Use ground glass back to focus for rollback shots?

[inglis]

Hello,
I am wondering about how best to obtain close focus when using a roll back. I had thought that one could use a ground glass back to prepare to focus with a film roll back, but the ground glass focal plane would most likely differ from that of a roll back. Is this right?

For example on a Patent Etui 6.5x9, would it make sense to use the ground glass to set the focus for a rolex roll back shot? If this does not work, then is there another way to take shots close up and in the macro direction? Or is this not possible?

John

 

[BrianShaw]

You should be able to use the GG to focus, and replace with a roll film back to capture your image. That works for me with a Graphic camera and Graflex roll film backs. I don't know anything about Patent Etui but the same approach should apply if the roll fim back is intended to be compatible with the camera. There should be no reason for the GG/film plane to be in two different places.

 

[Ian Grant]

Hi John, great to meet another Patent Etui owner Probably the most under-rated small pocket-able yet practical camera made. I have 2 9x12's and a load of 6.5x9 plate holders to sell The 9x12 Patent Etui's are essentially LF cameras that fit in a pocket.

I've quite a few 6x9 Roll film backs Rada and Rollex (for various cameras) and they all match the register of plate/film holders, film packs etc, so yes you can focus on the GG and then swap to the Rollex.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

You should be able to use the GG to focus, and replace with a roll film back to capture your image. That works for me with a Graphic camera and Graflex roll film backs. I don't know anything about Patent Etui but the same approach should apply if the roll fim back is intended to be compatible with the camera. There should be no reason for the GG/film plane to be in two different places.

Just for you Brian

My Patent Etui alongside a Crown Graphic and a 645 Ikonta

The 9x12 Patent Etui is a fraction of the weight & size of a Crown Graphic but the format is close, around the same long side but slightly narrower in the other.

The history of KW is something all Americans should read, after the Nobles swapped their D&P business to allow the Jewish owners to escape Germany, and their tragic story after WWII. The company became Praktika but under the Nobles KW were early pioneers of 35mm SLR's and eventually that led to the innovative Praktina system SLR (way ahead of Nikon).

Ian

 

[John Earley]

The history of KW is something all Americans should read, after the Nobles swapped their D&P business to allow the Jewish owners to escape Germany, and their tragic story after WWII. The company became Praktika but under the Nobles KW were early pioneers of 35mm SLR's and eventually that led to the innovative Praktina system SLR (way ahead of Nikon).

Ian

http://throughavintagelens.com/2009/08/every-camera-has-a-story-kw-the-patent-etui-and-john-h-noble/

 

[BrianShaw]

That's a sweet looking camera!

 

[inglis]

Thanks all for the info. This will help me figure out how to go forward, and to have a source for necessities!

With the smaller version on the way, I am attempting to ease into larger format. The Patent Etui cameras seem great.


John

 

[Ian Grant]

http://throughavintagelens.com/2009/08/every-camera-has-a-story-kw-the-patent-etui-and-john-h-noble/

I'd seen that before, but thanks for the link I notice he's copied what I contributed on camera-wki.org.

Ian