[LargeFormat] Ross lens, Epsilon shutter

[philip.lambert]

Ross Ensign made Ensign Ranger, Selfix, Autorange, Commando and other
rollfilm cameras using Ross lenses (of which the Xpres was a good one,
Tessar type ) and the Epsilon shutter was apparently used during the war
when the UK found it difficult to import Compur shutters. (was this
something to do with having bombed the Swiss ball bearing factories that
supplied German needs at the time?) The 5" WA Xpres probably replaced
imported  LF lenses like Xenar and Ektar. Wray also made LF lenses for
British MPP then. (avoid their 89mm).  I should guess it had an extra
element for the added corrections needed to allow f4.5 on a widefield lens
unless you were expected to stop down a lot. The Epsilon shutter was said to
be unreliable but mine never played up. Does it have a standard coax socket?
Some had a non-standard socket.  Philip
----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin McCarthy" <marty@ehabitat.demon.co.uk>
To: <largeformat@f32.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2002 8:43 PM
Subject: [LargeFormat] Ross lens, Epsilon shutter


> Hi Folks
>
> I usually use a Toyo 45C for large format stuff, but because I wanted
> something a little more portable I recently (about 8 hours ago!) bought
> a Speed Graphic.
>
> I shot a couple of pictures this afternoon to try it out, and they look
> fine - I'm happy with what I've got.
>
> But I know pretty much nothing about the lens that came with it.  The
> text around the glass reads:
> "5in wide angle xpress f4.5 No 2059 Ross, London"
> and it is in an Epsilon shutter, speeds 1s to 1/250 and B and T.
>
> The only reference I can find to this lens on the web is on the MPP
> users' page, so I wonder if this originally came from an MPP camera
> rather than the Speed Graphic.
> On the other hand, the plate that gives the table of shutter speeds
> based on Curtain Aperture/Tension Number says: "Colwood Camera Co (1953)
> Ltd, Authorised Graflex Distributors, London, SW19", so maybe it is a
> normal lens for Speed Graphics that were distributed here in the UK.
>
> Just curious to find out a little more.
>
> Cheers,
> Martin
> --
> Martin McCarthy                 /</                  PGP key available
> marty@ancient-scotland.co.uk    \>\  http://www.ancient-scotland.co.uk
>                                 /</    http://www.ehabitat.demon.co.uk
>
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