Graflex.org

gmyers · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 8

I've always stayed away from hand held shooting with my 4x5 Anny. The rangefinder patch was too dim even for days were you could easily use your head guessing (Sunny 16)

So I cut a piece of processed color negative film and folded it around the top of the Kalart rangefinder window, just for giggles. Whoa! What a difference! Before I was only shooting this rig on a tripod using the ground glass, now I'm doing hand held portraits with the rangefinder. I might even try to mount the negative inside the rangefinder housing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31378143@N02/4254687521/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31378143@N02/4254687475/

Gary

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

On one of my Century cameras I tried cutting a small piece of magenta filter acetate (an old contrast printing filter), and carefully adhered that to the inside ring of the Kalart housing. It works pretty good, but nothing beats replacing the half silvered mirror on top. I refurbished an Anny a couple years ago and it worked really good. But so long as it's working for ya.

gmyers · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 8

I got the idea from my Orako orange filter I use on my Leica IIIa rangefinder. Likewise the patch on these older cameras is in the same condition as the Annys'.

Though replacing a mirror on an Anny is equivalent to working on a old Ford vs the Leica which is like working on a Rolls Royce. Probably why they made special filters for them.

Gary

1banjo · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 492 Location: kansas

hey Gary
back in the old days when they still made these things. they had a slip on filter that went on the viewing eye peace for this. I just spent an hour looking for the one that I got on 1 of my cameras. its about the color of a K2 /or Wratten #8 filter that a yellow filter.
but if your splitbeam is bad it would be better to change it out!!
this one that I have don't have a brand name on it but it mite be made by Kalart but I don't know
1banjo

1banjo · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 492 Location: kansas

Gary
as far as repairing Edmunds has the beam splitter
http://www.graflex.org/articles/romney/rangefinder-mirrors.html
by Ed Romney take a look
1banjo

gmyers · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 8

Thanks for the information 1banjo! In a way I would like to leave things as is.

Dang near took me 3 years to get off the tripod and ground glass and start taking hand held shots with the rangefinder. I've been meaning to do this for a long time.

Though I will pull the housing at some point here and take a look at the splitter. Sure will be interesting to see what’s under the hood.

Gary