Plaubel Makiflex Standard.

[Nokton48]

Here's the new 135mm GX lens on a Plaubel Recessed Board. When I first looked through this on a Makiflex, with the lens focused at infinity, and then tried to fire the shutter, I was bummed. The rear cell was striking the mirror. Then, I took it apart, and oriented the scalloped cutout in the rear cell, so it was in the uppermost position, the cutout was to allow the GX mirror to do it's thing, without hitting the rear cell. I crossed my fingers (I don't like grinding around rear cell groups). I have had the same issue with my 150mm F2.8 Xenotar, which took several hours of delicate grinding to get right

Voila! It worked a treat! Focuses at infinity, and the mirror is free to move as it should. It only took about twenty minutes to strip and prep the second GX lens.

2016-08-29 17.35.59 by Nokton48, on Flickr

^^ Here you can see the scalloped cutout. This is only an issue for those of us with SLR's. Luckily the Makiflex is similar to the GX Body, only mechanical vs electrical.

 

[Nokton48]

2016-09-01 05.26.33 by Nokton48, on Flickr

^^
This is going to work. An electrical Ring terminal, sized 12-10, attached to the RB67 Seiko #1 iris lever with J&B Metal Epoxy. So now I can easily set f/stops when the shutter is in a recessed Plaubel board. Now I need to do the same thing to the 125mm & 135 GX lenses.

 

[EdSawyer]

JBWeld is a great invention. I use that in several of my camera fabrication projects too. Makes great metal-to-metal bonds.

 

[Nokton48]

Hi Ed! Yes JBWeld is a good friend.

2016-09-03 11.01.07 by Nokton48, on Flickr

^^^
Here I have epoxied the ring terminal to the 125mm GX Seiko shutter, filled in some holes in the board with aluminum filler, and painted some touch ups.

I also attached a homemade f/stop band to the board. I used my Pentax Digital Spot Meter to read through the ground glass, with the shutter open, to calibrate the f/stops. When the lens is fully closed down, it is at f/45. So I got an EV reading for that, reading throught the GG, and marked the lens. I then opened one EV step, and made another mark. Then I opened another EV step, and made another mark, an so on. The lens was focused at infinity, one foot from a sheet of white paper, illuminated by full key sun, on a cloudless day. Prolly close enough for B&W, and I usually bracket exposures so that will help. Shown here set to F11. Perhaps transmission stops, rather than F/stops

Ready to test with some film.

 

[Nokton48]

2016-09-04 12.55.57 by Nokton48, on Flickr


^^^
Here I have completely stripped the GX 150mm, removing the front cell. That was brutal, but I got it! Now screwed into an RB67 Seiko, mounted on a slightly recessed Peco board. It focuses -exactly- at infinity with the bellows fully retracted in. This lens will go on all three cameras, as no deep recess is present. A bit of final aluminum filling and painting, and this will also be ready to use. I do have one Peco Jr recessed board left, that will be for the 135mm GX.

I'm pleased with how this project is proceeding along. I took a number of test photos with the GX 125mm, yesterday. Looking forward to posting images when I have time

 

[Nokton48]

Fujis on Makiflexes by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here are the new Fuji GX lenses on two of the Makiflexes. On the left, is the new 125mm on recessed board, with the Fuji GX Compendium Hood. I've remarked the f/stops, using the classic method of measuring with ruler, and marking. Since I've got the lenses, I'm glad I grabbed the compendium hood for $21. In the center, the new Seiko shutter arrived today from Japan, and the 150mm GX goes on that one. On the far right is the135mm GX, which still needs a bit of work to get it right.

 

[Nokton48]

Here I am working on restoring the Plaubel Makiflex Bellows Attachment. The Pecoflex Bag Bellows leather is in good shape, but easily peeled away from the metal Peco Jr lens board. I think i will re-glue it with Goodyear Pliobond, Is that the best for leather to metal? Recommendations, Please. Also I have cut strips of adhesive foam to re-do the front and back sides of the Bag/Lens boards. The tedious part is removing the old adhesive and cleaning everything. I use a jewelers screwdriver to strip away the ancient adhesive and disintegrated original foam light trapping. I cut the strips on my rotary trimmer. I'll also partially disassemble, clean and re-lube the knobs on the Bellows Attachment. Should be good as new shortly. Today I went to "World of Used Photography" and tried the GX80 50mm and GX 80mm on the Makiflex, it -may- work in a recessed board. Also they had the 180mm F3.2 which is one I would like to have. I did buy a 180mm F5.6 for $32 in Japan, and another Seiko shutter. This is a fun project for me.

