brad_blair Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Trying to learn about LF before taking the plunge and I see many references to Copal shutters. Number 1, number 0 etc. What does that indicate? Is one preferable to the other. Is the shutter part of the lens? thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbq Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Copal is the brand. 0, 1 and 3 are the sizes. size 0 is smallest, and has the highest max speed (1/500). 0 is common for wide to normal lens, 1 for slightly long lenses, 3 for longer lenses, at least on 4x5 (that's only typical, though, and there are exceptions). The shutter attaches to a lens board, which attaches to the camera. The lens is screwed on the shutter, both in the front and back. The shutter provides shutter and aperture. Lens come with shutters already, and I really don't want to imagine what would happen if I had to swap lenses on my shutters "in the field". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich long Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 More than you'll ever need to know: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/shutters.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad_blair Posted March 25, 2004 Author Share Posted March 25, 2004 So, if I purchase a lens with a Copal shutter, mounted in a lens board, I am set, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbq Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Brad: yes, as long as the lens board fits your camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone nomad Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Brad, Often the lens comes without a lens board. It never fails that the lens you want comes mounted on a lens board that doesn't fit your camera. To add to the above post, faster lenses also will use a larger shutter. When you're looking for a lens you end up choosing between smaller but slow; or, large (heavy) but faster. I have an f5.6 lens which is great; however, when I have to hike any distance I take my smaller f9 nikon lens. Good luck with your plunge into large format. I don't even own a roll film camera at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian_ellis16 Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 You can get a general idea of the size of a lens and shutter by the shutter number. A Copal 0 shutter and lens will usually be a small, light combination, a 1 is a little larger and a little heavier, a 3 is a lot bigger and heavier. So if you see that a lens is mounted on a Copal 3 shutter you can be pretty sure you're looking at a big, heavy lens and shutter combination. I don't know what happened to Copal 2 shutters. You do occasionally see a lens mounted in a Copal 00 shutter though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ole_tjugen Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 The Copal 2 shutter went the way of the Compound 4 and 5. Dropped out of production due to lack of demand. I give a daily prayer to F.Deckel that my Compound #5 will outlive me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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