Hi, I recently bought a circa '61 f/8 90mm Super Angulon mounted in a #00 Synchro Compur shutter. Everything seems to work fine (other than the fact that I can't find a Speed Graphic lens board with a #00 hole), but I can't seem to find an easy way to keep the shutter open for viewing and focusing. The only way to keep it open is to set the shutter to B, wind it, then hold down the shutter release. Am I missing something here? Will I need to use a locking cable release to keep this thing open or is there a more elegant solution?

By the way, if you have a Speed Graphic lensboard with a #00 hole (or no hole at all) that you'd like to sell, please let me know via email (john@720.com).

Thanks a bunch,

John

-- John Elstad (john@720.com), February 15, 2002

Answers

Got the same problem - and the same solution. Some of those shutters didn't have the "hold open" lever, I always assumed that they were made for press cameras and it would have been more of a liability than a feature on them.

-- Wayne DeWitt (wdewitt@snip.net), February 15, 2002.

Thatīs the only solution... those shutters doesnīt have a keep open lever or any substitute for that matter.

-- Enrique Vila (evilap@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

I have a similar set up and use the locking cable release you mention. Cables with this feature are not too expensive. You can order Graphic lensboards cut to your specification from Midwest Photo for about $30. It's a little bit of an inconvenience, the Super Angulon is a nice lens and with this shutter is usually to be had at a good price.

-- Roger Rouch (rrouch@msn.com), February 15, 2002.

Thanks for the extremely fast and helpful responses. This forum kicks-*ss! In fifteen minutes I've received all the information I needed as well as some good links for those seeking lensboards (included below for future searchers):

New lensboards - http://www.stephenshuart.com/#lensboard Used lensboards - http://www.equinoxphotographic.com/mike.htm

Looks like I'll be getting a new one for Stephen Shuart for $22 plus a hole-drilling charge. Thanks again!

-- John Elstad (john@720.com), February 15, 2002.

John.. in witness of all the above posts I have here a Bush Pressman with range finder..and same problem as yours..My guess is that a pressman won't need to focus in the ground glass (no time) and use the range finder instead..thus no need to keep the shutter wide open...just a wild guess.... :)

-- dan n. (dan@egmail.com), February 15, 2002.

I bought the same set-up from eBay from a Linhof Technika. Luckily the seller took it back, as Linhof furnished a little gizmo attached to the lensboard to hold it open, which had been "removed".

-- (bmitch@home.com), February 15, 2002.

I'm no expert but I have three lenses on the same shutter and all three have a funky system for holding shutter open. There is a small knurled button at the speed pointer position that will hold the shutter open. Cock shutter, hold down button while tripping shutter and shutter will stay open. To release you must pull shutter cocking lever and release. Hope this works on yours, mine are Compur and Compur P.

-- Bob Finley (rfinbob@aol.com), February 15, 2002.

Bob - Funky is right, I don't know if anyone actually uses that knob. I've always found it much easier to keep the shutter on B and use a locking release to focus with - since I always set the shutter speed last no time is lost. BTW that same knob on other variations of the shutter acts as a self-timer! Sometimes it's hard to tell what's what on those old shutters.

-- Wayne DeWitt (wdewitt@snip.net), February 18, 2002.