Copal vs seiko LF shutter

Ben johns

Ben johns

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looking to get my first 4x5 lens. There’s a couple of decent ones on eBay but one is a copal and the other is a seiko shutter. I read that you should avoid seiko as you can’t get them repaired anymore. Is that true??
 
Tbh Ben I don't think it matters which you go for. When I was looking at my first LF lenses my research basically showed no difference between copal and Seiko, they are both reliable and well made and quite a simple mechanism, so repairable in most cases. Seiko were, and still are exceptional, watch makers and their timing mechanisms were so ahead of their time that the officials at the 1964 Olympics couldn't understand how they had designed such accurate machines. Having said that I only have Copal shutters so I can't back any of this up.:thinking::LOL:
 
Cheers. What made it difficult was the lens I prefer the look of was the seiko!
 
Never had seiko so similarly cannot speak from experience.

Copal I’ve never had issues with.

Compur I’ve had two both tended to go gummy with the slow speeds of not used for a little while or if in a humid environment.

There is also the functions to look at on the shutters as some I find are more operator friendly when it comes to preview and reading the aperture scales etc
 
Ben johns said:
looking to get my first 4x5 lens. There’s a couple of decent ones on eBay but one is a copal and the other is a seiko shutter. I read that you should avoid seiko as you can’t get them repaired anymore. Is that true??
Click to expand...

I have a Horseman lens with a Seiko shutter and Miles fixed it . Works very well now.
 
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