Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2019/08/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Peter Dzwig asked me about putting X-Synch on my ca. 1917 4x5 RB (Revolving Back) Graflex. Here's the story. The camera that I bought to go with my 9" f/4 Wollensak Verito Diffused Focus lens that I got for $12.00 in 1985: < http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Gear/MR_Graflex_1_Orig.jpg.html > Side view showing the wiring path: < http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Gear/MR_Graflex_2_X-Synch.jpg.html > The Graflex has a focal plane shutter with multiple slits and spring tensions. When the shutter is set to "O" (for open) the film plane is uncovered but the mirror blocks light from exposing the film. With a high tension, when the shutter button is pressed, the mirror flips out of the way, trips the shutter, the entire film area is exposed for a fraction of a second, and then the shutter curtain comes down and covers the focal plane. I made some contacts out of Aurora HO-scale slot car pick-ups and mounted them so that the one on the mirror reset lever would strike the stationary one at the moment after the mirror was up, but before the shutter curtain comes down to cover the film. I can adjust the timing by loosening the set screw on the arm, and varying the angle of the moving contact. The wire ends in a standard PC fitting. The lead going down and inside is for the microswitch in picture five. Closer view with mirror down and shutter cocked: < http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Gear/MR_Graflex_3_X-Synch.jpg.html > Closer view with mirror up and shutter tripped: < http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Gear/MR_Graflex_4_X-Synch.jpg.html > If I didn't do anything more, the flash would fire again as I reset the mirror lever for viewing, so in the mirror box I added a microswitch that only completes the circuit when the mirror/shutter release lever pushes against it. When the shutter button is released, the switch opens the circuit and the external mirror reset lever can swing past the stationary contact without setting off the flash. Microswitch and internal mirror release lever: < http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Gear/MR_Graflex_5_X-Synch.jpg.html > I usually like to use this camera with a Graflex 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 roll film back, so when I'm employing electronic flash, I have to do this for every shot (except the dark slide only needs to be pulled at the start and pushed in at the end of the roll). 1. Have shutter set to "O" and mirror down. 2. Focus and compose (remembering to orient the roll film back to match rectangles for vertical and horizontal shots drawn on the ground glass). 3. Trip shutter. 4. Wind film to next frame (there's no double-exposure prevention). 5. Reset mirror to viewing position. 6. Rewind shutter to "O" position. 7. Steps 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 for each of the remaining seven frames. Simple. - Alan Alan Magayne-Roshak, Senior Photographer University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Photo Services (Retired) UPAA Photographer of the Year 1978 UPAA Master of the Profession 2014 amr3 at uwm.edu http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/ "All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for an inability to notice. " - Elliott Erwitt