focussing 90mm/f8 schneider

[Ron Barter]

This feels like a really stupid question to be asking, so please accept my apologies ....Since getting into LF, I've been happily using a schneider 210mm in a copal shutter, which I open up with a slide lever in order to focus, and then close again before cocking the shutter and making my exposure. I just got a schneider 90mm/f8 in a compur shutter, and can find no way of opening up the lens to focus, short of setting the lens to the B setting, depressing and locking the cable release, focusing, then releasing the cable release, cocking the shutter and then making my exposure. Am I missing something?

[Brian Ellis]

Many older lenses are focused this way (actually it's a little easier to use "T" rather than "B," if you have it, because "T" saves you the trouble of locking and unlocking your cable release). However, some Compur shutters do allow you to open the lens to focus, although the lever you use to do so doesn't look anything like the large piece of black plastic that's on your Copal shutter so it's possible you've missed it. On my Synchro Compur shutter there's a small serated metal lever that you can move back and forth with your finger tip and that will open and close the shutter. It's located on the lower left side of the shutter (as you're facing it). You might look to see if you have something like that. If not, then you're probably stuck with either "T" or "B."

[John H. Henderson]

The Compur on my Schneider 90mm/8 Supur Anggie. is like Brian describes - a small metal lever. I have a Compur on a 135mm Xenar that came on a Crown Graphic - it is like yours - no preview lever. No T, either, which would make things easier. Only B. I forget exactly how the shutter is labelled, but I think it is a model intended for press cameras where the user was less likely to compose on the ground glass.

[Ron Barter]

Thanks for the replies guys. My lens is an older model, with a silver finish in front of the shutter, so it may very well be off of an old press camera. Unfortunately, no T setting, just the B, so it looks like I better stock up on cable releases... Like Armin, I'll try to enjoy the suffering I do for my art <g>.

Thanks again for taking the trouble to reply, Sam