Graflex.org

[mickey999]

Hello.....I have a new crown graphic camera and I cannot figure out how to figure out my exposures with the bellows extended and without the bellows. My exposures seem to always be way off. How do you figure the exposures with this old camera?.........many thanks

[Dan Fromm]

Mickey, tell us more. Unless you're shooting closeup extension has little effect. The magic formulas are:

effective aperture = aperture set * (1 + m)
where m = magnification

magnification = (extension/focal length) - 1
where extension is roughly the film plane-to-diaphragm distance

Your meter will give you shutter speed/effective aperture combinations. After you've picked one, set aperture to get the effective aperture required.

The usual causes of bad/inconsistent exposures are:

bad light meter
bad shutter
bad processing

If you're not shooting closeup, that's where to look first. And remember that there's no guarantee that a light meter that responds to light is right.

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

[mickey999]

thank you so much! I'm thinking maybe my shutter is not working properly..........thanks again

[Dan Fromm]

Apologies for missing a clue. New Crown Graphic, i.e., new to you.

One of Murphy's laws is that a newly arrived used leaf shutter always needs to be overhauled. The same, I've learned, is also true of used light meters.

Cheers,

Dan

[mickey999]

thanks so much. this is soooo helpful.........happy new year.........mickey