I've been pondering whether it would be reasonable to make a focusing scale for my B&L Tessar. Or was there one in the 8 3/8" range made? Is there any place on the web that explains the process in sufficent detail to work out the markings? I have been unable to locate anything in my searches, but thought I'd try asking here.

A good book pointer is fine as well.

Thank you,

William

You don't mention what kind of camera? BUt generally the focus scales are just small metal plates attached to the bed & focus rails. I would have no doubt that there existed a factory scale for that FL, but what most people did back when was use simple tape on the bed with a mark on the rail.

Just use a nice tape, smooth surfaced that can be written on by a ball point pen or very fine point marker.

Focus to infinity, place a mark on the rail and corrosponding mark on the tape. Then focus at maybe 20 feet, make another mark on the tape next to the mark on the rail. Do the same for 15, 10, 6 and 3 feet.

Can't get much simpler and you can remove it if you change your mind... May not be as fancy as the tiny metal plates from the factory, but an awful lot of old cameras sported such features...

Quote:

On 2005-09-19 13:26, RichS wrote: You don't mention what kind of camera? BUt generally the focus scales are just small metal plates attached to the bed & focus rails. I would have no doubt that there existed a factory scale for that FL, but what most people did back when was use simple tape on the bed with a mark on the rail. Just use a nice tape, smooth surfaced that can be written on by a ball point pen or very fine point marker. Focus to infinity, place a mark on the rail and corrosponding mark on the tape. Then focus at maybe 20 feet, make another mark on the tape next to the mark on the rail. Do the same for 15, 10, 6 and 3 feet. Can't get much simpler and you can remove it if you change your mind... May not be as fancy as the tiny metal plates from the factory, but an awful lot of old cameras sported such features...

Note that to make a home-made scale function properly, you have to set up the camera with the front standard in the "right" place for the lens. That's what infinity stops do. If you don't set up a pair of infinity stops for the 8 3/4, then you'll have to make two more marks, one on the rail, the other on the bed ...

I did exactly what is described above when I had a Linhof Tech II. On that camera, you file the infinity stops right on the rail, and I made a focusing scale for each lens I used with some masking tape on the bed, just measuring with a tape measure and focusing.