Replacement aperture bands in the UK?

[Nas]

Does anyone know of a UK supplier for replacement aperture bands for Copal shutters in the UK? I've swapped out a lens into a Copal No. 1 shutter and need to replace the aperture scale on the top and bottom. SK Grimes in the US have quoted me... wait for it... $135 for two bands + $55 for shipping via USPS. Why the shipping is so high for something so small and light is a complete mystery.

Anyone here ever done a similar thing and know of a UK supplier? I wonder if the scale could be laser engraved on a strip of aluminium.

 

[MartyNL]

My first port of call for aperture scales in the UK would be Linhof Studio.

Otherwise, there are some on *bay quite a bit cheaper. What do you need them to run from and to?

 

[mpirie]

What about using a self-adhesive labelling printer?

Mike

 

[Nas]

My first port of call for aperture scales in the UK would be Linhof Studio.

Otherwise, there are some on *bay quite a bit cheaper. What do you need them to run from and to?

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll contact them. The lens is a Schneider Xenar 135/3.5. My current scales are for a Schneider 210/5.6.

 

[Nas]

What about using a self-adhesive labelling printer?

Mike

I thought about that but I need the spacing between stops to be very accurate. For the time being I will just calculate the approximate difference. I'll mostly use my 135/3.5 wide open or one stop down.

 

[Dave_P]

Isn't the spacing just completely linear on modern shutters? I'd be making my own with a fine permanent marker on a strip of pale coloured electrical tape.

 

[MartyNL]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll contact them. The lens is a Schneider Xenar 135/3.5. My current scales are for a Schneider 210/5.6.

Do you mean Xenar or Xenotar?

The only Xenar 135mm I can find in literature is f4.5 and f4.7. While the Xenotar 135mm came as a f3.5.

 

[Nas]

Isn't the spacing just completely linear on modern shutters? I'd be making my own with a fine permanent marker on a strip of pale coloured electrical tape.

I'm not sure but if you're right that would simplify things a great deal for me.

 

[Nas]

Do you mean Xenar or Xenotar?

The only Xenar 135mm I can find in literature is f4.5 and f4.7. While the Xenotar 135mm came as a f3.5.

My mistake. It's Xenotar.

 

[Dave_P]

I'm not sure but if you're right that would simplify things a great deal for me.

If on the existing scale the stops are spread in evenly-spaced steps, then if you recalibrate it for a new focal length then the wide open point will be different, but the stop spacing remains the same so you should be able to extrapolate the stop positions from the wide open point.