Anybody Here Using the Plaubel Peco Junior?

[Nokton48]

Plaubel Junior 6.5x9 Monorail Makina Backs by Nokton48, on Flickr

Been wanting something lighter recently. Have 50+ Makina 6.5x9 planfilm holders, and about as many RADA glass and film holders. Also have a good supply of 6.5x9 Makina 120 backs in 6x6cm and 6.5x9cm. Many lensboards here Peco Jr which were my mistake, this stuff looks kinda identical some times. I do have a Pecoflex Adapter for my Makiflex Autos, it's identical to the front end of the Peco Jr so I already like the handling. I have most of the original lenses in the catalog, just need more Peco Jr 95x95mm boards to move them around to. Starting with the 47mm chrome Super Angulon, up to the 180mm chrome Symmar. Should be another interesting system which fits in with my other stuff. And I am contemplating a medium format digital back in the far future and this could very well be the ideal platform for it! So anybody here own or using the Peco Junior? Your experiences please

 

[Nokton48]

Here's my new camera, on it's way from Germany. Interesting rear hood included, not sure what the deal is with that.

PLAUBEL Peco Junior Germany Large formats 9x9 6,5x9 loupe early working/422K | eBay

PLAUBEL Peco Junior Germany gross format 9x9 6,5x9 lupe früh läuft. Frühe Plaubel aus Frankfurt, PJ 1/01 Nr. With lens board, standard bellows, adjustable loupe finder with cross-section screen. foto-fina® ist eine eingetragene Wortmarke der.

www.ebay.com

Bought from a Guy in Italy four 3D Printed Peco Jr Boards. Bought one in each size.

Lens Board for Plaubel Junior 6x9 all Sizes Copal Compur Ilex 3 3/4x3 3/4in | eBay

Lens board for Plaubel Junior 6x9 All Sizes Copal Compur Ilex 95x95 mm size This is a High quality 3D Printed Lens Board available in all sizes. The lens board is light-tight and has bees tested on a camera. The material used is PETG, one of the strongest 3D printing material with high...

www.ebay.com

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

I've perused my Plaubel stash, and all of this is original Plaubel Peco Junior pieces and parts. On the far left, 6.5x9 and 2x3 Linhof Plate Film Holders. and Graflex 2x3 Holders. Also the Jim Galvin 6x9 back I bought twenty years ago from Glenn Evans. Will be modified to fit Peco Jr. Moving further right, PJ1/325 Adapter for spring loaded ground glass screen, 6.5x9cm, for Universal Darkslide 6.5x9cm with Normal Double Groove. I'll bet these are RADA and they came with the adapter, fit very precisely. They hinge open to load as you can see. Then the PJ1/431 Soft Wide Angle Bellows. Bellow the soft bellows, three original lenses yet to be mounted. The 47mm F8 SA, 135mm F5.6 Symmar, and 150mm f5.6 Symmar, all in original Compur. Lensboard upper right, more are coming. In lower right are Rear Mounting Plate, maybe for a digital back? Something like the Hasselblad or similar would be sweet. So MF film and digital all in one small package.

 

[Nokton48]

Three new lenses are coming from Germany. the 65mm f6.8 Angulon, the 100mm f5.6 Symmar, and the 150mm F9 Apo Ronar. All in Compur as in Plaubel catalog. Also I have a 65mm F8 with 65mm F8 Center Filter, I have not found it yet! But I will.

 

[abruzzi]

I saw that Junior for sale a while back, but I couldn't figure out what the back was actually capable of, especilly with that big...thing.. on it. Plaubel had backs that only supported their funky Rada holders. If you have a bunch of them, then you're ok, but really for a 6x9 monorail, I'd want to make sure it could hold 6x9 roll film holders using standard "graflock" style backs. (something that holding me off from buying a Technikardan 23). When you receive it, I'd be curious to know what the back looks like.

 

[Nokton48]

I saw that Junior for sale a while back, but I couldn't figure out what the back was actually capable of, especilly with that big...thing.. on it. Plaubel had backs that only supported their funky Rada holders. If you have a bunch of them, then you're ok, but really for a 6x9 monorail, I'd want to make sure it could hold 6x9 roll film holders using standard "graflock" style backs. (something that holding me off from buying a Technikardan 23). When you receive it, I'd be curious to know what the back looks like.

Yep the unused Jim Galvin Back for me is the deal maker. Glenn shows on his website that it accomodates 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9 Graflex roll backs, I have a bunch of wind-knob early ones, and the later lever wound versions. Finest 2x3 back he's ever seen. I'm sure I can get something cobbled together on that. Also I have a dozen original Plaubel Makina 120 roll backs, they are funky, but they get the job done, I already use them on my Makinas and Makiflexes. I'm hoping it has a Makina type of back, actually. And I have fifty or so Makina 6.5x9 Plate and sheet film holders. Lastly I have the lowly PJ back that takes the RADA double-rail film holders.

Then of course, an olde Phase One or similar digital back would be cool. Something I can shoot untethered with. Fun ahead.

