Happy New Year ya'll.

I have a Crown Special, 4 lenses and infinity stops for each. I've heard that some people do not set the stops *exactly* at infinity, but a tad bit short of infinity so that GG focusing to infinity is always achieved by loupe viewing and turning the focus knob. Makes some sense to me for absolute accuracy every time. Any thoughts on this procedure?

I have 2 thoughts on that idea:

1. Place the stops in their correct location, but keep them folded down. Just slide the front to "near" the stops and focus on the GG.

2. If you're not gonna set the stops correctly, why use them at all? Just mark the bed with tape or paint at the approximate place where the stops would go and slide the standard there.

As an aside, I often use a Telek +3 adapter to "zoom" in on my landscapes. The stops are folded flat since this adapter needs a lot more bellows draw. I rough-focus by sliding the bellows almost to the end of the track while looking at the GG. When I'm close to being in focus, I lock down the standard and then fine-focus on the GG with a loupe.

Infinity Stops? Don't need no steenking Infinity Stops!

Infinity stops are a convience, and if set correctly, accurate for general purpose work. If you are conserned about the minor varrances associated with temperature changes, then set the stops up with the rails extended 1/8 inch or a 1/4 foward turn of the focus knob. Don't forget that these beast and their accesories were designed for a specific type of photography and in the current adaptation some features may not be needed or worthwhile.
Charles

Remember what the infinity stops are for. They create the EXACT spot where the lens is supposed to be so the rangefinder and the focus scales work. If your stops are "abit short" then when you use the rangefinder, your images will be "a bit short" of sharp.

I say, put the stops EXACTLY where they are supposed to be, use a BIG loupe to set them. That way your RF will work. Then if you want to ground glass focus, you can always lock the front standard "a bit short" of the stops and dial in infinity with a field loupe.

I have about 5 lenses in my Crown case, from 58 to 15". I have only two sets of stops, one for the original 135 and the other for the 250. I alway Ground Glass but I can approximate where the standard should be before I go under the cloth to look.

For your top rangefinder Crown Special, unless you have rangefinder cams for your lenses, or you have the correct distance scales, I see no reason for the stops since you'll have to use the GG to focus those lenses.

Les is right - if you have the right cam and want to use the rangefinder, set the stops for those lenses accurately.

Thanks everyone. It get it. Set 'em right.
-Steve