Re: MicroPress 4x5 question

"Max>>>
>>   The cameras shown on the MPP site above appear to be 
>> clones of the late Pacemaker Speed Graphic and Crown 
>> Graphic. More about these cameras can be found at 
>> http://www.graflex.org
>>   There was also a curious camera built briefly by Busch 
>> in the USA. This was evidently intended to meet the 
>> military specification for the Speed Graphic and had a 
>> focal plane shutter. Unlike the simple FP shutter used on 
>> all Graphic and Graflex cameras the Busch shutter was 
>> self-capping and had much better speed regulation. I 
>> think it also had a revolving back but am not sure. The 
>> standard Busch models certainly did.
>>   I have only ever seen one advertisement for this camera 
>> and have never seen an actual example. Busch cameras were 
>> of very high quality and were an alternative to the 
>> Graflex models for press photography.
>>
>
> This graflex page was quite usefull. Now I found out what 
> "drop bed"
> means :-) and also why the camera can tilt the lens board 
> back.
> If MicroPress is a clone then maybe it uses the same lens 
> boards as the
> Pacemaker and it may be eassier to find one to mount a 
> lens with or
> without built in shutter.
>
    I don't know the MPP camera well enough to know about 
the lens boards. There are two series of boards for the late 
Graphics, one for the earlier Pacemaker and another for the 
later Super Graphic. The supers will work in the earlier 
camera but not the other way around. Both of these are 
stamped metal, probably aluminum, with folded in sides. I 
think the dimensions are on the Graflex site. I see these 
occasionally at local sales, usually for around $20 US. You 
can also sometimes get them from Midwest photo supply at: 
http://www.mpex.com/
    One of the advantages of the focal plane shutter is the 
ability to use barrel mounted lenses.
    It would be interesting to know more about the FP 
shutter on the MPP camera, i.e., is it just a copy of the 
Graflex shutter or something more elaborate.
    If its like the Graflex shutter you must remember to put 
the dark slide back in the holder or adaptor before winding 
the shutter or it will expose the film.


-- 
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Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@[EMAIL PROTECTED]