Bill Poole
23-Jul-2011, 19:39
Browsers in the for sale section of this forum may remember a lovely little Plaubel Peco Jr. that was a for sale there last month. Well I bought that camera, and so far, I am enchanted with it. Lovely German craftsmanship and in spectacular condition.
The only drawback I've encountered so far is that the camera's 120mm square metal lens boards are pretty much impossible to find. The camera came with 2 boards, but I have had no luck finding more.
So I was pleased to find advertised (not on this forum) a Peco Jr. to Speed Graphic adapter board. It was pricey, but I thought it would be cheaper than having one made.
But when the thing arrived, it didn't seem right. It's very well made, fits the camera perfectly, and has a receiver for a 89 mm square board with rounded corners. The craftsperson used Speed Graphic sliders on top and bottom, leading the the natural conclusion that SG boards would fit.
SG boards seem to be about 92 mm by 93 mm. They have a lip. And the corners are a little sharper. I know this because I have a real SG board that came with the camera, the seller thinking I might want to build one of these things myself someday. Here are photos of the adapter board first and then the real SG receiver.
Advertised Plaubel Peco Jr to Speed Graphic lens board adapter.
http://www.poolephotography.com/photos/i-qm6VSmt/0/O/i-qm6VSmt.jpg
Genuine Speed Graphic lens board receiver
http://www.poolephotography.com/photos/i-J9kFkC5/0/O/i-J9kFkC5.jpg
So I am tempted to send this thing back. BUT it is so well made and does fit the camera so well. What I can't figure out is why someone would build this thing if these 89 mm boards were not relatively common, but I can't find any mention online of a camera taking boards this size. If these are going to be easier to find or have made than the Pejo Jr. boards, I might keep it.
Do any of the more experienced members have any idea what boards this adapter might have been built for? It looks like they would have been flat boards, again 89 mm square, probably with a light baffle about 3/8 of an inch in from the edge.
Thanks for any help you might be able to give.
Bill
The only drawback I've encountered so far is that the camera's 120mm square metal lens boards are pretty much impossible to find. The camera came with 2 boards, but I have had no luck finding more.
So I was pleased to find advertised (not on this forum) a Peco Jr. to Speed Graphic adapter board. It was pricey, but I thought it would be cheaper than having one made.
But when the thing arrived, it didn't seem right. It's very well made, fits the camera perfectly, and has a receiver for a 89 mm square board with rounded corners. The craftsperson used Speed Graphic sliders on top and bottom, leading the the natural conclusion that SG boards would fit.
SG boards seem to be about 92 mm by 93 mm. They have a lip. And the corners are a little sharper. I know this because I have a real SG board that came with the camera, the seller thinking I might want to build one of these things myself someday. Here are photos of the adapter board first and then the real SG receiver.
Advertised Plaubel Peco Jr to Speed Graphic lens board adapter.
http://www.poolephotography.com/photos/i-qm6VSmt/0/O/i-qm6VSmt.jpg
Genuine Speed Graphic lens board receiver
http://www.poolephotography.com/photos/i-J9kFkC5/0/O/i-J9kFkC5.jpg
So I am tempted to send this thing back. BUT it is so well made and does fit the camera so well. What I can't figure out is why someone would build this thing if these 89 mm boards were not relatively common, but I can't find any mention online of a camera taking boards this size. If these are going to be easier to find or have made than the Pejo Jr. boards, I might keep it.
Do any of the more experienced members have any idea what boards this adapter might have been built for? It looks like they would have been flat boards, again 89 mm square, probably with a light baffle about 3/8 of an inch in from the edge.
Thanks for any help you might be able to give.
Bill