lf-photo.org.uk

Hi...

I hope this is not a silly question to ask, but here goes.

The shutter speed values on LF lens are these the same ratings as you would see on a moden DSLR.
500 = 1/500 and 10 = 1/10 and 1 = 1sec etc...

I have timed some of my lower numbers on my Camera and if what I think is right as above then mine way out.

Example 10 = a few seconds on mine..

They are the reciprocal values as you've assumed.

It's not unsusual for the slower speeds to get sticky and slow with leaf shutters like Copal/Compur etc, that tends to mean they need a CLA (Clean, Lubricate, re-Assembly). Sometimes a quick flush clean with alcohol or lighter fuel is sufficient (needs to be pure IPA), often the lubricants have gone solid.

Ian

Thanks Ian...

Ian...

Thanks for the tip, all working fine after a good clean...

IanG wrote:(needs to be pure IPA)

Have you got any thoughts on brands Ian - which is more suitable for a shutter, something fairly mainstream, like Deuchars or maybe something a bit more local?

The flush clean has resurrected at least a dozen shutters for me over the years, in fact all my older Compur's are more accurate than my newer Copal's but then they are far btter made Even my 1913 Dial set Compur works well.

I keep the hoppy IPA for more useful purposes and they are great for cooking as well.

Ian

Some shutters of the pre-1960 era have a "non standard" series of speeds : 1/2 - 1/5 - 1/10 - 1/25 - 1/50 - 1/100 - 1/200 - 1/400
(at least, at the time THIS series was the standard )

You can download here
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/412475261_57e8f77071_b.jpg
a simple home-made chart that will give you at a glance the nearest values in terms of 1/3-rd of f-stop, if your exposure meter (a youngster) insists on saying : "1/2 - 1/4 - 1/8 - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250 ..."

Can anyone recommend anyone in the UK for a CLA - I have a 100 year old Regno shutter that doesnt close properly if it is in a bad mood, and I suspect it might need more than IPA to cure it...

You could try Ellis & Newton in Liverpool for the repair, I use Black on White in Bristol but not sure whether John there is into really vintage shutters.

I like my older shutters and their speeds are on my light meters In fact a selling point was they could be set to speeds in between the markings, a Leica advert for the new IIIa (1936) reminded me as you can do the same with mechanical FP shutter.

Ian

Ian

You're pretty well spot on with BonW - he's not really the right person for vintage shutters and from my conversations with him, I feel that he would definitely endorse that

and not wishing to seem overly smart, (which isn't the point at all) it's Newton Ellis and here's the link http://www.newtonellis.com/

best

andrew

Andrew Plume wrote:Ian

You're pretty well spot on with BonW - he's not really the right person for vintage shutters and from my conversations with him, I feel that he would definitely endorse that

and not wishing to seem overly smart, (which isn't the point at all) it's Newton Ellis and here's the link http://www.newtonellis.com/

best

andrew

Thanks, I contacted them and they were happy to work on it, will send it off...