[Leica] Putting X-Synch on a 100 Year Old Camera

[CartersXRd]

next thing you know, you’ll be adapting a flatbed scanner and Graflock back on the thing;^_

ric carter



> On Aug 14, 2019, at 1:40 PM, Peter Dzwig <pdzwig at summaventures.com> wrote:
> 
> Fascinating. Thank you for posting such a detailed response. I wonder
> what its makers would have thought of your ingenuity.
> 
> Peter
> 
> On 13/08/2019 23:20, Alan Magayne-Roshak wrote:
>> 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
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> Dr. Peter Dzwig
> 
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