfinger]

Read the description, 2cm x 3cm. Thats .78 inch x 1.18 inch. Yes you can expose it in a camera but why?

 

[MattKing]

That film is 2 x 3 cms!
Smaller than 35mm.
And dental x-ray film would perform in quite different ways than "normal" film.
Although it occurs to me that I do have a friend who made a career out of, to a great extent, taking photographs of dental work (and dental students, and dentists).
Are you thinking of a new specialization?

 

[Cholentpot]

Read the description, 2cm x 3cm. Thats .78 inch x 1.18 inch. Yes you can expose it in a camera but why?

That film is 2 x 3 cms!
Smaller than 35mm.
And dental x-ray film would perform in quite different ways than "normal" film.
Although it occurs to me that I do have a friend who made a career out of, to a great extent, taking photographs of dental work (and dental students, and dentists).
Are you thinking of a new specialization?

Ha! welp, another one for the bleachers.

I do shoot odd emulsions and get pretty good results after some trial and error. I don't mind it. I'd love to find some of this stuff in 2x3 format. It's cheap, odd and unique to shoot. Checks all the boxes for me. I just modified my 70mm to 120 slitter to take 70mm down to 2x3 so I can get sheets off my frozen 70mm. I can easily modify it to take 120 down to 2x3. Why? Why not. It's fun shooting these tiny little sheets.

Anyone out there have a source of X-ray 2x3 or I'll have to go and get some larger sheets and chop 'em up?

 

[BrianShaw]

Why not just buy the right sized sheet film from Freestyle?

 

[Cholentpot]

Why not just buy the right sized sheet film from Freestyle?

I did.

They have two emulsions. I'd like access to more. And while the price is ok, at about $1 a sheet, I think I can do better with some brainstorming.

 

[BrianShaw]

Ya, variety is limited in that size. Every couple of years I get interested in a baby Graphic but with plans for roll film backs. Might be a bit lighter than my 4x5s. Hope you find a camera soon.

 

[Cholentpot]

Ya, variety is limited in that size. Every couple of years I get interested in a baby Graphic but with plans for roll film backs. Might be a bit lighter than my 4x5s. Hope you find a camera soon.

I have a camera. I have just about all the parts at this point. The film holders came in Friday and they're loaded up for tomorrow. I have one last step of getting a lens board that fits my lens (copal 1) I should have that done some time this week.

Running Instax film seems to be a very interesting idea that I'm going to look into once I have the whole rig running and proven.

 

[Cholentpot]

Here's an update.

I shot six sheets. three at 400, two at 800 and one at 1600. Two of the 400 came out blank, I think I loaded them in upside down. The 800's came out fine although one was a little off center and the 1600 developed but pretty weak. I need to work on getting the sheets out of the holder. I seem to have trouble removing them and some of the sheets got scratched. Also, it occurred to me that pushing the film past 800 was pointless as the camera is locked down on a tripod to begin with. Live and learn. I think this camera is going to end up as an Instax rig at some point.

 

[BrianShaw]

Your on the path to success! Errors happen. More practice = less errors. Next time shoot a couple at 400 and a couple at 200. Pushing us over-rated (IMO).

But Instax could be fun... I’m not there because I’m still mourning the loss of Polaroid.

 

[Cholentpot]

Your on the path to success! Errors happen. More practice = less errors. Next time shoot a couple at 400 and a couple at 200. Pushing us over-rated (IMO).

But Instax could be fun... I’m not there because I’m still mourning the loss of Polaroid.

From the 35mm standpoint for me, 400 speed film is all about pushing. But you're right, I'm going to aim for some 200 next time. I'm coming at this with the idea of zero experience. My 35mm and 120 is a base to build on. I'm making the same mistakes as I made a decade ago when I started out with film. It's a lot of fun.

I got into the Polaroid game about a year before they killed peel apart. I used my last shot a few months ago and then switched over to Instax. My issue with instax was the total lack of control. But with this setup I have full control.

 

[Cholentpot]

Update again.

I sanded out the hole for Copal 1 on a Copal 0 board.

It ain't perfect but it sure beats the cardboard that I was using. It's slightly off center but I think it'll do. As of this part my kit is complete.

On to 4x5!

 

[Cholentpot]

Another update.

I may have to go in on a rangefinder calibration from one of you here. Had a wack at it and it's beyond me, at least this cameras. All the parts are there and sound, it's just a little too much for me.