calibrating lens on fotoman 624 help

[zoom2zoom]

i just acquired a fotoman 624 with schneider 210mm f5.6 lens, but i noticed that the focus ring will not focus beyond 70ft and there is still about quarter turn to 300ft and infinity.

without ground glass, i can not confirm if 70ft is infinity, and i can not calibrate the lens focus. is there another way to do this?

from the manual, once i determine the infinity distance, i can then adjust the distance scale ring to align the infinity symbol with the red distance indicator line.

i suppose i can take rolls of test film to determine distance, but i am just wondering if there is another way to do this.

thanks in advanced.

[IanG]

Get a piece of glass cut to fit the back, it doesn't need to be the full length, it's very easy to grind your own screen, while 400-600 Silicon Carbide grit is the best you can get some fine valve grinding paste at an auto-store. It'll cost you very little and better than the $195 for the Fotoman screen. Just tape it in place. A Google search will tell you how to grind the screen it'll take less than 10 minutes

Alternately use a TLR focus screen.

Ian

[JRFrench]

http://www.dokasphotos.com/techniques/ground_glass/

I have done this, it works very well. The grain is slightly finer than the only commercial screen I have seen, from a Shen Hao.

[GPS]

Forget completely about grinding your own gg - too much work for a one time application. Instead, cut a piece of Plexiglas, stick on it a frosty Scotch type and enjoy your focusing gg!