From: Richard Knoppow (dickburk@ix.netcom.com)
Date: 08/16/02-12:03:50 AM Z
At 12:15 AM 08/16/2002 -0700, you wrote:
>Where do you like to buy lenses? I am looking for one for an 8x10 camera
>that has a shutter that is reasonably accurate. The one I have is about
>twice as slow as it should be on one second, but not quite that for 1/2
>second, etc, which makes it impossible to figure out what speed to shoot the
>film at. I think I'm going to send it back.
>
>--shannon
>
Lens and Repro in NYC is good. Not cheap but have good stuff. Any lens
bought via mail should come with a right of return. Inspect lenses using a
small flashlight and a good loupe. Shine the flashlight both through and
across the glass. It will show up a myriad of problems which are hidden in
ambient light.
You may want to invest in a Calumet shutter tester. They were about $80
US last time I looked. Its about the size of an eposure meter and very easy
to use. I think this is a must for LF people and anyone working with older
lenses. It will also measure strobe duration, sometimes useful because it
will tell you if you are in the range where reciprocity effects take place.
What kind of shutter is this that's running slow? Some of them are not
too hard to tune up. Old Compurs (even dial set ones) and Compound shutters
can almost always be made to run on speed, except perhaps for the highest
speed. Ilex shutters, except for the very early dial set ones can usually
be brought up to new shutter specs. They use wire springs which are easy to
make. Of course, their specs were not wonderful when new, but they can be
brought back to those. Check with Steve Grimes about repairing old shutters
and remounting lenses in new shutters. The latter can be expensive since
the shutters themselves are expensive these days. Steve actually has a
fairly high opinion of old Ilex shutters, again except for the first ones,
which he consideres unrepairable.
---- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA dickburk@ix.netcom.com
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