An Accidental Entry Into LF

tryals15 · May 20, 2012

I found this Graflex, along with a Crown Graphic in a trunk at a garage sale for $3 yesterday morning. Just the one lens between them. I think I made out ok.

Now I just have to read this entire forum. Where do I start?!

Roger Thoms · May 20, 2012

Definitely do a search here on APUG, as there is tons of info. Also check out http://graflex.org/ as this sight is dedicated to Graflex cameras.

And yes you did alright.

Roger

munz6869 · May 20, 2012

Get some film holders and a box of film - work out how to load 'em - go shooting to figure out what else you might 'need', and how you'd like to process the film...

Marc!

ignatiu5 · May 20, 2012

You clearly have a surplus (I mean, you can't shoot them both at the same time, can you?), so I'm willing to take one off your hands for $1.50 plus shipping.

tryals15 · May 20, 2012

You're too kind, really.

I'm going through the forum now, but I'm trying to figure out about film holders, I only got one yesterday and I know I want more than that... I read somewhere that there are 3 versions of Graflex backs; are there non-OEM brands too?

summicron1 · May 20, 2012

presumably they both have backs, so you don't need those.

You want fidelity style film holders -- can be bought new or used, you can find lots used for about $10 each. New can be had at Freestyle http://www.freestylephoto.biz/180903-Toyo-4x5-in.-Double-Cut-Film-Holder-Twin-Pack

Another option is the Grafmatic film holder -- it holds 6 sheets at once, costs $75 for good used at KEH.

All sheet film holders can be used with any kind of back that your camera has on it, spring or graflok. The crown should have a graflok on it, but no matter, they all use film holders.

I'll give you $5 for your spare body

if you go to www.graflex.org you will find a massive data resource on these amazing and highly useful cameras.

EASmithV · May 21, 2012

Wanna know where your garage sales are

Steve Smith · May 21, 2012

summicron1 said:
I'll give you $5 for your spare body

I'll go to $7

Steve.

Roger Cole · May 21, 2012

Go here and start reading:

Large Format Home Page

And check out the forum:

Large Format Photography Forum

bdial · May 21, 2012

The Graflex holders are among the oldest you'll find, but you don't need to worry about getting only graflex holders. The cameras take standard 4x5 holders, they are plentiful though you will likely spend much more on the holders than you did the cameras.
Heck, film will cost more than the camera.

For starting out, I'd stick with standard double sided holders rather than a Grafmatic. They can be handy, but can also be finicky to operate.

Good find!

paul_c5x4 · May 21, 2012

Steve Smith said:
I'll go to $7

I'll up the anti and go $10 plus a Fidelity film holder and throw in a few sheets of HP4 (Yes, 4 not 5).

Steve Smith · May 21, 2012

I think he's going to keep it!

Steve.

E. von Hoegh · May 21, 2012

ignatiu5 said:
You clearly have a surplus (I mean, you can't shoot them both at the same time, can you?), so I'm willing to take one off your hands for $1.50 plus shipping.

Nonsense. He can use one to take pictures of the other with.

Old-N-Feeble · May 21, 2012

Crikey!! I never find deals like that. Congrats!!

tryals15 · May 21, 2012

Yes, I think I may keep them both -- at least for the time being. I want to see which I prefer, or if there's any real difference in their uses... I knew I was getting a good deal, but I didn't know how good of a deal until I hit eBay when I got home.

My wife is already rolling her eyes, wondering how much my savings is going to end up costing her.

Zathras · May 21, 2012

tryals15 said:
You're too kind, really.

I'm going through the forum now, but I'm trying to figure out about film holders, I only got one yesterday and I know I want more than that... I read somewhere that there are 3 versions of Graflex backs; are there non-OEM brands too?

You need "GRAPHIC" film holders as opposed to "GRAFLEX" holders. Most film holders are of the "Graphic" variety, regardless of who made them. The "Graflex" holders were made for the old reflex cameras and will not fit most Speed or Crown Graphic cameras.

Steve Smith · May 21, 2012

tryals15 said:
My wife is already rolling her eyes, wondering how much my savings is going to end up costing her.

You can now legitimately use women's logic to buy yourself something else.

e.g. Your wife might say "I saved $50 buying these shoes in the sale so I can now spend the $50 I saved on a new bag".

Using the same logic, you now have $200 - $300 spare to buy another lens, film, film holders, etc.

Steve.

tryals15 · May 21, 2012

Turns out the film holder I have is for film packs -- evidently not what I needed...

Sirius Glass · May 21, 2012

You have a Pacemaker Crown Graphic. Enjoy!

Get information about that camera and the Graflex from www.graflex.org.

Please post photos of the Graflex so that we can identify it for you.

Steve

smieglitz · May 21, 2012

I'll trade you a film holder for that film pack adapter. 2 if it has a film pack to go with it. I'm converting them to wetplate holders.

I should have some older wooden Graphic holders or more modern Fidelity or Lisco holders, your choice. Is it a #1234 Graphic adapter or model 2?

joe

jp498 · May 21, 2012

If the camera is 4x5 (as opposed to 3.25x4.25), it's a great find. Measure the size of the ground glass back.

Based on the vintage of the front standard and the newer shutter and what I can see of the metal shade on back, it's probably got the graflok back (which has spring loaded levers built into the back), which is also ideal. If the cloth shutter works, you can shoot about any lens on this, including a magnifying glass in a tp tube, indoors or out.

Cheapest way to play with it would be paper negatives. For low volume color, a fuji instant film back. For medium volume B&W: several holders in antistatic bags, a darkroom, box of quality film, negative pages, chemicals, enlarger or scanner, etc...

tryals15 · May 21, 2012

jp498 said:
If the camera is 4x5 (as opposed to 3.25x4.25), it's a great find. Measure the size of the ground glass back.

Based on the vintage of the front standard and the newer shutter and what I can see of the metal shade on back, it's probably got the graflok back (which has spring loaded levers built into the back), which is also ideal. If the cloth shutter works, you can shoot about any lens on this, including a magnifying glass in a tp tube, indoors or out.

Cheapest way to play with it would be paper negatives. For low volume color, a fuji instant film back. For medium volume B&W: several holders in antistatic bags, a darkroom, box of quality film, negative pages, chemicals, enlarger or scanner, etc...

Uhm, I just measured the ground glass. The glass is 3.75" x 4.75". What does that mean? And, I do believe that the back on both is a Grafloc. I will post pics of everything I got soon...

Sirius Glass · May 21, 2012

That means you need 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" film which you can order from FreeStyle or Ilford. Ilford has a special run of custom cut film this time of year and the cutoff is in June. Check the Ilford site or Simon Galley here in APUG [also Simon.Galley@harmantechnology.com]

Steve

tryals15 · May 21, 2012

Hmmmm.. I will have to look into the special film. I'm kind of sad it's not a 4x5... Is there any chance these would do 4x5 with a different back? Or could I still use 4x5 and just have a bit lost on the sides?

Attached are pics of the other camera I got, the back of this and the other are the same. And then the rest of the stuff that was in the trunk, too...

mwdake · May 21, 2012

The glass is 3.75" x 4.75

That means you need 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" film

Surely not.
I think the ground glass on a 4x5 would be around the size the OP quoted.
My Graphic Super is about that size.

An Accidental Entry Into LF

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