Century Graphic 2x3 camera

[Drew B.]

I recently purchased a Century Graphic 2x3 camera with a rangefinder unit (& Singer roll film holder) and am trying to figure out where to pull the lens board/standard out to for an 86mm lens. Can't find any youtube videos on this exact topic...they seem to skip over this.

drew

 

[dxqcanada]

Century Graphic 23 camera manual, user manual, operating instructions

Century Graphic 23 camera manual

www.butkus.org

 

[Dan Fromm]

Um, er, ah, OP, if your Century doesn't have a focusing panel you're cooked.

Out of curiosity, what is the 86mm lens you want to use on it?

 

[Drew B.]

Sorry, 88mm (not 86mm) 6.8 Bausch & Lomb w/ #1 kodak Supermatic Graphic shutter

 

[ic-racer]

You need to have the ground glass focus panel in place to check the infinity stops. However, they may be in the wrong place for your lens.

 

[gordrob]

Here is another site you can check out for information on Graflex/Graphic cameras and accessories

South Bristol Views Graflex Manuals and more 07/02-08/23

South Bristol Views Manuals for Graflex Graphic cameras and accessoriesr. Super Graphic Cam Designer program, bellows extension calculator, Jiffy Calc

www.southbristolviews.com

 

[Pigsonboy]

I have this camera

You need to set infinity stops on the focus rail to your lens.

This is done by using the ground glass. Loosen the stops and focus on something a long way off (infinity) like a pylon by pulling the front standard. Then butt the stops up to the standard and tighten. There may be a distance scale on the rail as well - this will need adjusting. If you want to use the rangefinder - that will need calibrating to your lens. It’s all doable but a bit tedious. Luckily my 23 was already calibrated to the lens but if you Google it there’s plenty of instructions out there…

 

[bdial]

As mentioned, the easy way would be to get a ground glass back, if it didn’t come with one.
Without it, you might be able to come sort of close by removing the lens and moving the lens standard out to 88mm from the film plane, with the focus track set to the infinity mark on the scale. From that point fine tuning would be exposing a few rolls of film and looking at what’s in focus on the negatives.
Getting a ground glass back is probably a cheaper and faster solution.
It’s probably reasonable to assume that the rangefinder is adjusted to that lens, and has the right lever, but again, you need the ground glass back to verify that.

 

[Drew B.]

Thanks for all the info...I'm looking for a ground glass back as we speak.

 

[btaylor]

You want the Graflok focusing panel. FYI the Graflex XL utilized this panel, so keep a look out for it listed as such.