Very basic shutter/lens questions

[darr]

"Bulb Exposure (B). Another term for a brief exposure - in which the shutter remains open only so long as the shutter release is held down. The word originated with the early pneumatic shutter release." -- from the Focal Encyclopedia:

[Jim Ewins]

Invest in a copy of "Using the view camera" by Steve Simmons You'll get the whole picture, not just the bits and pieces.

[steve simmons]

I usualy suggest one or all of the following books

User's Guide to the View Camera by Jim Stone

Large Fomat Nature Photography by Jack Dykinga

Using the View Camera that i wrote.

You can try your local library, Amazon.com, etc., etc.

Also, there are several articles in the Free Articles section of

www.viewcamera.com

that will be helpful to you.

Good luck

steve simmons

[Dan Jolicoeur]

B or T, T in particular are also the setting you should use to store your lens when not in use. This puts less stress on the spring(s), and will let your lens speeds last longer accurately.

[David F]

Thanks all. This is exactly the info. I needed to get started. As an aside, I did look in a few view camera books, but didn't find this basic info. They often started with "mount lens on camera" but not the details of the various shutter dials and functions.

David.

[John_4185]

Yes, those books overlook some of the fundamentals.

Like, when you get the lens mounted, and can see the scene on the ground-glass, best check to see if your particular lens creates an upside-down image.

[Ole Tjugen]

B for Bulb, T for Time. Cable release with lockdown screw for shutters without the "T" setting.

Some older shutters are marked TBI and ZDM - Time, Bulb and Instant in English, and Zeit, Dauer and Moment in German. If these have flash contacts at all that's likely to be "M".

Some other shutters have not only M and X, but MXV. The "V" is for "Verdauer", time release. The shutter opens after about 10 seconds depending on general repair state and how often the "V" setting has been used in the last 50 years.

[steve simmons]

go to page 42 of Using the View Camera. This answers your questions.

steve simmons

[tim o'brien]

Yes, those books overlook some of the fundamentals.

Like, when you get the lens mounted, and can see the scene on the ground-glass, best check to see if your particular lens creates an upside-down image.

Ummm... how many times you gonna try that joke? We all know if the image is upside down, you merely put the lens in top side bottom.

tim in san jose

[bosscock]

You can still get flash bulbs off ebay very cheaply, I've used them in the past with with a 120 diana clone. The amount of light given off them is very impressive, however they can shatter.

There is also the theatrical side of using flashbulbs, which never fails to impress you audience..

Out of interest, can/does anyone use the victorian 'flash bars' that you often see in films... (looks like powdered magnesium going off, if there is such a thing)?
Neill