Use of small stops on an Ilex #5

Jimmy Peguet · Nov 21, 2005

Hi all,

The smaller stop one can use on the Ilex shutter of the 14" Commercial Ektar is f/45. I would like to be able to use smaller stops, at least f/64, I don't dream about another more stop. This couldn't be easy to set because the stop scale on the shutter is not linear (distance between stop marks goes narrowing), but I don't need 1/3 stops here. Is there a way to do that easily ? Maybe the only solution would be to tap a new hole for the small screw on the rear crown of the front part, but I can't do that. Is there another simple way to do that ? The guy who repairs my tools told me that on some shutters, trying to go further than the factory settings could damage the blades.

Jimmy

janvanhove · Nov 21, 2005

Hi Jimmy,

I'd go with your repairman, trying to go smaller could indeed put a strain on the iris blades and damage them...
an easy way to smaller stops? I don't know if it's easy, but waterhouse stops can be made as small as you want, without putting a strain on iris blades...

PJ

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 21, 2005

I think Weston used small disks that could be placed in front of the iris when he wanted a smaller aperture than the shutter allowed.

Charles Webb · Nov 21, 2005

For What it is worth,
Many model railroad photographers have used the disc idea, it works very well, and is very easy to do. Charlie..........

Jimmy Peguet · Nov 22, 2005

To use a disk is a nice idea. But in order to do that easily, it would be better to remove all the parts in front of the shutter : I can of course unscrew the front cell, but not the 1/2" long "tube" between the cell and the shutter itself, and the diameter is larger near the shutter and iris blades than inside this tube. On these shutters, can you unscrew this tube, or only the front cell ?

Jimmy

Dan Fromm · Nov 22, 2005

Jimmy Peguet said:
To use a disk is a nice idea. But in order to do that easily, it would be better to remove all the parts in front of the shutter : I can of course unscrew the front cell, but not the 1/2" long "tube" between the cell and the shutter itself, and the diameter is larger near the shutter and iris blades than inside this tube. On these shutters, can you unscrew this tube, or only the front cell ?

Jimmy

Can you insert the disk from behind?

Jimmy Peguet · Nov 22, 2005

It would be better by front, because there is a 1 mm thick support just over the blades. From behind, the disk should be put "en force" (Dan, I know you read french ).

Dan Fromm · Nov 22, 2005

Jimmy, je ne parle ni comprends francais.

More seriously, I've never handled a Commercial Ektar, so didn't know that the front cell was mounted on a tube. It makes me think of my 38 Biogon as remounted by Steve Grimes. Its cells screw into tubes that screw into the shutter, not directly into the shutter body. So, please check to see whether the tube you mentioned can be unscrewed from the front of the shutter.

One reason not to use a disc type Waterhouse stop is that it may prevent the cell from screwing far enough into the shutter, i.e., it may change the cell spacing. But this is an empirical question that I don't have the means to address.

Amicalement,

Dan

jimgalli · Nov 22, 2005

That was the reason I sold my 14" Ektar. I'm curious if the Kodak engineers thought that diffraction was a net loss at f64 so didn't give that option. For an 8X10 contact print I'll wander all the way to f90 if I have to in order to get the depth I'm after. Perhaps there's a way to physically modify the travel so that the blades can close down a bit more. 5.5mm at f64 shouldn't tax that shutter significantly. 4.6mm would give you a useable f64 1/2. Proceed cautiously.

Use of small stops on an Ilex #5

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