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ron grover · Joined: 05 Dec 2001 Posts: 3 Location: Australia

I have recently sold a Graphic body with a roll film back (no lens) thinking I'd never get another complete. Have since bought one with a lens that does not seem to focus on the glass. Lens is a Graphex made by Wollensak for Graflex inc. "Graflex Optar f/4.7 135mm.".
Is this good and is there some reason I cannot get a clear image on the glass?
Any help would be appreciated.

45PSS · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2001 9:49 am Post subject:

The first thing I would do is clean the lens, remove each element group from the shutter but not remove the cells unless they are foged. Holding toward a celing or table lamp bulb should do the trick. Once the lens is clean and reassembled check the ground glass and remove and wash with mild soap if necessary. Yes I've seen some that after setting for many years had that kind of a white hase that semed stuck there. The next step would be to check the bellows for light leaks. I extend the bellows to maximun, set a mini mag to spot at 1 to 2 inches, turn off the lights, and insert the flashlight inside the bellows and run the 4 edges the full length. Hope this helps.

daleraby · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2001 12:06 pm Post subject:

You may have to move the infinity stops as well, especially if the lens is not the one that was on the camera originally. If you cannot get it in focus at any distance, the stops are too close to the film plane.

ron grover · Joined: 05 Dec 2001 Posts: 3 Location: Australia

Thanks for your advice. Will clean it up. Please advise if roll film backs are cheaply available. They are scarce in Aussie.

45PSS · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2001 5:40 am Post subject:

My first reply is if the lens or gg are obiously dirty or hazy. Dalerayb's if focus can't be achieved. I am a high level technican and handleing deleciate small parts is no problem for me. Please exercise caution.

Check the other resources section of this site. It has many good listing and link pages. If after searching them try EBAY, USA. There are 18 pages of large format stuff as of today, with 4 or 5 rollfilm backs for graffic cameras.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2144 Location: New Jersey

ron grover · Joined: 05 Dec 2001 Posts: 3 Location: Australia

I'm a d/h. I have used a Graphic previously for c/up work but some 20 years ago. Just realised the two rail stops were not up to stop lens travel. Now focuses. But still confused why lens at this stage is nearly still in the body. When using one years ago, I remember the lens and bellows way out front. Different lens?
Anyway, thanks all for your advice. Everything is clean.

45PSS · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2001 2:14 am Post subject:

For some strange reason that one could write a book about, lens focus their focal length from the film plane. If you have a 3" lens it will focus at 75mm; a 4" at 100mm; a 10cm at 100mm ( 10cm=100mm). 1"=25mm. A older 90mm might be marked 3.5in. (").
C