My Super Speed Graphic came with a fresnel from factory, and it is placed between the lens and the ground glass. The Fresnel circles are in contact with the ground side of the ground glass. How do I know, I have the factory manual that shows the position. I got the manual in the internet after trying to be smart and removing the fresnel from there and putting it outside the camera on the smooth side of the ground glass. I got out of focus images. I had to go and put it back the way it was and indeed, it was like that from factory. In fact the Super and the Super Speed Graphic came like that, see a screen shot from manual.
Fresnel by Palenquero Photography, on Flickr
The whole page on this subject:
part1 by Palenquero Photography, on Flickr
part2 by Palenquero Photography, on Flickr
Yes, Pepe, that's what Graflex Inc. and successors intended.
But Pacemaker Graphics were introduced before Graflex installed fresnels ("Ektalite field lens") in their cameras. When Graflex introduced the Graflok back in 1949 focusing panel fresnels were optional. I b'lieve they were standard issue for 3x4 and 4x5 Graphics by 1954.
That's one of the reasons that people with Graphics get into trouble with aftermarket or retrofit fresnels. As I mentioned, there are two different panels, one with high bosses (no Graflex-issue fresnel), the other with low (Graflex-issue fresnel). Both have the same casting number.
Newly made large format dry plates available! Look:
https://www.pictoriographica.com
A thought - does it suffer from the same issue as my MPP? The ground glass is at 5.08mm, but the Fidelity film holders put the emulsion at the current standard 4.80mm. The ground glass is positioned for the plate holders I bought with the camera.
Neil
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