I got my hands on a Super Speed Graphic and have got the basics figured out with the ground-glass focusing but I am totally confused with the rangefinger and cams etc so I would greatly appreciate it if someone explained all that to me:

1- What the heck is a cam? I located a little piece of metal with holes in it inside the top part of the camera -- what does it do?

2- And an "infinity stop"?

3- What's the use of the view finder thing on my camera that can't stand up since the screwhole has been stripped. With 2 rangefinders, why do I need that? How can I fix the stripped screwhole issue?

4- Right next to the view finder, there's a tiny rangefinder hole which is terribly dirty -- how do I clean it, and how is it used?

5- Why not just use the rangefinder on the top (and how do you use that one?) Why does the frme for the front lens slide up?

6- what's with what looks like some sort of dial on the top?

7- On the front there's supposed to be a hole of some sort that has light coming out of it if you press the red button -- but I thought that was the shutter release -- and why do I need a light? Why are there wood blocks in the battery compartment which I assume powers the light?

8- And finally, when I change the shutter time setting, as I am turning the knob, I hear a sort of whirrr like a lens timer -- is that normal?

I appreciate your help!

No offense meant at all, but this is really way too much to ask in a single post... But...

1> It makes the rangefinder work with a particular lens. Each focal length needs it's own cam.

2> It stops/places the front standard at the infinity focus point.

3> You don't "need" it. You can fix the screw hole like any other stripped hole, which would need more explanation if you don't know...

4> It all depends on how it is dirty. On the outside, use a Q-Tip with some soapy water or lens cleaning fluid. On the inside, you'll have to get into disassembly. If it works, there's a split image. You move the focus and when it appears to have no split, you're focused.

5> Use the rangefinder for what? It's a rangefinder! The focusing frame on the front standard moves up because you can't see through it while it's down...

6> The dial is a flash calculator and focus setting. That's why it's in feet.

7> There is no light. That was on the top rangfinder Pacemakers. Your red switch is to trigger the shutter only. The wood block is there because without it or the batteries, the battery cover would fall out.

8> It's normal...

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-24 21:28 ]</font>