Graflex.org

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

What's the shortest cam for a 4x5 Pacemaker?

I know I had a 90mm

But did they go shorter than that?
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ImageMaker · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 93 Location: North Carolina

RichS · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject:

I don't know why people say the 90 was the shortest lens that will work on a Speed? A 65mm works just fine on mine...

Let's see...

The 1964 catalog lists a 65mm Super Angulon f/8 in a #00 Compur shutter for the Crown and Speed: Cat.No. 9724

I see the cam listing on graflex.org only goes down to 86mm? Unfortunately, the catalogs don't list individual cams...
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Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

I think there's a mechanical limit to the rangefinder and it seems to be around 90mm. B&L made an 88mm and 86mm isn't too far from that.
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"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison

RichS · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:49 pm Post subject:

There wouyldn't be a lens/mechanical limit to the TRF or Super which use cams. It would only depend on where the front standard would sit on the rails. Infinity is always at the same position for the cammed RF. Then the slope of the cam follows the focal length of the lens. At extremes, there would be a limit to the amount of focus available to the cam as the slope would either be almost a straight line for the long lens and a huge drop for the short one. But since a 65mm moves so little, I would have no doubts that a cam would allow the full range of focusing.

An interesting example is the cam I have for the 380 tele lens. Sure, the cam works great with the lens. The only problem is that with the rails all the way back for infinity, the lens can't be set out far enough away from the rear. So some special adapter must have been made to allow it's use. Maybe a simple extended lens board as it only misses by about a quarter inch (maybe a half?).

The 65 may be a bit too close to the rear to allow seating on the movable rails to focus, but the cam would work just fine. A recessed lens board would fix this revrse problem. The cam and RF would still work fine.

I have used the 65mm on my Pacemaker Speed but long ago enough that I don't remember the details. I'm pretty sure it worked on the focus rails though. I could always dig it out and set it up to check. That's not a TRF camera though... I do have a TRF around but I always forget if it's a Speed or Crown? I never did like the way the cam was inserted in that camera and never used it. They did a great re-design for the Super as far as cam usage goes.
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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

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Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2120 Location: New Jersey

Um, Rich, I use short (38, 44, 47, 58, 65) lenses on my 2x3 Pacemaker Speed. All make infinity with the front standard on the inner bed rails. I've never tried to set it up for one of them, but I doubt a Kalart can be made to work with any of them. But the thing is, since Pacemaker's inner and outer bed rails are linked, if the top RF measures extension off the inner rails, as the Kalart does, it ought to work with the bed dropped. What am I missing here?

Cheers,

Dan

RichS · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject:

Okay Dan, this pushed my curiosity to the limits and I dragged out the TRF camera. Of all things, it turned out to be a Speed so it will answer all questions, maybe...

I had no idea because I simply couldn't remember. I've been using the Super too long.

The TRF Pacemaker Speed does have the linked rails all the way back into the box. So yes, there's no problem whatsoever in using the 65mm on the focusing rails.

I only did a quick infinity adjustment so I could be off a little bit here.

The 65mm on a flat lens board leaves almost a half inch of rearward travel of the front standard on the rails. plenty of room for an even shorter lens! It's also a good half an inch from the link itself so dropping the bed is also no problem. I know I have one lens where the front has to be dropped before the front standard is positioned because it sits too close to or on top of the links...

So, the 65mm will work just fine on a standard lens board on a TRF Speed. No problems whatsoever, except in finding a cam!

This is the 65mm f/8 Super Angulon by the way.

And that may be closer to a quarter inch behind the front stadard, not a half?
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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

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C. Henry · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:12 pm Post subject:

[quote="Dan Fromm"]Um, Rich, I use short (38, 44, 47, 58, 65) lenses on my 2x3 Pacemaker Speed. All make infinity with the front standard on the inner bed rails. I've never tried to set it up for one of them, but I doubt a Kalart can be made to work with any of them.

Dan;
I have a Leitmeyr f6.8/65 lens that I use occasionally on my 2 x 3 Pacemaker Speed. With the front standard in the storage position on the rails, infinity focus comes in with the rails at about the 50' mark for the 101 Ektar so the Kalart should be able to be set up for that lens and possibly even for your 58, but I doubt if it would be worth the effort, unless the short lens was the only one that was going to be used!

C. Henry