Golwlandflex resurrection project

[cikaziva]

Hello folks! time has come for new project. in January i rebuild one rally bad Tehnika IV

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?109574-linhof-technika-IV-resurrection-project

several days ago i got camera that i always wanted, but i never had money to buy, Gowlandflex 4x5 TLR.
camera was in a junk shop on a flee market and it took me some time till i finally got it for a 300$. strangely this one is really in good shape, except lens issue. interestingly ex owner removed lenses from a camera and mounted Commercial Ektar 12" as taking lens and i think he used it as viewing camera (without any movemants and no close focus). camera only has 305mm of bellows so i have no clue what did he do with 12". to ad up to a mystery CE was professionally mounted and all parts are machined proper. i have no clue why they modified it it this way.

after removing CE i serviced Acme shutter and lens went to other board member to be enjoyed to 8x10. now i first need to see what the heck am going to do with a lens boards. normally i would just make two new boards start a new holes for the size i need and off i go; however bellows are in really good shape and in order to chage the boards i would have to unglue them and am sure that will them completely. Peter used some sort of black, resin type of glue or epoxy. i did a "biopsy" took small part and try to de solve it in acetone, gas, solvent... nothing worked. i dont se the way i can remove the bellows without ripping them or shortening them... holes are strange 75.60mm with a treading that is 2 lines per mill. i looked in to sizes and closest thing would be Acme 5 that is way to big to be mounted on this camera. i have no clue why someone made holes so big. there is not much about Golwlandflex and i look all the photos i could find and it looks to me Peter didnt made it this way, not unless this was the custom job. now only thing for me to do is to machine mounting flange and use existing boards.

Camera number is 857 so of anyone has any clue i would appreciate any clues or photos of your Gowlandflex

now i need to see where to go with this project. i would like to have longer lenses but unfortunately not enough bellows. this is brings me to to possible options

- Modern 210 Japanese lens. i can get really nice one for next to nothing and i viewing lens for even less. only down side is the focal length and probably limited close focus.

- 270mm Tele-Arton if i am lucky yo find late models i could get away with my plan. Tele-Arton has small FFD of only 168mm for infinity. for you not familiar wit this lens, it was lens specially designed for Technika so it could be used on first rail almost in all range. it has small circle and it was not popular back in the days... now there are two major issues: if i pick Tele-Arton i need two of them. with FFD of 168mm i cant use any other lens as viewing lens it has to be TA not even a different generation. also they are big with a shutter around 1.3kg and adding two of them to front standard of already "soft" Gowlandflex. also they are around 400$ each so that is one more thing to conceder

- i dont know what parallax correction rail i have and i would love to know if anyone has experience with making a new rail


i am new to Gowlandflex so i would really appreciate any information from gowland owners or any advice you have

thanks

[cikaziva]

now photos

[cikaziva]

...

[mdarnton]

Those lens holes are about the open (square) part of the board mount opening on my 4x5 Graphic View II, and larger than the round ones on my 4x5 B&J press. Given that, why don't you just make normal slide-lock board mounting systems for standard 4x4" boards for each hole, and screw them onto the front of what's there? Then any lens you want will just clip on, easily.

[cikaziva]

mdarton, i was thinking of that also and if had only one lens that would be a way to go. finding a dead center of a hole with that new board would be bit hard but in a case i had bit of "rise" or shift i would not care because at the end of the day you are composing on ground glass. in this case, with two lenses that would be a problem and i dont see how could i sync them. probabbly new 4x4 boards would need inner 75.6mm guiding ring in order to center the holes... on the other hand if i cut the boards on CNC i can simply put radius pins, i have to see this. thanks

[EdSawyer]

You can find tele arton 270 for way less than that. Hell, I have Nikkor-T 270 (a much better lens, in my opinion) that I would part with for $400!

[Peter De Smidt]

Just FYI, at one point I had a Keith Camera twin lens 4x5. It came with two 254mm Ilex Paragons, one in shutter and one in a barrel. Chris tested the lens, and you can see the results at: http://www.hevanet.com/cperez/testing.html#180mm_thru_270mm

Are you sure that you need tele lenses?

[ic-racer]

Since the cam and follower are only for parallax (and not for a rangefinder) You could probably use cardboard and some trial and error comparing the ground-glass view with the reflex finder. When you have something close, use the cardboard as a template to make something more durable out of Lexan or metal.

