Compur and Copal Shutters

[john_flavell]

Greetings all.

 

For mounting purposes, is a Compur #0 and a Copal #0 the same size?

Also, does one have an advantage over the other?

 

Thanks

[jim_galli4]

Both are the same size for mounting. I can't think of any advantages one has over the other. My personal

opinions now so fwiw, I think the japanese machine may have a slight edge on the german one.

[bob_salomon]

The later Compur shutters had click stopped apertures and the ability to add

an aperture setting device on the 1 and 3 sizes that could be used from

behind the camera (this feature had been available for a few decades

actually). The 0 had 1/2 stop click stops while the 1 and 3 had 1/3rd stop

clicks.

[kinesisphotogear]

My local repairman said the Copal shutters were easier to work on. The Compur shutters are (as one might excpect from German products) rather over-engineered.

[colin carron]

It is probably not a fair comparison but there are a lot of older Compurs around which I find much more fiddly to use than a Copal.

[bob_salomon]

"there are a lot of older Compurs around which I find much more fiddly to use

than a Copal."

 

Perhaps that means that older shutter needs a CLA.

 

Modern Compur and Copal shutters are equally accurate and reliable.

 

Older shutters need service periodically. So do new ones.

[alec1]

My experience over a number of years is that the Compurs need servicing more than Copals. They just seem to gum up more and need more frequent CLAs. I'd definately go with a Copal if I had a choice.

[bob_salomon]

"My experience over a number of years is that the Compurs need servicing

more than Copals. They just seem to gum up more and need more frequent

CLAs. I'd definately go with a Copal if I had a choice."

 

First your experience is with older Compurs.

 

Second you don't have a choice. Zeiss has stopped all shutter production for

large format cameras at Prontor Werke. That means they no longer make the

Compur, Prontor Press, Prontor Professional, Prontor Protronic, prontor

Magnetic for view cameras.

 

There are still new shutters left and there are still a few lenses left in Compur

or Prontor Professional but not from the Prontor Factory.

 

That is one of the reasons Linhof (Valentin Linhof was the original inventor of

the Compur shutter) no longer uses them on their Technorama cameras.

[colin carron]

When I said that I find the older Compurs 'fiddly' it relates to my ability to read the aperture and speed settings. I can set the Copal without my glasses but for the Compur I need them. Nothing to do with mechanical condition.

[bob_salomon]

"ability to read the aperture and speed settings"

 

Look on the back side of your Compur shutter. If you see a small brass gear in

the back on the 1 and 3 size then you can add the Aperture Setting Lever

which allows you to set the aperture, easily, from the front or the back. The

numbers are very large and, being click stopped, you don't even have to look

at them to set a specific aperture.

[john_flavell]

Thanks to all for the informative responses. I appreciate the time taken.