Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2019/08/14

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Subject: [Leica] Putting X-Synch on a 100 Year Old Camera
From: richard at imagecraft.com (Richard Man)
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 00:34:44 -0700
References: <CANYyKx9aOwkvzbofpxZieX0bajpB+kFGDLPRPMb2VbXA-AZYmA@mail.gmail.com>

Alan, if you ever want to sell your  9" f/4 Wollensak Verito Diffused Focus
lens, let me know. I love soft focus lens....

On Tue, Aug 13, 2019 at 3:21 PM Alan Magayne-Roshak <amr3 at uwmalumni.com>
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
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>


-- 
// richard http://imagecraft.com
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In reply to: Message from amr3 at uwmalumni.com (Alan Magayne-Roshak) ([Leica] Putting X-Synch on a 100 Year Old Camera)