Shutter for Artar 6 inch f/9

[gth]

I have an Artar 6in f/9, currently mounted on a lens board with a Packard shutter. The instantaneous .125 sec seems to work but in "outside sunny" I can end up in fractional second exposure even at f/22 and higher. Can't control that. BTW: How do you keep the Packard open for focusing? Mine seems to slowly close by itself. Piston descends by itself and air leaks out of the bulb in a few seconds.

Ok, so...
1. Can I put this lens in a timed shutter?
2. What would be the size?
3. Inexpensive recomendations?

[JohnGC]

6" Artar is a nice 4x5 lens!

To keep a Packard open: Squeeze the bulb with the hole covered. Uncover the hole, then release the bulb. The shutter should stay open until you squeeze the bulb, cover the hole, and release the bulb again.

Yes you can have the 6" mounted in a shutter, but it's not likely to be cheap. Mine is mounted in an old unmarked shutter, so I'm not sure of size.

A company called S.K Grimes is one popular way to go. I've had them remount lenses before, they did a great job every time. Call them for a quote, they're great people.
http://www.skgrimes.com/

[Ernest Purdum]

As I recall, the 6" Artar is quite small enogh to be front=mounted on a reasonably sized shutter. The Grimes site shows front-mounting examples. This is a very much less expensive job than mounting the cells to a shutter.

[gth]

John,

I've learned how to operate the Packard as you say, so I must have a problem with my unit, because when a uncover the bulb hole, the shutter closes or part way closes. There must be some catch when the piston is in top position that does not engage properly.

I did take it a part and dust it off inside, however I did not take the shutter leafs out - was not sure if I could get them back in. The pin instant close seems to work.

I've read somewhere else here that 6" Artar might be marginal in terms of movements on 4x5, but I also have a roll film back, and the 6x9's are a good way for me to learn movements and operations of the view camera, so it will work well for that for sure. And 6x9 is not shabby negative either.

When you mount this lens in shutter, will that require machining of the lens? So it's not as simple as unscrewing the rear element and inserting the shutter and screw the rear lens on again? This is because the lens was not originally designed for a shutter?

Thanks for the advice!

[gth]

Ok, so here is another question.

Right now there is a 6in RD Artar on Ebay in a Rapax shutter. The lens has fungus. Can I get this, remove the fungied RD and insert my regular barrel mount 6 inch Artar?

Or were these lenses made in specific different mechanical versions for barrel and shutter mount respectively?

[Jon Wilson]

I can only confirm I have this lens in a compur shutter...or that is my recollection. I am away from it at present. Mine is a NonRD artar. Very fine 4x5 lens. Jon

[Ernest Purdum]

I wouldn't count on being able to thread the lens cells into the shutter of the fungus-distressed lens. If you can arrange to try it, fine, but betting money on it is a long shot, I think.

Mounting one of these lenses in a shutter is a big deal because the spacing has to be just right. Mounting such a lens onto a shutter is a much less critical job. In is a specialist task. Onto can be done by any machinist whose lathe is capable of cutting both inch and metric threads. The biggest expense is apt to be purchase of the shutter.

[gth]

Thanks for your information.

I will buy a longer lens in a decent shutter instead. Front mounting is the way to go with this small lens if I ever convert it from the Packard.

Meanwhile I am starting to get the hang of the Packard. What a neat device!! With some training and tuning of the shutter I think it will be possible to do at least 1/2 second and certainly 1 sec reliably. I wish I had way of measuring fractional second shutter time. With accurate feedback I think it would be possible to train yourself to be quite accurate. Longer exposures are of course easy. I'll probably get a new hose and bulb for it.