I recently purchased the lens cells from a 180mm Commercial Congo lens. They are the same diameter/thread as a Copal #3. I would like to find a used copal to use this lens with. My question is,

1. Can I even do this? 2. If so, will I have to pay someone to determine new stops and/or scribe them onto the shutter? 3. Am I going down a long expensive road not worth the journey?

-- Matt Oulman (mojo@moscow.com), August 02, 2000

Answers

You might want to check out Steve Grimes' site. There is a wealth of info about all the various ways to mount lenses in shutters, the costs involved in having aperture scales engraved, etc. http:// www.skgrimes.com/

-- Robert A. Zeichner (razeichner@ameritech.net), August 02, 2000.

The shutters have become fairly standard as to distance between the elements, so the lens will probably work o.k. Some lenses use a thin washer between the element and shutter to set spacing correctly. I don't know if the Congo does or not, but probably not. Unless you luck up and find a shutter with an f-stop scale that matches, you may need to get someone like Steve Grimes to determine the stops and make a scale. You may be able to do it yourself if you have a sensitive meter. If you have to buy a shutter and then get everything calibrated and mounted, you might be better off getting a complete used 180mm Schneider or other lens. On the other hand, if you find a cheap shutter, why not have a little fun with it and do it yourself.

-- Doug Paramore (dougmary@alanet.com), August 02, 2000.

I did check with Grimes about purchasing a new shutter. He quoted me $480.00 for a Copal #3 plus any mounting and scribing, etc.

-- Matt (mojo@moscow.com), August 02, 2000.

$480 or thereabouts is the going price for a new Copal #3 shutter; Compur's are a bit more and a new Prontor Pro is almost twice as much. You can find them used and they will run around $250-300; you should check with Steve Grimes to see if he has a used one. Steve's used prices are generally as good as you will find anywhere. Steve can also handle inscribing the correct aperatures ont eh shutter very reasonably; his price for this is $35.

-- Ted Harris (slberfuchs@aol.com), August 02, 2000.

A Copal #3 for a 180mm lens? That seems rather large to me. I have a Schneider 180mm f5.6 that is mounted in a Copal #1. I'm wondering, what's the f-stop?

-- neil poulsen (neil.fg@att.net), August 03, 2000.

You may want to check for your lens on http://www.cosmonet.org/~congo/index_e.html. If it's a Copal #3, this is an older model for the current are in Copal #1, less expensive than the big one.

-- Paul Schilliger (pschilliger@smile.ch), August 03, 2000.

Yes, they are pretty large in dia. - these cells came from a 180mm f/4.5 and are about 15-20 years old (coated for color correction)- so I don't know what relationship they might have to current production lenses. I don't think they would be adaptable to a #1 or #2.

-- Matt (mojo@moscow.com), August 03, 2000.

I've seen these cells in a Copal #3S. Make sure before you buy a #3.

-- sheldon hambrick (shambric@hotmail.com), August 03, 2000.