What are Copal lenses?

Can someone please explain to this newbe LFer what a copal shutter

is and what is the difference between #0,#1,#3?

Copal is the name of the company that made the shutter. They come in

different sizes ,which will fit different lenses.The size has to do with the

opening of the hole where the light passes.

And Copal shutters are by far the most common for large format lenses, which is why they are mentioned all the time.

http://www.skgrimes.com/newcopal/index.htm

 

#00, #0, #1, and #3 are standard sizes first offered by Compur and Prontor, also shutter brands. There are also Seiko and Seikosha shutters in some, if not all, of these sizes.

LF lenses with shutter use a between the lens shutter located in the middle of the lens near the aperture. Today the most common brand is Copal which comes in the three sizes that you list. In the past there were many brands. A few decades ago Compur was the most common brand.

 

Lenses with larger apertures (e.g., longer focal length or faster) need larger shutters -- hence the several sizes. This link gives the iris diameter and also the lensboard hole sizes: http://www.skgrimes.com/products/index.htm. Usually you can buy lensboards with holes pre-drilled for the standard size shutters. So the main thing you need to know is which shutter your lens has. This is easy as the size is written on the shutter.

 

If you buy an shutter that is unusual for today, you make or may have made a custom hole in your lensboard.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/shutters.html

To all of you who responded, thank you. You've been most helpful... Steve

I don't think they're still making the #00, are they?

 

And while we're talking about different sizes of shutters, let's not forget those old Ilex/Betax/Alphax No. 4 and 5 monsters. I've never experienced a #5 shutter, but I've got a nice lens in a #4.

 

As an aside, were those various names really different companies making competing shutters, or marketing divisions? Inquiring minds and all that...