Excellent, thanks for elaborating--I doubt it would be a problem with the Sinar, but in any case I don't want to sift through a lot of cable releases to find one that works.Originally Posted by Bernice Loui
Excellent, thanks for elaborating--I doubt it would be a problem with the Sinar, but in any case I don't want to sift through a lot of cable releases to find one that works.
HA !!!
Cable releases are a Whole -nother discussion, hesitant to disclose the number of cable releases used, tossed and coveted over the decades of burning film. What is true, there are GOOD cable releases and ones that should have never been made.
Used only the good ones.
Bernice
Excellent, thanks for elaborating--I doubt it would be a problem with the Sinar, but in any case I don't want to sift through a lot of cable releases to find one that works.
An hour ago I 'won' a rare cable release for $77 delivered.
Been waiting for it at least 7 years.
Tin Can
To expand a little on Bernice's comments, Copal Press shutters' have the same tube length as cock-and-shoot Copals (and Compurs and Prontors) of the same size but have the diaphragm closer to the rear end of the tube. Lenses whose rear cells go deep into the shutter can't all be used in Copal Press shutters.
Copal Press shutters as sold for the Polaroid MP-4 (no diaphragm) and Polaroid Gel Cams have slightly longer tube lengths than the Compur/Copal/Prontor spec calls for and some have diaphragms that don't open as wide as the spec says they should. Be careful when repurposing them.
I've used lenses in Copal shutters, chrome and black rings, since the early 1980s. Despite extensive use, none of them have ever required service; most were bought used. I'll call it a non-issue. It's true, you can't know how much work a used shutter has had, but see Mr. Fromm's post early in this thread.
Just to add a distributor’s experience. We were the US importer and distributor for Rodenstock from 1986 till 2015. During that period we sold thousands of lenses in Copal shutters to dealers, industry, military, government, etc.. I can not remember a shutter problem during that period and we extended a 3 year warranty on every one of those shutters. It is a non issue. Black Copal shutters are very reliable.
We were also the Linhof distributor from the mid 70s till 2015 and sold Linhof tested lenses in Compur and Copal shutters, until Compurs were discontinued as well as both Copal and Compur shutter’s supplied on lenses for the Technoramas, Technar and other Linhof speciality cameras. Shutters were never a problem.
We also sold lots of Prontor Professional shuttered lenses from when the shutter was introduced till they went out of production. Again no problems whatsoever. Same with the Rollei Linear Motor shutter for view camera lenses and the Rodenstock eShutters. No problems.
Please note, the Rollei shutter for view camera lenses, we had many problems with the ones in their medium format cameras.
Press shutters generally have 5 aperture blades. Nikkor lenses in black-rim Copals sometimes have 5 blades too, and then newer ones have 7 (they are marked with an "S" in a circle on the side of the shutter).
While often the # of blades are quoted and discussed (also whether rounded or straight) in regards to out-of-focus regions, it also can affect points of light and how many lines radiate out from them (starbursts). This only happens with straight blades and the # of lines equals either the # of aperture blades if even and double the number of blades if odd.
Anyway - my experience, with a great number of used lenses over the years, is that older silver-rim shutters often need CLA's and newer black-rims don't. I have never had a black-rim Copal that was anything but perfect. Anecdotal, but I would say I've had at least 40-50 lenses in and out of my hands in Copal shutter. YMMV.
Well, I think I know where to start with my Chi-square inquiries now...
About used Copal shutters needing service.
I've harvested #0 Copal Press and one #0 cock-and-shoot Copal from mug shot cameras. All were gummed and needed overhaul.
I've bought several despised lenses in cock-and-shoot Copal #1s for less than the going price of used #1s for their shutters. All had speeds that were variable enough to need service.
Same goes for MP-4 Polaroid Copal Press shutters. These are almost ideal -- top speed of 1/125 is slightly limiting -- for front-mounting and are usually quite inexpensive 'cos they have no diaphragms. Some were fine, for a while. Others were too inconsistent or gummed up when received.
In my limited experience, factoring the price of a CLA into the price of a used shutter is absolutely necessary.
Good advice--I found the same to be true for Pentax 67's...great cameras, but entropy will have its due.
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