Can someone ID this Speed Graphic accessory?

Colin Corneau · Apr 25, 2017

Taking possession of a Speed Graphic camera soon, and this accessory really caught my eye.

https://petapixel.com/2013/02/08/david-burnetts-speed-graphic-photos-of-the-london-2012-olympics/

Scroll down for a picture of the photographer, David Burnett, holding his camera. Take note of the viewing accessory at the back of the camera - a kind of 90-degree finder.

Any idea where I can get this viewer? I'd love to have one for the custom set-up I'll be receiving soon.

Many thanks, all!

Colin

Ian Grant · Apr 25, 2017

Something like Linhof reflex viewer. I think there was one for a Polaroid camera that some people adapt to Speed Graphics doesn't look the same though.

Ian

btaylor · Apr 25, 2017

It looks just like a 4x5 Linhof 90 degree viewer, I have one. It's made to fit Linhof backs of course, but should easily be adapted to a Grafloc with some fiddling-- all you need it something to hold it in place.

darkroommike · Apr 25, 2017

Not enough detail to tell you which brand but it's a monocular right angle viewfinder for a 4x5 view camera. Probably Toyo, but all the recent view camera companies (Sinar, Horseman, maybe even Chamonix) made one and most can be adapted to any Graflok back. The stinker is that they all reverse the image left to right so would stink at shooting sports. BTW was not too impressed with the posted images.

darkroommike · Apr 25, 2017

Ian Grant said:
Something like Linhof reflex viewer. I think there was one for a Polaroid camera that some people adapt to Speed Graphics doesn't look the same though.

Ian

That would be the MP-4 (and possible MP-3 hoods), Ian, and you're right, much bulkier and no eyepiece. We used to make do with one taped together from poster board on a Calumet CC-401. "Hog heaven" when we finally got an MP-4 for 4x5 copywork. (And a sliding head Leica Reprovit for 35mm slide shooting.)

Dan Fromm · Apr 25, 2017

Cambo, too. Someone in China is making monocular reflex viewers that look like that for a variety of 4x5 view cameras. They've been offered on eBay. Just took a quick look there, found mainly folding ones.

darkroommike · Apr 25, 2017

That would be the Fotodiox folding reflex finder, slick and not too spendy. https://jet.com/product/detail/661c...984169_pla-291749466609:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15

Sirius Glass · Apr 25, 2017

It is a 90° prism for allowing him to look at the ground glass without light intruding from the sides.

Dan Fromm · Apr 25, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
It is a 90° prism for allowing him to look at the ground glass without light intruding from the sides.

Prism heavy, mirror box light. It is a mirror box. Hollow, not solid glass.

Sirius Glass · Apr 25, 2017

You are probably right, but a prism would not add much weight to an already heavy camera.

Dan Fromm · Apr 25, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
You are probably right, but a prism would not add much weight to an already heavy camera.

Is there a red putty globe at the tip of y'r nose or a self-clamping red plastic ball?

Oh, and by the way, the monocular reflex viewer on Mr. Burnett's Speed Graphic looks more like my Cambo T-20 than the Linhof viewer suggested above. The camera, like the viewer, is hollow and much lighter than it looks.

removed account4 · Apr 25, 2017

colin
toyo also sells/sold a rubber monocular viewer that typically sells between 75-100USD on eBay.
"View Monocular Rubber Focus Hood #1024/180-809"
it weighs almost nothing. it isn't a reflex/look down/prism but it sticks straightout the back.

have fun with the new camera !

mdarnton · Apr 25, 2017

The Cambo finder appears to sit farther away from the back than this one does, to include the rotation mechanism--otherwise it does resemble it, but I think they all sort of look the same.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cam...isHTAhUK0mMKHWkdBZ8Q_AUICSgC&biw=1024&bih=510

It's not the Fotodiox collapsible.

Bud Hamblen · Apr 25, 2017

Colin Corneau said:
Taking possession of a Speed Graphic camera soon, and this accessory really caught my eye.

https://petapixel.com/2013/02/08/david-burnetts-speed-graphic-photos-of-the-london-2012-olympics/

Scroll down for a picture of the photographer, David Burnett, holding his camera. Take note of the viewing accessory at the back of the camera - a kind of 90-degree finder.

Any idea where I can get this viewer? I'd love to have one for the custom set-up I'll be receiving soon.

Many thanks, all!

Colin

The thing attached to the Kalart range finder is a "Focuspot" light that shines through the range finder. The beams of light come out the front of the range finder and coincide at the distance the camera is focused. Power for the light come from the batteries in the flash gun. See https://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/focuspot. The range finder on my Century Graphic has the port for a Focuspot, but the camera did not come with one. There is a metal plate that you remove to attach the Focuspot. The Focuspot is supposed to be useful to focus in low light when it is hard to see through the range finder. I've seen an ad showing a proud mother using a Focuspot to set up a flash shot of her baby.

Sirius Glass · Apr 26, 2017

I would like to get a Focuspot. Are there any good sources.

Dan Fromm · Apr 26, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
I would like to get a Focuspot. Are there any good sources.

Your best bet is to find a camera that has one. Second best, eBay and be patient. Third best, post a want here and on LFPF.

mshchem · Apr 26, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
I would like to get a Focuspot. Are there any good sources.

I had one on a speed that I sold. I think all it was was a pen light bulb, got power from the Graflex flash. I have a really nice late top rangefinder Pacemaker Crown. It has the light built in very cool works great in dim light. You see a green and a peach colored filament on your subject. When you superimpose the two images you are dead on. Makes me wonder what a LED from a mini Maglite in place of that 1950 bulb would look like?

You could focus from the hip, then take quick shots like Weegee.
Mike

Can someone ID this Speed Graphic accessory?

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