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Crown Graphic body dimensions

El Barouf

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jan 6, 2026
Messages
26
Location
Forest Hills
Format
Analog
I want to refurbish my camera as a project. While I like the metal bodies of the Super Graphics, I much prefer the body shutter of the Crown Graphic as I use mine like a press camera. So I decided to refurbish mine since it's working and light leaks are due to worn seals and flaking paint.

Anyone has access to CAD drawings or something that can allow me to CNC the body parts from scratch? Maybe in wood (I fancy ebony or some other hard wood). If I need to, I guess I can disassemble and trace the parts.

Any tips and tricks from those who refurbished theirs would be welcome and appreciated.
 
mshchem said:
Crown Graphic doesn't have a focal plane shutter in the body. Speed Graphic does.
Click to expand...

The OP referred to the body shutter release. Pacemaker Graphics (Speed and Crown) have this feature.
 
Dan Fromm said:
The OP referred to the body shutter release. Pacemaker Graphics (Speed and Crown) have this feature.
Click to expand...

Release, aha yep. You have to get the little arm thingy just right to push the shutter release on the lens, that can be troublesome.

Linhof grip would be sweet but the darn cameras are so heavy. I have a couple top rangefinder crowns, lovely cameras. I got rid of my Speeds too heavy.
 
mshchem said:
Release, aha yep. You have to get the little arm thingy just right to push the shutter release on the lens, that can be troublesome.
Click to expand...
mshchem said:
I got rid of my Speeds too heavy.
Click to expand...
For those of us who use more than one lens on them, Pacemaker Graphics' cable actuated front shutter release is an invention of the devil. The paddle and lens position (rotation) on the board have to be adjusted just so for each shutter. And different shutters can require different paddles. The cable also troublesome. I've removed the entire apparatus from my three Pacemakers.

Speed Graphics have long minimum extensions, don't work with short lenses. Crowns (Centuries too) don't work with barrel lenses and have shorter maximum extensions than Speeds. One needs one of each to cover all plausible requirements. For example, my shortest lens for 2x3 is a 35/4.5 ApoGrandy. Works fine on a Century or Crown. The shortest lenses for 2x3 that work on my 2x3 Speed are 58/5.6 Grandagon and 58/5.6 Konica Hexanons from Koni-Omegas. My longest lens that's a comfortable fit on my 2x3 Speed is a 12"/4 TTH Telephoto from an aerial camera.
 
I use my Crowns as a handheld 4x5 rangefinder, same old Xenar 135mm. On rare (and I mean rare) I want to use a wide lens I have an old (minty) Calumet CC wide angle camera, I love that little camera, 65mm no recessed board
 

I have a top rangefinder model. I'm actually ok holding the camera "press style". I am missing that little level/cam that goes press the lens' shutter lever. The vertical rod is there and goes up and down, but nothing pressing the shutter.
 

I hear you. My 210mm for portraits works fine, I would like the camera to be used as originally intended when I use my 90mm. So that missing paddle bothers me.

Have you kept your paddles by any chance? I'd get them off you....
 
El Barouf said:
I hear you. My 210mm for portraits works fine, I would like the camera to be used as originally intended when I use my 90mm. So that missing paddle bothers me.

Have you kept your paddles by any chance? I'd get them off you....
Click to expand...

Thanks for asking. Sorry, I'm a selfish b*st*rd. I've pretty much stopped shooting film, really should sell most of my gear, if only so that someone else can enjoy it. When I sell I'll include the front shutter release bits that I took off. Tastes differ, some potential buyers might want them.
 

I may be a buyer of the camera as well. I'm quite the opposite, I'm all film, no digital. Once decided, send me a message. Cheers!
 
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