Restoring Makiflex Bag Bellows by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

Latest results. Four Fuji GX80 '90s era electronic lenses adapted to '60s era mechanical Plaubel Makiflex. From the front left, the 125mm and 135mm. From the back left, the 150mm and 180mm. Also coming, but not here yet, are the 100mm and 250mm GX lenses (both coming from Japan). These four shown are the slower f5.6 GX lenses, cheap and very sharp and compact. I have my eye out for the much bigger, lovely f3.2 series of GX lenses, but these tend to go for much more money. EG: My 180mm f5.6 GX set me back $32 plus shipping!. Still a fun project, with prices worthy of experimentation, that will create unique lenses that will integrate with what I already have in terms of Makiflex lenses.

DSC05598 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

DSC05602 by Nokton48, on Flickr

^^^ This lens arrived today from Japan. The 250mm F5.6 Fuji GX. With the 50mm Tube it focuses perfectly at infinity with the bellows racked fully in. And -Sharp- on the groundglass. I have read a lot of good things about this one. It takes me about half an hour of bending, breaking, sawing, and tossing to get to the front and back cells in intact condition.

 

[Nokton48]

DSC05605 by Nokton48, on Flickr

DSC05604 by Nokton48, on Flickr

^^^ Here's a big heavy one that just arrived from Japan. It's the Fuji GX 100mm F4. It focuses to infinity with room to spare. I am super pleased, I was taking a chance on this one. According to everything I have ever been able to find about Makiflexes, the shortest lens available was a 125mm. Obviously, this has changed with the advent of modern lens designs.

 

[Dan Fromm]

According to everything I have ever been able to find about Makiflexes, the shortest lens available was a 125mm. Obviously, this has changed with the advent of modern lens designs.

Dan, IIRC the Makiflex was introduced in 1961. I don't believe there were any retrofocus lenses for formats larger than 6x6 at the time. Naturally I could be mistaken.

But H. G. Lee of TTH invented the inverted telephoto lens in 1931. The Hasselblad system had several w/a retrofocus lenses by the early 50s. 55/6.3 WF Ektar for the 1600F, 60/5.6 Distagon for the 1000F. And then faster 60 Distagons for the 500C. And let's not forget the 1.75"/2.8 Elcan, a retrofocus lens if ever there was one.

That Mamiya's RB/RZ SLRs and Pentax's 6x7 all have retrofocus w/a lenses is no surprise, they're system cameras and need w/a lenses. The same goes for Fuji's GX.

Long story short, there's wasn't much demand for retrofocus MF w/a lenses when the Makiflex was new. The technology was known by then. Low demand and perhaps high manufacturing costs held 'em back for a while.

I've been following your "let's repurpose GX lenses adventure" with interest and astonishment, haven't been able to find out what the GX680's flange-to-film distance is. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that all of the short lenses for the GX680 will focus to infinity on a Makiflex.

Good luck, keep on having fun.

 

[Nokton48]

I've been following your "let's repurpose GX lenses adventure" with interest and astonishment, Good luck, keep on having fun.

Thanks for your comments, Dan!

Yes this is a fun project. Yesterday I received from Japan, the Fuji GX 125mm F3.2 (my first of the "hot" F3.2 Fuji GX glass).
Later today I will remove the front and rear cells. I have been looking at Yahoo.Japan auctions as a source for GX F3.2 glass,
recently prices have been up there. I paid $80 for the 125mm F3.2 which I think is a really good price.

 

[Nokton48]

DSC05614 (2) by Nokton48, on Flickr

The Fuji GX680 125mm F3.2 hacked to the Plaubel Makiflex Standard.
It focuses to infinity, -sometimes- the mirror wants to catch the back cell.
I will see what I can do about that. I think I could work with this without a tripod.
High Speed 125mm!! Love it!

Next project is to hack an early version RB67 Prism to fit the Makiflex. Will be heavy but useful.
I tried it with the version 2, it worked and looked really cool! But the mirror was de-silvering so I tossed it in the trash. Why did they apply adhesive foam to the back side of the mirrror? Alot of the version 2's I see are getting to be that way. No such problems I believe with the older version RB Prism. We will see.

 

[EdSawyer]

Or try the RZ prisms. I have adapted one of those to a Graflex RB Super D 3x4 (with 4x5 back). Lighter than the RB prisms I bet, and same coverage.

