So I've been experimenting with a Crown Graphic in addition to my Technika for handheld 4x5 photography. My work is mostly medium length portraits, from 6 feet to 15 feet away, shot wide open (f/5.6) without movements. And I am thinking the Crown might be a nice alternative that is lighter weight and cheaper for rougher conditions. I've had several Speeds and Crowns before, with Kalharts and top rangefinders.
Anyway, this one I have is quite nice and clean, and I have it set up as properly as I know how.... I chose a top rangfinder model figuring that the cammed rangefinder would be more accurate and reliable over time (not jiggling out of true from vibration).
Yet, even though I can set infinity on the ground glass and with the infinity stops.... it doesn't stay in track down to 15 or 8 feet. The focusing is close... the difference to getting perfect focus is maybe an 1/8 of an inch (3mm) of a turn at the closest (6 feet)... so is it normal for a cammed top rangefinder to be this amount off?
I am 99% sure the cam is correct for the 135 lens, as the camera is all factory stock.
My Technika has been to Martin's twice and it focuses very accurately... I notice that the Graphic cams are quite a bit smaller than the Linhofs' -- so are Graphic rangfinders going to be a little sloppier in general?
If I didn't habitually shoot wide open all the time, I am sure it would do fine for general work at f/11 or f/16 covering up the slight mis-focusing. But I really need this to track better --
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