Releaing the shutter without release cable

Alexz · Aug 24, 2005

A help needed for a LF newbie:
I've acquired a used 150mm/5.6 lens (Fujinon) and had finally arrived.
After picking it from post, I had just a few minutes to play with one (have no camera yet, so just played a bit with aperture lever and shutter ring) and apparently accidently cocked the shutter. Since this is my first time handling LF lens, I'm not really familiar with lens operating procedures, whether the shutter ring and aperture can be altered after the shutter has been cocked, or I cannot touch then prior to releasing the shutter.
Also, is there any way to release the shutter without release cable ? Say, can it be done by inserting gently a thin needle into shutter release terminal ?

Thanks, Alex

argus · Aug 24, 2005

Doesn't the shutter feature a manual lever to fire the shutter? What type of shutter is it?

Changing aperture won't do any harm after cocking the shutter. On changing the speed dial, opinions do vary.

G

mark · Aug 24, 2005

What kind of shutter? I frequently fire the shutter without the cable. There should be a way to do it manually, a lever or something, without sticking things in the hole. I am notorious for forgetting cable release.

I would not adjust the shutter speed without first releasing the shutter. The aperature is not a problem. Play with that all you want.

Alexz · Aug 24, 2005

Thanks guys.
Shutter is regular Copal #0, but I apparently misinterpret the shutter release terminal with another one sticking out of the shutter barrel (thin round one with thin hole in teh center). Am I confused ?

Jorge · Aug 24, 2005

Alexz said:
Thanks guys.
Shutter is regular Copal #0, but I apparently misinterpret the shutter release terminal with another one sticking out of the shutter barrel (thin round one with thin hole in teh center). Am I confused ?

Yes you are, this is the pc sync for flash. You should see either some kind of hole with threads, this is where you put the release cable.

colrehogan · Aug 24, 2005

That sounds like the flash sync. There should be a lever on one side of the shutter; this is the shutter release.

Alexz · Aug 24, 2005

Oh yeas folks, I figured what you were talking about.
It is released easily just by my nail
Thanks you all, and my apology for a stupid question..this is what 35mm/digital automation does - just forcing people to trust the automation forgetting to employ their brains..

dr bob · Aug 24, 2005

Alexz said:
Oh yeas folks, I figured what you were talking about.
It is released easily just by my nail
Thanks you all, and my apology for a stupid question..this is what 35mm/digital automation does - just forcing people to trust the automation forgetting to employ their brains..

There are no stupid questions on this forum. Many many years ago, I was sent out on my first ever field assignment with a Speed Graphic which I had used around the studio but never in the field. I grabbed the camera, several negative holders, closed the camera and proceeded to the site.

On arrival on site, several Co, Wheels, escorted me to the location. Desiring to appear cool, I whipped out the camera and only then discovered that I had no idea how to open the darn thing! I fumbled about for a few seconds trying to appear busy preparing the shot while frantically searching for the catch or lever or whatever to open the case. For a while I thought I would have to phone my boss not an option. (No cell phones in those days.)

Almost by chance, I pushed the little bump covered by the leatherette on the side near the top (Speed users will laugh here) and the front fell open. Whew!

Jorge · Aug 24, 2005

dr bob said:
On arrival on site, several Co, Wheels, escorted me to the location. Desiring to appear cool, I whipped out the camera and only then discovered that I had no idea how to open the darn thing! I fumbled about for a few seconds trying to appear busy preparing the shot while frantically searching for the catch or lever or whatever to open the case. For a while I thought I would have to phone my boss not an option. (No cell phones in those days.)

Almost by chance, I pushed the little bump covered by the leatherette on the side near the top (Speed users will laugh here) and the front fell open. Whew!

LOL....I am glad I was not the only who did this. I did have to ask a friend how to open the darn thing..

raucousimages · Aug 24, 2005

There are no stupid questions, but we reserve the right to give stupid answers. We are all here to learn from each other. The wealth of photographic knowledge in this community is amazing, use it.

Alexz · Aug 24, 2005

raucousimages said:
The wealth of photographic knowledge in this community is amazing, use it.

Yes, thanks, this is exactly what I do.

mark · Aug 24, 2005

He-he. When I got my first LF camera I loaded everything up went out, and spent the next hour or so trying to figure out how to get the lens on the lens board. On the MF gear you just line up the red dots and twist. I gave up, went home, and called dad for advice. Dad's aren't supposed to laugh at sons in need right? After great Guffawing I realized that was a stupid question.

Alexz · Aug 24, 2005

Yes, enough reasons already to devote some time at home learning camera's operation prior to the first actual outing.. , thanks.

jovo · Aug 24, 2005

Jack Dykinga, in his book "Large Format Nature Photography", writes: "Still, it took me three years to feel semiconfident with my 4x5. I say semiconfident, because I still make mistakes, still forget to tighten a control knob or stop down a lens. I have even made expensive mistakes such as not checking a lens mount and watching that lens smash into jagged lava formations." So you must realize you're in excellent company. (BTW, he had previously been a photojounalist using Leicas and Nikons and was used to the speed and simplicity those machines afford)

Alexz · Aug 24, 2005

Yes, the situation is likely I can be trapped into.
Years of extensive 35mm automation experience will certainly make getting used to totally different approach a bit more tough than it could be.
However, a half of such experience is already behind me - thatns to almost a year and half of medium format shooting. Albeit not as basic and simplicity of LF, but certainly lot less automation then 35mm...

Alexz · Aug 24, 2005

BTW, another calrification needed:
I noticed on my lens the aperture ring is going past f/5.6 and f/64 marks, so that the aperture can be opened slightly wider then f/5.6 setting and closed tighter then f/64.
(the arc distance it can pass past f/64 is about the same as full stop).
Does that mean that the actual aperture can be set indeed, say about third-to-half stop wider then f/5.6 and up to about full stop smaller then f/64 (i.e. reaching f/90 or even f/128) ?

mark · Aug 24, 2005

All of mine do this also. Comes in handy when I want to shoot at F64 and want to underexpose a transparency a little. I have never used a large format lens wide open. I should probably try it someday.

BradS · Aug 24, 2005

dr bob said:
There are no stupid questions on this forum. Many many years ago, I was sent out on my first ever field assignment with a Speed Graphic which I had used around the studio but never in the field. I grabbed the camera, several negative holders, closed the camera and proceeded to the site.

On arrival on site, several Co, Wheels, escorted me to the location. Desiring to appear cool, I whipped out the camera and only then discovered that I had no idea how to open the darn thing! I fumbled about for a few seconds trying to appear busy preparing the shot while frantically searching for the catch or lever or whatever to open the case. For a while I thought I would have to phone my boss not an option. (No cell phones in those days.)

Almost by chance, I pushed the little bump covered by the leatherette on the side near the top (Speed users will laugh here) and the front fell open. Whew!

also LOL...I got lucky. The guy I bought mine from gave me a 30 minute introduction to the Crown Graphic and LF photography - how to open the crown, how to load film holders, how to put the film holder into the camera, etc... all of this he communicated to me while we stood under a tree in the Maxtor corporate headquarters parking lot!

Alexz · Aug 24, 2005

Thanks Mark, understood.

Releaing the shutter without release cable

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