Plaubel Makiflex Standard.

[Nokton48]

Light Duty Petzval Mounting Plaubel Board by Nokton48, on Flickr

I found this Plaubel board, which very tightly friction fits the main tube of the Petzval. (Had to remove the rear cell group). Screw the rear group back in, and I'm in business. This will do while I investigate options for a flange.

 

[gorbas]

Hi Dan, I'm just looking at my Schneider Super Cinegon 2/85mm and thinking about 35mm movie projector lens mount. It's mount ring or wider part is 70.5mm, but it's smaller and shorter FL lens than yours. What is diameter of your B&L Super Cinephorthiner thinner ring?

 

[Nokton48]

Hi Dan, What is diameter of your B&L Super Cinephorthiner thinner ring?

Hi Goran,
82mm edge to edge.
-Dan

 

[Nokton48]

MX521 Makiflex Two Rail Back by Nokton48, on Flickr

Another recent purchase from Germany. Makiflex MX521, this is the "Plaubel Two Rail Back" fits 6.5x9cm Plaubel Plate Holders, or 120 Plaubel Makina Film Backs. Good to have extras.

 

[gorbas]

82mm edge to edge.
-Dan

Thank you Dan! On both of them?

 

[Nokton48]

Yes. Same size for both.

 

[gorbas]

Great! There is at least some "standard" there. Now I need to find website about 16 and 35mm movie projectors and lenses

 

[Nokton48]

Fuji GX680 Finder on Makiflex Standard by Nokton48, on Flickr

This may become one of my favorite Makiflex Viewfinders! I just bought this mint Fuji GX680 Finder in Japan for $85 shipped. Geoff Berliner likes his on his Makiflexes so I thought I would try it too. The view is unreversed, very bright and I can see the whole 9x9cm screen very sharply. The adjustable ocular is first rate, I can't ask for anything else. It is also the perfect size to mount of the top of the makiflex, and it looks cool!

Geoff machined a pile of metal plates he uses to make tintypes, cut out the center portion, and attached the finder with velcro. I like that, but I don't have a CNC milling machine.

Right now it is attached to the camera with four thin strips of Gorilla Tape LOL. OK for now but I want a more permanent arrangement.

 

[EdSawyer]

Nice. It’s a lot like the rz 67 prism I had adapted to Graflex RB super D’s. I built a riser and adjusted the diopter to allow the prism to cover a greater area than an RZ 67 frame. I had tried to Fuji finder at one point, but disliked it because it wasn’t as bright as a prism and because it was reversed. It is much lighter in weight however.

 

[Nokton48]

Hi Ed,

Yes way lighter than my RB adapted prism, although not quite a bright. But close, and the RB is a big heavy block of glass.
My GX680 finder doesn't reverse the image?? Go figure. Anyway I like it a lot!

Frank Rubio has a CNC machine and I may ask him if he can machine some Makiflex Viewfinder base plates.
If not too expensive it would be worth it to me. I'll bet Geoff would like some too?

 

[EdSawyer]

hi -

The image must be laterally reversed (left-right) but not up-down, I'd think. Weight is the big downside of the RZ/RB prisms.

For baseplates on the ones I put together, I used I think either 1/4" hardwood plywood or masonite. It was pretty easy to fabricate with hand tools and the surface was quite flat, certainly flat enough that alignment was a non-issue with the RB Super Ds. One of the prisms I stripped down and took out the circuit boards and whatnot, saved a couple ounces.

 

[Nokton48]

The image must be laterally reversed (left-right) but not up-down, I'd think.
No actually it is not on mine. No lateral reversal. I wonder why it's not reversed? Very odd.
Wait, it's reversed on the screen, then reverted by the poro mirror?

Anyway I am diggin' it

 

[rknewcomb]

Is the image upside down with the Fuji porofinder?

 

[Nokton48]

Is the image upside down with the Fuji porofinder?

Nope. Right side up, and correct left to right. I'm super pleased.

 

[EdSawyer]

I am still unsure how that is possible given that there is no prism involved... Is the fuji finder a porro-mirror maybe? seeing the inside might explain things. If it was a straight mirror (45 deg. or whatever) then the L-R should be reversed.

 

[Nokton48]

I looked through it again today, and is not inverting or reverting the image. Like looking through an RB with a glass prism, or a 35mm camera. I'm a long time view camera user, but still this is a good item to have. Great for tracking action.


Also,
I am inquiring with Marty in South Carolina, to see if he can custom cut a replacement mirror for my Makiflex Porro Finder. It could stand to be replaced.

See him here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Standard-TLR-Glass-replacement-mirrors-view-details-for-specific-mirror-types/264138565911?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=55992&meid=f16d04e28dbc473e81c6f5b6614a918c&pid=100005&rk=2&rkt=2&sd=264139318018&itm=264138565911&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[Nokton48]

OK So Marty responded back, $10 each and he needs the thickness of the glass, and dimensions of the Makiflex Porro Mirror.

