
Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2017 12:01 am
| Quote: |
| How would I find out what shutter my optar is in? |
The lens trim ring has the lens name, focal length, maximum f stop which you have found. Outside the lens is the shutter which has the speeds and aperture controls, the shutter name is at 6 O'clock or directly under the lens.
| Quote: |
| And is there a video on how to set the Infiniti stops? |
I don't watch videos, I read service manuals. There is no service manual available on line for the Super but there are for the Crown/Speed. All set up the same.
On Anniversary Speed Graphics and earlier (1912-1946) infinity was set with the rails fully retracted into the body. On Pacemaker Graphics and Super graphics (1947-1973) the rails are to be fully retracted then moved forward .040 inch ± .010 inch. Either starting position can be used depending on whether you want to be able to focus beyond infinity slightly so you can find the sharpest focus at infinity/very distant objects. Now with the camera mounted on a tripod point the camera at a target at least 5000 feet away, the further the better.
Set the aperture to its widest opening, open the shutter on T or B with a locking cable release. Using a good 4x to 6x loupe critically focus the infinity target on the ground glass by unlocking the front standard and moving the front standard until critical focus is obtained. Lock the front standard and verify it is square to the rails, if not correct and recheck focus. I use a digital caliper with depth gauge rod to determine if the standard is square bu checking the distance from the end of the rails on each side.
With existing infinity stops sliding the front standard up to the stops and locking it then checking focus at the ground glass will confirm if the stops are set correctly/ to your liking. No need to move them if they are.
A 135mm lens will close focus at around 6 feet, closer distances will require extra bellows extension and exposure compensation.
Wollensak Optars were generally sharp but a few were not. When Wollensak quit making lens Graflex switched to Rodenstock. My Super Speed has a Rodenstock Optar and it is very sharp.
Someone may have had the lens apart to clean it and not reassembled it correctly. The 135 is a tessar design.
This is a Zeiss Tessar
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1sPJkp-MdghRDhwVGVIMnVKa28 other makes are very similar. Its easy to unscrew the front group from the shutter and verify that the front is curved outward, the rear curved inward, the rear group front flat with the very rear curved outward.