Graflex.org

Rangemaster · Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2003 12:59 am Post subject:

Boy was just browsing the ad's over at ebay to see what might be there that I could not live without and ran upon something I have never seen before for the Graflex cameras, it is called a Foto-Focus

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15247&item=2914375295

Anybody ever use one of these before, it really seems like it would be a neat way to do 1 to 1 lifesize stuff with little hassle.

Thanks for your answers.

Dave Parker

AWT · Joined: 05 Sep 2002 Posts: 57 Location: Upstate SC

Since *it's* in Kalispell and *you're* in Kalispell, maybe you can arrange a hands-on demo and report back?

Henry · Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2003 5:13 pm Post subject:

Good point, AWT! Gee, I bet they live on the same block, too---maybe in the very same house!

Rangemaster · Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2003 8:36 pm Post subject:

Even though I may live in the same town or the same state, still does not mean that I have ever had any experiance with this item, I stopped at the store today that has it listed and they do not have in their possesion, it is on consignment from a customer who lives over 100 miles away that is clearing up an estate, geeze talk about jumping to conclusions, I trust the opinion here and just wanted some feedback on this item..

Boy you guys have never looked at an item that is in the same area as you are?

Maybe I will ask eleswhere about this one.

Dave Parker
Kalispell, MT

AWT · Joined: 05 Sep 2002 Posts: 57 Location: Upstate SC

Easy Dave;

It was just a humorous (or so I naively thought) comment about what I found to be an *amazing* coincidence of location. No harm or foul intended!

It's just that since Ebay -and this forum- are read world-wide what are the chances that the subject of interest and the person talking about it live in the same *state* let alone the same community.

And, hey, to me a "100 miles away" is still pin-point on-the-money on a planetary basis.

But, coincidences *do* happen: about two years ago I saw a rare guitar I'd been looking for on Ebay. It was being sold by a store - get this!- a mile and a half from where I work.

Ah, enough of my ramblings. I hope someone comes up with some info for you Rangemaster. Now *my* curiosity is tweaked.

Friends again?

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

I haven't actually used one, but the theory is simple. The device is designed so the end is two focal lenghts away from the rear nodal point. By putting the same point two focal lengths away from the ground glass, you can acheve a 1:1 image. I suspect when they were used, the photographer got everything just right and then put a mark or even another set of stops for the standard at the right point

In the field, he could pull the lens to the stop and lock it down. then the focuser would be put on to limit the distance to the object. the only thing that could go wrong is for Deputy Fife to put the flash on the wrong side of the focuser and create a halatious shadow.

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"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison