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Thread: How to keep the shutter open?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Oct 2003
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    2

    How to keep the shutter open?

    Hi everyone! Sorry for the rediculous question, but i am brand new to this. How do i keep the shutter open on my new graflex 4x5 to focus? i was just playing with it yesterday and was holding the shutter on bub to do this. i'm sure there's an easier way! ;-) thanks, Mel

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    5

    How to keep the shutter open?

    hi Mel, It's tough to answer, not knowing what type of Graflex camera you have and, more specifically, what type of shutter/lens you have on it. On standard Graphex or Rapax shutters there is a focus/preview lever above the flash sync posts on the right side (as you are looking at shutter from the front). Can you be more specific?

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
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    Calgary, AB Canada
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    617

    How to keep the shutter open?

    If you can attach a cable release to the shutter then just use the lock feature on the cable release. Lock the shutter open until you are finished focusing then release it when done.
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  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2001
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    31

    How to keep the shutter open?

    Mel, use Time or "T" on the shutter.

  5. #5
    tim atherton's Avatar
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    Jul 1998
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    3,697

    How to keep the shutter open?

    Mel, it depends on the particular shutter - modern copals and variations thereof have a handy little knob/lever to do this. Older shutter vary considerably. Some need you to use the T setting, as mentioned - cock the shutter, set it on T, fire the shutter, compose, reset the shutter speed, re-cock and fire again.

    What shutter is yours?

    Others may have a small lever to slide or push in - but in many case, it won't let you do that until AFTER you have cocked the shutter (shutters like Ilex/Kodak/Rapax/Graphlex/Optex/Wollensak etc) - and it's often a different shape and location on the different brands.

    So try cocking the shutter and looking for a little lever that works once you've done that!
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  6. #6
    Whatever David A. Goldfarb's Avatar
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    Mar 2000
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    Honolulu, Hawai'i
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    4,658

    How to keep the shutter open?

    In addition to the possibilities mentioned, on some older shutters you might have to set the shutter on T or B and depress the release WITHOUT cocking the shutter.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Jan 2002
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    Besançon, France
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    1,617

    How to keep the shutter open?

    Mel

    I've seen recently a xenar graflex lens with a simplified Compur shutter.

    I do not know whether you have this model or not, but it worked like that. There is a small white-aluminum catch-button that, when pushed "ON", will stop the main actuation lever half-way with the shutter blades wide open. When you have finished to focus, you relase this small lever "OFF" and the blades close. Then you have to re-tension the lever and fire as usual with the catch-button "OFF".

    On another Synchro Compur I own, there is a very similar button, placed almost at the same place. Its purpose is different. It allows some extra travel to the main spring-lever in order to tension an additional (strong) spring for the self timer. On this Compur, there is another small lever to open/close the blades in a push(with fingertip)/pull(with finger nail) action, but preferably with the main spring lever tensioned and ready to fire.

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