 

[abruzzi]

yeah, the Galvin backs are nice. I have a couple that I'm experementing with, and hoping to build one into a Technika 23 style back since the small Linhofs don't support the graflock standard. I also have an actual Galvin so I've used the back with horseman roll back. Never used the Graflex roll backs, but they should work the same.

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

All of my soon to be new to me Peco Jr shuttered lenses and Boards will fit on my Plaubel Makiflex Automatic with PJ Adapter. I refoamed the light traps on the Adapter and it's good for another fifty years. Actually this camera becomes a Pecoflex with the Adapter, exactly the same front as the Peco Junior. So I already know I will love my new Peco Junior. It will prolly need some work but that is prolly OK with me. Certainly a new light trap in the back at least. Here the camera is shown with my 180mm f5.6 Symmar in Compur, on a slightly forward mounted board. Today the 150mm Apo Ronar in #00 Compur will appear, along with an original PJ board with #0 hole. My 135mm f5.6 Symmar will go on that one. The Magnifying Hood is Mamiya RB67 Meter model attached to stripped down Makiflex Hood Frame. My fave finder for Makis

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Jim Galvin 2x3 Back bought from Glenn Evans, who bought up his entire inventory of these. Great with Graflex Wind Knobs (early) and Lever Wind (later) ones too. Even 220 I have around. In the lower left is a Profia hammered grey finish board for the back of the rear standard, fits the Junior. On the right lower is an earlier vintage Rear Board, so I can make two backs out of these if I decide to. Shown with inserted Graflex Wind Knob 6x6cm back inserted, what is really great is how greatly you can pull the wire bail back, just about anything Graflok 2x3 will fit. Attaching an older digital back on one of these is another possibility I am thinking about.

 

[rknewcomb]

Plaubel did offer a 2x3 spring back that takes standard Graphic sheet film holders. It was spring not "Graflock" in design It looks similar to and gets confused with a spring back they made that takes single sided metal holders.
Robert

 

[Nokton48]

Plaubel did offer a 2x3 spring back that takes standard Graphic sheet film holders. It was spring not "Graflock" in design It looks similar to and gets confused with a spring back they made that takes single sided metal holders.
Robert

Hi Robert! Good to hear from you! I know you amassed a very nice Peco Junior setup. Hopefully this works out for me but really I can't imagine otherwise. It fits in with all my other Plaubel stuff

 

[abruzzi]

the great thing about the Galvin back (compared to other 2x3 graflock backs) is you don't have to figure out where to put the ground glass when you're ready to take the shot. I currently have a Cambo SC-1, and Horseman VH, and a Galvin. I think the Galvin is actually the lightest of the three. I keep an eye out for a Plaubel, but I don't want to try to scavange parts, so I keep watching for a complete one, and it hasn't happened yet.

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

I forgot I had this mixed in with my extra Maki boards. Glenn Evans designed this custom Peco Junior Rear Board, it was excess and I got it cheaply. It is a good design, very heavy and thick and Hammerloid finish. Exactly the right thickness to fit super tightly on the Peco Jr. This will hold the Jim Galvin Back or maybe the digital. We will see.

 

[Nokton48]

Plaubel Peco Jr Catalog by Nokton48, on Flickr

Three additional original Peco Junior lenses are on their way; the 100mm F5.6 Symmar in more modern Compur, a 65mm f6.8 Angulon in vintage Compur, and from Igor in Cleveland, the 135mm f3.8 Xenar in Compur. The Xenar should be extra bright to look through. The 4.5 Xenar is also in the European catalog, I think I will prefer the F3.8

 

[OrientPoint]

Have you ever seen the #97336 lens board? The one with a shutter that lets you mount lenses from the Makina III? I once saw one for sale but stupidly didn't buy it. Looked like it would have been fun to play with.

 

[Nokton48]

Hi Orientpoint!

No I've never seen one but would love to get one. Using my Makina lenses on the Peco Junior would be fun! The 100mm F4.2 Orthometar is a very high fidelity lens. And about normal focal length. Not familar with IBSOR shutters, though.

PJ 1/442 Special Lens Panel with Ibsor I and Quick Change Ring for Makina- Quick Change Lenses.
I'll have to look that up in my Plaubel Book; it's all in German

This is kind of like treasure hunting! Camera should be here end of next week.

 

[OrientPoint]

Plaubel accessories from the 60s seem rarer than hen's teeth. It has been 5 years I'm still looking for a Polaroid Pack film back for my Makiflex. You'd think there'd be a bunch around.

The #97336 seems like a niche product in a niche, so I'm not expecting to ever see one again in real life :-(

 

[Nokton48]

Orientpoint,

I went ten years or more looking for Makiflex Graphlock backs. Keep looking on Ebay.de Make sure you know what they look like, I bought one unmarked in a Plaubel bundle over there. Sometimes the little silver badges fall off so seller has no clue what they are. Another one I got from another Makiflex Guy who wanted a Makina Back, so we traded even. Lots of things are rare as we all know. Not everybody wants to mess with sheet film

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

My new to me Plaubel Peco Junior arrived from Germany today. Shown with my 210mm f5.6 Symmar lens, will focus close-up with max bellows extension. Amazingly light weight. I love the Reflex Viewfinder, the hood is adjustable side to side. But I don't think it will take film holders in any way. But I have other film backs that will fit, I guess the Reflex Viewfinder works with Makina Rail Backs and Holders, I just rebuilt one yesterday with a nice popup hood.

