Speed Graphic 34 with Kalart viewfinder - 2nd lens?

[Kino]

I purchased a Anniversary Speed Graphic 34 set last year that is complete except for the fact that it has 2 sets of infinity stops on the bed and only one lens with the kit. The estate from which this camera came was an official photographer for the Boston Red Socks at one time (at least according to the estate seller).

The lens currently with the camera is the ubiquitous Optar 135mm f4.7 in a Graphex shutter. The viewfinder has the appropriate #3 mask. Laying inside the case, I found a #8 mask that should work for a lens of about 200-300mm focal length, if I remember correctly.

The focus bed has two focus scales attached; one does match up correctly with the 135mm lens and the rangefinder agrees.

Questions:

1. What is most likely lens that is missing, in regards to standard available lenses of the time? I am having a hard time finding any lens in that focal range that is set in a leaf shutter.

2. Would it more likely have been a barrel lens in this focal length?

3. To the best of my knowledge and research, Kalart rangefinders of this vintage can only be adjusted to one lens at a time and it is a less than speedy process to change a lens and re-align the rangefinder to the new focal length, so what was the preferred way to quickly swap lenses and start shooting again?

I saw one board posting on another site that outlined a process whereby you continue to use the range finder calibrated to your "normal" lens settings, but then note the distance on focus scale #1 and transfer it to focus scale #2 (the 2nd lens), but this seems a bit imprecise.

Shutterfinger?

 

[BradS]

1. The Kodak 203mm f/7.7 Ektar (aka Anastigmat) and similar Wollensak Raptar / Graflex Optar come to mind.

2. These all came in shutter.

3. Focus with the rangefinder and then transfer the distance from the scale that agreees with the range finder to the other scale.

4. Don't get too hung up on "precise". It's a rangefinder focused press camera without any real parallax compensation. If you want precise you must use the ground glass to compose and focus

 

[Kino]

Thanks, Brad.

Wasn't there a 250mm lens?

Seems a bit dicey on a long focus lens, but if that's the way it was done, that's the way it was done...

 

[Dan Fromm]

1. What is most likely lens that is missing, in regards to standard available lenses of the time? I am having a hard time finding any lens in that focal range that is set in a leaf shutter.

2. Would it more likely have been a barrel lens in this focal length?

3. To the best of my knowledge and research, Kalart rangefinders of this vintage can only be adjusted to one lens at a time and it is a less than speedy process to change a lens and re-align the rangefinder to the new focal length, so what was the preferred way to quickly swap lenses and start shooting again?

I saw one board posting on another site that outlined a process whereby you continue to use the range finder calibrated to your "normal" lens settings, but then note the distance on focus scale #1 and transfer it to focus scale #2 (the 2nd lens), but this seems a bit imprecise.

1. no idea. The standard issue teles for 3x4 Annies were 10" and 12". I've had a 250/5.6 TeleRaptar in shutter. I'm not sure what the 12" was. Look for TeleRaptars and TeleOptars, also TeleXenars. All are available in shutter. The 203s mentioned post #2 above are also possible. Not as common as you'd like. FWIW, the 203/7.7 Kodak Anastigmat was also sold as a process lens. I have one in barrel, with reversed engraving and the front of the barrel threaded to screw into a prism or mirror assembly.

2. not sure. Based on what I've seen on offer, in shutter is more likely.

3. Correct, but in fact more precise than using, for example, a long or short front element on a Retina that has a convertible lens. More precise because the Graphic has a vernier scale. The focusing process is described in Graphic Graflex Photography, which remarks that it is equivalent to using an uncoupled RF.

 

[Kino]

Thanks, Dan.

All good information.

 

[shutterfinger]

+1 post 4 & 5.