I just bought a view camera with a Rodenstock Sironar N 180mm lens - without a manual. What's the sync speed on this lens? (OK -I'm totally new to large format). Thanks.

-- Anthony Williams (wil2hike@excite.com), October 28, 1999

Answers

All of them are :-) That's how leaf shutter lenses work.

-- sheldon hambrick (sheldon_hambrick@hotmail.com), October 28, 1999.

I believe that lens usually comes in a Copal # 1 shutter so your lens should sync at all speeds. If you are using big studio strobes you may not want (or need) to sync at the highest speeds 1/250 and above because your flash duration at full power may only be 1/250th of a second if not longer and if you sync at say 1/400 or 1/500th of a second you'll close the shutter before the flash has shut down and your exposures may be darker than you expect. I rarely sync at faster than 1/125 when using my view camera and usually I am at 1/30th or 1/60th. With smaller cameras it is a different story but then I am using Polaroid as well as my meter to gauge exposure.

-- Ellis Vener (evphoto@insync.net), October 28, 1999.

All speeds available. What speeds are available depends on the shutter.

Copal 1 speeds are different at the high end then Copal Press or Prontor Press, etc.

-- Bob Salomon (bobsalomon@mindspring.com), October 28, 1999.