Glass is 2mm thick.
Bottom 75mm.
Top 44mm.
Sides 85mm.

I think I will order two of these.

 

[Nokton48]

Again Thanks a lot to Nokton for all the interesting and informative tales about the Makiflexes.I acquired a Makiflex Standard about 35 years ago, but have hardly used it on account of a sluggish shutter. I remember I once tried to open it up somewhat to do some CL(A), but only managed to remove the left side body panel, which is to no awail. You cannot access the bearings needing lubrication from under the left side panel. By the way: The focusing knob on the left side is secured with a bolt that has a LEFT thread! I suppose the right side converse has a right thread; but I never managet to loosen the right side bolt, which seemed stuck. I was of course intrigued by reading about the need to remove the back panel, and have tried it out this sunday pm. As the pictures may show i managed to wreck 3 of the 8 small, low quality steel bolts holding the back panel fastened to the steel chassis. The camera seemingly had a few drops of water inside at some point. Hence the rusty bolts and other traces of rust seen in the pics. I also managed, albeit with some difficulty on account of very tight bolts View attachment 204978 under the tripod plate, to remove the bottom plate. So I think I have been able to clean and lubricate the running parts sufficiently. Only the slow speeds gear train inside the right body panel has been partly inaccessibel. But off hand everything seems to be running merrily enough as of now. Note this is the M. Standard, lacking the very slow speeds. There is no functioning finder. The angled finder seen has missing mirror and finder optics. I hope to eventuelly fix this. I also have picked up a Fujica waist level finder for the 680 at some point, which should be adaptable. So I'm looking forward to using this handsome brute in the not too distant future. And thanks again to everyone for inspiring reportings.

Lorbitar,
This Guy Marty can help you with a mirror for your Makiflex Porrofinder! You would also need to an a diopter and a rubber eyecup, and you would be good as new. Experimentation of course would be required.

Lorbitar Makiflex Porro Replacement Mirror by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

The glass Marty has is only 1.6mm thick, the Makiflex original Porro Glass was 2mm. But it could be shimmed! There were three plastic shims under my Makiflex glass. Don't know if this will be an issue or not. Certainly it can be made to work.

 

[lobitar]

Fuji GX680 Finder on Makiflex Standard by Nokton48, on Flickr

This may become one of my favorite Makiflex Viewfinders! I just bought this mint Fuji GX680 Finder in Japan for $85 shipped. Geoff Berliner likes his on his Makiflexes so I thought I would try it too. The view is unreversed, very bright and I can see the whole 9x9cm screen very sharply. The adjustable ocular is first rate, I can't ask for anything else. It is also the perfect size to mount of the top of the makiflex, and it looks cool!

Geoff machined a pile of metal plates he uses to make tintypes, cut out the center portion, and attached the finder with velcro. I like that, but I don't have a CNC milling machine.

Right now it is attached to the camera with four thin strips of Gorilla Tape LOL. OK for now but I want a more permanent arrangement.

Interesting viewfinder and at the price you could almost call it a steal. Quite an impressive outfit, by the way! If I hadn't been so busy with my day-to-day trifles I would have had a hard time not to try and emulate!

 

[EdSawyer]

I've gotten new mirrors (trapezoidal) from firstsurfacemirror.com, for Graflex RB Super D replacements. 1mm thick, as I recall but indeed, shimming is possible.

Can you check the inside of the GX680 viewfinder to determine if it's a roof-mirror design? E.g. 3 mirrors? Or just a single mirror? If it's a single mirror I am still puzzled how that is not reversed left-right. I had bought one once, a while back, and recall it being a single mirror. Maybe there are different versions, with some being roof-mirrors (which would correct the L-R reversal)

 

[Nokton48]

250 Imagon Makiflex Foma by Nokton48, on Flickr

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

250 Imagon H7.7 disc FOMA 200 6.5x9cm roll film Microdol-X

 

[Nokton48]

Ed, I'll take the Fuji finder off soon and photograph it for you.
Have you ever used the GX680 Loupe Finder? That one looks interesting, too

 

[EdSawyer]

Many thanks!
I have not used the gx680 loupe finder, no.

 

[Nokton48]

Hi Ed,
Here as promised, is the bottom side of my Fuji GX680 Finder. I only see one mirror in there, all I can say is that it does not invert or revert the finder image.
Sorry about the delay, I've been quite busy renovating my new darkroom. Installing a drop ceiling right now. Making lots of sawdust

Fuji GX680 Finder by Nokton48, on Flickr

I did pick up the loupe finder, it's not expensive, and why not? Something else to play with