[Corran]

Dang, I had two Tele-Artons just a few months ago, in matching shutters. One has a majorly damaged rear element but images fine. It would've been perfect for you but I sold the good one. That said, if you find a good TA I have a slightly damaged one that would be perfect for your viewing lens!

[cikaziva]

thanks for your input!

Peter: i am sure i want something longer as my normal portrait is 300mm. in general i shoot portrets with longer lenses and i would love loner TLR. unfortunately Gowlandflex has limitations.

ic-racer: its a good idea to use cardboard mockup and then cut a metal one this can be also a good moment to make a custom groundglass

ed-sawyer: what is a FFD (flange to focal distance) on Nikkor-T 270. isit short like on Tele-Arton or tits 270mm?

corran: you have PM :)

[cikaziva]

Today i cleaned and serviced camera and its like new. its really well made. just for fun i made PVC temporary mount and i put 210mm in a view side. am really happy how it works. there is a lot of close focus. now am afraid that Aele-Arton's short FFD will be to much and that front stnadard will be to much inside :)
am leaning more and more towards KIS system! make this 210mm and enjoy. cheap cheerful and i can switch taking cells. if lets say i put vintage viewing 210mm and modern taking and they are in shutter size 1 i can flip them around if i want more modern or classic look... fun! all jokes aside i have two 210mm now to make this happened and it can be hustle free.
also i bumped in to this guy on flea bay and it looks like a nice and period correct viewing lens; i know i sound like a geek but it would look nice on my Gowlandflex
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schneider-Symmar-210mm-f5-6-370mm-f12-Convertible-Barrel-Lens-5x7-/291199060132?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item43ccd108a4

[Tracy Storer]

If your modern and classic 210s are actually close enough in FL, this would be a really cool option !

[dsphotog]

Today i cleaned and serviced camera and its like new. its really well made. just for fun i made PVC temporary mount and i put 210mm in a view side. am really happy how it works. there is a lot of close focus. now am afraid that Aele-Arton's short FFD will be to much and that front stnadard will be to much inside :)
am leaning more and more towards KIS system! make this 210mm and enjoy. cheap cheerful and i can switch taking cells. if lets say i put vintage viewing 210mm and modern taking and they are in shutter size 1 i can flip them around if i want more modern or classic look... fun! all jokes aside i have two 210mm now to make this happened and it can be hustle free.
also i bumped in to this guy on flea bay and it looks like a nice and period correct viewing lens; i know i sound like a geek but it would look nice on my Gowlandflex
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schneider-Symmar-210mm-f5-6-370mm-f12-Convertible-Barrel-Lens-5x7-/291199060132?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item43ccd108a4

This lens would be great for you...
I have a Symmar 210 in a Compur shutter, one of my favorite lenses.... Sorry, mine isn't for sale,

[coisasdavida]

If all 210mm lenses had a FL of 210.0mm it would be easy. For example, it would be easy to buy Technika's cams off the shelf.

[cikaziva]

Cosisadavida: Tehnika cam's have different issue aside FFD. there are two more issues in syncing RF; film stage and RF. but that is all different issue. tith TLR things are way simpler. let me elaborate. ground glass on a viewing part of Gow is 119mm x 119mm (4.6") and spacing on the lines are 90mm (3.5)
mirror is set in adjustable stage and it can travel 5mm. so in a theory i can mount 8" Commercial Ektar as a viewing lens and 210 Fuji as a taking lens and trim infinty point with mirror position. this shift will follow in entire focus range. feald of view on this lens will be different but thats a different issue. Peter designed this mirror in a way that it can have fine adjustments and if you look how Peter used to sale the cameras you will se that taking and viewing lens ware not the same; in order to lower the cost he had Xsenar in a barrel on top and Symmar or Simmar-S on a bottom. now what we cant do is swich them without adjusting mirror and that is pain in the neck.

this is all big experiment. first i need to make and adapters to shutter number 1 and then lets see. going down 210mm road will be a way easier then anything that is for sure

[coisasdavida]

this shift will follow in entire focus range

This is very interesting! Thanks for the reply!

[dsphotog]

Are there any markings on the cam, indicating what lens its designed for?

[cikaziva]

Dsphotog- no there are no markings at all