Flip aperture lever 180 degrees on a Copal shutter

[aly324]

Hello,

Is there an easy way to flip (more precisely rotate) the aperture lever of a Copal shutter by 180 degrees, such that it goes to the "bottom" of the shutter, on the opposite side of the cocking lever?

Thank you.

[ic-racer]

Without knowing the exact shutter, I think the only way to find out is to take it apart and see.

[aly324]

Thanks. It's just a generic Copal #0 shutter of the latest model.

However, based on photos I've seen of disassembled Copals, it seems the aperture mechanism sits behind a host of other parts and would be a pain to extract. It seems to make much more sense to add a shoe to the little pin indicating aperture on the "bottom" part of the shutter.

My goal is simply to flip the shutter upside down for ergonomic reasons--I like to cock with my left index finger and release with my left thumb cradling the lens.

[Tin Can]

I put the shutter wherever I like it and that varies by camera and room.

Some shutters have or had a locating pin/screw that many like me, remove and promptly lose. It's tiny!

[Bob Salomon]

Thanks. It's just a generic Copal #0 shutter of the latest model.

However, based on photos I've seen of disassembled Copals, it seems the aperture mechanism sits behind a host of other parts and would be a pain to extract. It seems to make much more sense to add a shoe to the little pin indicating aperture on the "bottom" part of the shutter.

My goal is simply to flip the shutter upside down for ergonomic reasons--I like to cock with my left index finger and release with my left thumb cradling the lens.

So, why don’t you just do that?

[Tin Can]

Perhaps this person wants to discuss...

So, why don’t you just do that?

[Bob Salomon]

Perhaps this person wants to discuss...

There are basically only 3 reasons why it can’t be done:

1 you already addressed with the screw.
2 it’s on a board with something like a Linhof cable release QR socket installed.
3 it’s in some recessed boards
Otherwise they just need a Rodenstock/Linos lens wrench and loosen the Jam nut and rotate the shutter and retighten.

[Tin Can]

You are correct, I forgot about the added complications.

I do remember reading them now...

There are basically only 3 reasons why it can’t be done:

1 you already addressed with the screw.
2 it’s on a board with something like a Linhof cable release QR socket installed.
3 it’s in some recessed boards
Otherwise they just need a Rodenstock/Linos lens wrench and loosen the Jam nut and rotate the shutter and retighten.

[aly324]

So, why don’t you just do that?

To be very clear, I like the ergonomics of the cocking lever and the shutter release "upside down," but I like the ergonomics of the aperture lever right-side up.

With the shutter "upside down," the aperture lever becomes hard to reach and move (one has to locate it by feel). That's why I was curious about the possibility of rotating the aperture lever internally (hence "the opposite side of the cocking lever" in my original message). This now seems clearly unnecessarily complicated.