 

[Nokton48]

Or try the RZ prisms. I have adapted one of those to a Graflex RB Super D 3x4 (with 4x5 back). Lighter than the RB prisms I bet, and same coverage.

Hey Ed! Thanks for the suggestion.


DSC05616 by Nokton48, on Flickr


^^^ This arrived today from Japan. a Mamiya RB67 Prism (with good rubber eyecup!) for $32 plus shipping, in close to mint condition. No issues with the mirrors de-silvering. I saw some RZ Prisms on Ebay and they were bubbling where the front-surface mirror is reacting with the deteriorating foam rubber holding the glass in. This one is absolutely perfect. Nice and bright and super sharp to look through. And, Yes, heavy.....


The Plaubel badge on the prism is from a 50s era Peco view camera. I need to find some more 60s era badges for decoration on these projects. Usually I remove them from Peco Profia lensboards. That's Ok with me, I have two 4x5 Plaubel Peco Profias. I will use the boards.

 

[Nokton48]

DSC05617 by Nokton48, on Flickr

My collection of Makiflex Viewfinders. On the far left, I just finished completely this hacked RB67 Prism. It is great to look through. Then to the right, Mamiya RB67 Magnifying Hood hacked to Makiflex. This one gets a lot of use. Further right, a rare original Makiflex Porro Viewfinder, a friend in England helped me get this. This uses silvered mirrors, but no glass, so it's very light in weight. And finally, the Standard Makiflex Pop-Up Hood that you normally get with the camera.

Since I have three Makiflexes, it is great to have a choice of viewfinders!

I have ten rolls of 120 Makiflex and Makina B&W film to develop. More images from the cameras soon.

 

[EdSawyer]

Are there some scratches on the emulsion there? I love the xenotar, usually I shoot it at f/4 for a bit smoother bokeh, but sometimes at f/2.8 also.

 

[Nokton48]

"Old Bag of Nails" parking lot Folk Art.
Took my wife to lunch. Getting this image was a bonus.

No scratches, but some very odd whitish deposits on some of the rolls. I thought at the time maybe the fixer was old, so I poured it out and remixed and refixed during processing. Perhaps I will go back and do that again. Also I will filter all solutions. My Legacy Pro seasoned Mic-X is now four years old!


Automatic Makiflex 150 Xenotar by Nokton48, on Flickr

My first HANDHELD! Makiflex Automatic photo. I think a success.

150mm F2.8 Makiflex Automatic Xenotar wide-open with ND filter, Ilford FP4+ roll film, 1/250 sec

 

[Nokton48]

Makifles Std 150 Xenotar 105 Red Sinar Filter + ND by Nokton48, on Flickr

Apple Tree in my backyard, shot off the back deck.

Makiflex Standard, 150mm Schneider F2.8 Xenotar wide-open, Sinar 105mm Red Filter + 4XND, Foma 200, Legacy Pro Mic-X Replenished. This 150 Xenotar is just too kewl!

 

[Nokton48]

150 Xenotar Auto Makiflex Foma by Nokton48, on Flickr


A better negative from the Franklin Park Xenotar shoot.
To my eye this one looks like it could have come from old Schneider literature.
Just has a '60s retro look about it; there is something about it that I like.

Makiflex Standard, 150mm F2.8 Xenotar wide-open, Foma 200 roll film, two 4XND filters, Legacy Pro Mic-X, Replenished.

 

[Nokton48]

Makiflex Std 250 Imagon Foma 200 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Makiflex Standard, 250mm Rodenstock Imagon, H5.8 Imagon Disk with Imagon ND Filter, Foma 200 roll film, Lagacy Pro Mic-X, Replenished.

Need to get out more with my collection of Imagons.

 

[Nokton48]

250 Imagon Makiflex Foma by Nokton48, on Flickr

Makiflex Standard, 250mm Imagon H5.8 Imagon Disk, and Imagon ND Filter, Foma 200, Legacy Pro Mic-X, Repelnished.

 

[Nokton48]

GX680 125 f5 by Nokton48, on Flickr

A quick test of the Fuji GX680 125mm f5.6 hacked to the Plaubel Makiflex. Quite a nice lens!
This was taken on a busy street during rush hour and it was a bit of a wait to avoid getting cars in the frame. They were whizzing by quite close to the tripoded Maki

Merry Christmas Everybody! -Dan

 

[Dan Fromm]

Dan, where did you take that picture?

 

[Nokton48]

Corner of Main Street and Lancaster Avenue in Reynoldsburg (Columbus) Ohio