Looking forward to learning to efficently use the new camera.

 

[lobitar]

Congrat with your Junior! Nice piece of hardware. Especially the swivelling angle finder is nice, never saw that before. Early this summer a took my own Junior to the Copenhagen harbour, as I hadn't been using it for quite some years. It turned out the light sealing betw. bellows and camera and lens panel /camera had all but turned to dust, whence I got no pictures but only false light. Have not fixed it yet, too many projects. Here's a pix of my Junior, it has, as you will se, the ordinary ground glass back fitting the ordinary Rada roll holders and cut film holders.
Oh - and by the way, thanks for taking the trouble of keeping us opdated with your many experiments in this field!

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

On the left is my Plaubel Makina IIIR, with 100mm F4.2 Rare Orthometar lens (their sharp lens), Makina Hood. Makina Yellow Filter. Also this camera has the Rare Focal Plane Shutter, with speeds to 1/1000 so high speed film can be used under bright conditions. To the right is my new Peco Junior, it's really not any bigger than my Makiflexes. I am delighted. Shown with Peco Jr Bag Bellows, and standard lens, late model 100mm F5.6 Schneider Symmar with Compur Shutter. There's a 6x9cm Makina 120 Back on the camera. Top right is the Magnifier (I think it is Plaubel!) Viewfinder I have tested it with all my Peco Junior lenses from 47mm to 210mm and it's becoming an important accessory. In right front is MX/521 Back for Plaubel Makina Double Rail Backs, I have three of these. A cool pop-up Viewfinder on the back I rebuilt and I also installed a nice fresnel behind the glass. Small and handy, slide the pop-up off, and attach a 6x6 or 6x9 Makina Roll Back.
Finally on the left front is the Standard Bellows, and the three parts (needs final assembly) of the Jim Galvin 120 Back. The board I got from Glenn fits the front of my Pecoflex, but not the Peco Junior. But I have a flat Rear Standard Plate original Peco that will be perfect for finishing this back. I made a spacer plate out of sawn alder wood in my shop, you see that on top. Peco Junior needs new front and back light seals, but in perfect working order. Like the Sinar Norma this camera locks down tight no play at all. And I have a number of original lensboards that need new light trapping.

 

[Nokton48]

Congrat with your Junior! Nice piece of hardware. Especially the swivelling angle finder is nice, never saw that before. Early this summer a took my own Junior to the Copenhagen harbour, as I hadn't been using it for quite some years. It turned out the light sealing betw. bellows and camera and lens panel /camera had all but turned to dust, whence I got no pictures but only false light. Have not fixed it yet, too many projects. Here's a pix of my Junior, it has, as you will se, the ordinary ground glass back fitting the ordinary Rada roll holders and cut film holders.
Oh - and by the way, thanks for taking the trouble of keeping us opdated with your many experiments in this field!

Lorbitar,
That's a Makina Double Rail Back, takes same backs as Plaubel Makina and Makiflexes. Slide the glass off (flip the little lever to release it) and slide on a Makina sheet film holder or roll back Flip the other lever to lock whatever onto the back. So it can't come off.

 

[gone]

I remember my short lived experiment w/ 4x5, and a Polaroid reflex viewer made a huge difference in making the camera fast (for LF) and easy to shoot.

 

[Nokton48]

Thanks Momus.

The Magnifying Hood is really interesting and I love it. It has a large rectangular diopter in the rear. to see the entire screen with high eyepoint. Nice border area around the glass so excellent. It has an original Makina screen inside, along with a fresnel arrangement that looks factory to me. It dosen't look to me like it's ever been adapted. The strange metal cutout at the back perfectly fits one side of your face only, allowing beautiful viewing even in full sun. Quite clever device actually. And of course you can just leave it parked in the center, but that's not the point of this.

The strange front of the Magnifier (that attaches to the rear standard) pivots and swivels about 45 degrees left and right. Why would it do this?? Because it allows you to BRIGHTLY view the left side (or top) of the screen, then swivel over, and BRIGHTLY view the right side (or bottom) of the screen. Bright and crisp enough to focus every lens I have tested so far. Really cool and -useful-. It really does the job. View one side and then the other. No need for a loupe with this.

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here's Peco Jr with PJ1/325 Adapter with spring-loaded ground-glass screen, 6.5x9cm, for universal darkslide 6.5x9cm with Normal Double Groove Has four heavy clamps that keep the film holders tight in the back. As you can see the Back came with Single Shot and Double Shot 6.5x9cm Double Rail Holders. In a bundle I am hoping it works together since it came to me as a bundle. And also you can see I have a lot of 6.5x9cm sheet film in many flavours ready to load into these holders. The camera is now fully light trapped which has taken a while to get it right but now it is done and ready to test. I did try a quick roll of 120 in the Makina Roll Film 6x9cm Back and this thing is a blast to use.