[pure-silver] Re: Balcar Flash

  • From: `Richard Knoppow <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2017 12:07:14 -0700

   The Copal would expand the use of the lens considerably.
Packard shutters are very simple. They are worked with a toggle that is activated by either an air cylinder or an electro-magnet. There are two types, one is "Bulb" only, the other also has an "instantaneous" setting with a pin coming out the front to choose. The bulb type stays open until closed by sucking the air out of the cylinder. The syringe used must have a fitting on the top for your thumb and not an automatic valve. The "instantaneous" setting is by means of the toggle, the blades are pushed open and then pushed shut again by a steady pressure on the air bulb. The speed depends on how hard you squeeze and the size of the shutter but is on the order of 1/20th second for the smallest shutters to about 1/15th for the larger ones. The Packard shutters I have with a flash contact have a simple leaf contact that is touched by the end of the blade toggle at wide open. It can be used with strobe or with flashbulbs as "open flash". I don't know how they would arrange a variation for bulbs or strobe. I have a couple of shutters with micro-switches mounted on them, evidently they were originally non-flash shutters later modified.
The usual arrangement is to mount some sort of plug on the lens board to connect between the shutter contacts and the outside world. I would not just run wires though the lens board because of the light leak. On my Packard shutters I use a short pig-tail with a small two prong AC connector on it.
The virtue of the Packard is that it can be used with any lens, the disadvantage is that there is little control of shutter speed. For strobe you must have relative darkness because the shutter stays open so long. For instance, you can't really use flash fill in daylight.
I also have a large Ilex shutter modified to take small lensboards on its front. Its used as a behind the lens shutter, like the Packard, but has some speed range and flash synch.
I also have a Apo Artar, I think, without looking at it, that its also a 390mm, f/9. Mine is a "Red Dot" which is coated. I also have a 12" Apo Artar, a much older one, in a Compur shutter. It is an astonishingly sharp lens.

On 4/8/2017 9:44 AM, Tim Daneliuk wrote:


I have that same lens. I had Grimes reshutter it in a modern Copal. Never regretted doing so.

On April 8, 2017 11:21:27 AM Richard Lahrson <gtripspud@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hi!
Another problem is the 360mm/9 Apo Artar lens w/packard shutter on
a board.  The shutter is mounted inside the camera  and the sycronization
contacts need to be drilled to the outside of the board where
the supplied wire ends in two raw leads.  These leads have
to be then wired to a 1/4" plug of the Balcar powerpack.  Plus there
are three contacts off the Packard shutter, so one is for bulbs
and the other electronic flash.
Since the 360mm lens simply unscrews from the Packard shutter
I think I'll send the board to SK Grimes and let them do it right.
I need this lens with the flash.
Rich


On Fri, Apr 7, 2017 at 7:31 AM, Redacted sender msampson45 for DMARC <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:

    Just about any of the flash meters made by the 'big 3'
    manufacturers will work. I would avoid the Sekonic L-328 (if any
    are left) because they suffer a circuit board failure that can
    not be repaired. I now use a Minolta IV...
    There are lots of flash meters out there cheap now because in
    current professional practice, you just check the screen on the
    back of your dSLR.
    Mark Sampson



    -----Original Message-----
    From: Kurt Griffin <kjg@xxxxxxxxx>
    To: pure-silver <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    <mailto:pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
    Sent: Fri, Apr 7, 2017 9:19 am
    Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Balcar Flash

    About a decade ago, I was looking for a spot meter and got a
    great deal on a Sekonic unit that also measures flash.  It’s
    worked well for me in all the modes I’ve had occasion to try.

    —Kurt


        On 6 Apr 2017, at 22:34 , Eric Nelson (Redacted sender
        "emanmb" for DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
        <mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:

        I use the minolta III although presently having trouble
finding the batteries ( you need three CR 1/3n) here in BKK. I don't believe the CR 1/3n are the original intended
        batteries but that's what you use now.
        I just so happened to have looked at ebay for Minolta III's
        yesterday and they are under $100. Minolta IV might give you
        a longer life as they're newer.


        On Thursday, April 6, 2017 10:08 AM, Richard Lahrson
        <gtripspud@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:gtripspud@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:


        I just got a Balcar A2400 w/5 heads for a bit
        more than a box 10 exposures of new Polaroid
        film which I intend to use.  With color the
        flash should be the right color balance.
        Can anyone recommend a separate flash
        meter? Thanks!  Rich





--
Richard Knoppow
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
WB6KBL

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