I just got a Speed Graphic (with a side mounted rangefinder). One reason I got this is to use a 209mm macro barrel lens. When I mount this lens on the Speed, the lens will not go more than 3/4" beyond the bed. This means I can focus only to about 3 ft, not closer.

Is this restricted lens distance correct? My Super Graphic will go much further (but, of course lacks the focal plane shutter of the Speed)

Bruce,
According to http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/pacemaker-speed-graphic.html, the 4x5 Pacemaker Speed should have 12 3/4 inches of bellows. On my Speed with an empty lens board installed and the front standard clamp lead edge set flush to the end of the rails I get 13 1/8 inches from the ground glass to the front edge of the lens board. Measurement is thru the lens board to the ground glass. This puts the lens board approximately 2 5/8 inches beyond the end of the bed.
Positioning the front standard so that the front edge of the lens board is 8 1/4 inches from the ground glass with the rails fully retracted I get a total of 12 inches maximun distance from the ground glass when the rails are run out to the limit of the bellows putting the lens board 1 1/2 inches beyond the end of the bed.

Check the bellows on your camera, someone may have shortened them, replaced a Speed bellows with a Crown bellows (which are shorter), or the rear pleats of the bellows may be stuck together.

The only other solution to getting more bellows draw is to make an extension lens board from ABS or Black Acrylic. The outer lip on the lens board is not necessary if the center of the board just fits inside the front standard opening. I have sucessfully made boards from 3/32 thick material, cutting only enough from the outer 1/4 inch to get the lens board locks to just slide over the board and allowing the rest to be inside the front standard and it provided sufficent light blocking. Also the thin edge is strong enough to hold a 12" lens in an Ilex shutter.
Charles

Thanks for the reply. I have let my students use this camera on their own. I think they gained a good experience from this .... perhaps at the expense of the camera. I will take it to a local camera repair to see if they can see if something is wrong.

Since I do not have a manual for this camera, I wasn't sure if this was the extent to which the lens could be moved.
Thanks again.

User and service manuals for the Top RF Pacemaker are available for download at
http://www.southbristolviews.com/
The only difference between the Top and Side RF pacemakers is the RF, all other aspects are the same.