Day Shoot with a Graflex Junior -- Ancient camera, wonky lens, nice results

[summicron1]

Did a blog on the day I spent shooting with a Graflex RB Junior, a 2 by 3 camera (roll back) that was made around 1920. The lens has some issues, but I think the results speak for themselves:

http://charlestrentelman.blogspot.com/2014/12/assignment-days-shoot-with-graflex.html

And a couple of sample pics. More on the blog. Thanks for looking. :

 

[snapguy]

Great stuff

Hey, guys, great stuff. The SLR Graphics are a bit before my time but I remember shots of the old tymers using those cameras. Not exactly stealth cameras, huh?

 

[Axle]

Fantastic! And thanks for sharing!

 

[fotch]

Luv those SLR Graflex

 

[Zathras]

Love those old monsters. I have a 2x3 RB that needs to go out and play. I also have a 3x4 RB Auto Graflex that has a Dagor up front, that I hope to get up and running before next summer. Thanks for posting.

 

[Whiteymorange]

Very nice! I bought a Junior at a photo show but then traded for an RB. Y=That got me started on the endless GAS slide, so now I have one in each of the sizes up to 4x5. I wanted to use odd lenses on them, and I do, but I found, like you, that the original anastigmats are wonderful–every one I've tried.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Great work, but the second photograph seems to show that the old camera makes people age!

 

[Terry Breedlove]

Very nice

 

[250swb]

Wonderful, love the first one especially but it is a great set.

Steve

 

[Ashyln]

Hi! Awesome shots! I just acquired a beautiful Auto Graflex Jr. in almost mint condition. However, I am not sure what film to buy. It came with 3 backs, one with a roll holder, slightly longer than 120, the second back has 12 metal plates with a leather bag and the 3rd holder is thin with only 2 dark slides.

What film are you using? Any thoughts on what size the rolls are?

Thanks so much!!

Ashlyn

 

[Sirius Glass]

Ashlyn welcome to APUG

 

[shutterfinger]

Any 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 sheet film that you can find will fit the 2 sided film holder and the Bag Magazine.
Dead Link Removed

The roll film holder is for #50 Eastman Roll Film.
http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_20.html

 

[Sirius Glass]

Ilford makes 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" film in HP5+ and FP4 which you can special order by June each year. http://www.ultrafineonline.com/il20ullafouf.html

 

[tessar]

+ fotch and Zathras. I have a 1947 2x3 RB with 127mm Ektar & rollfilm back that continues to surprise me.

 

[Nokton48]

I used to collect Graflexes years ago and I know they are kewl and a blast to acquire and use. Now I collect Plaubel Makiflexes, that is another addiction altogether, but similar in many ways to the Graflex.

2x3 cutfilm is cheap see here:
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/1904350-Arista-EDU-Ultra-400-ISO-2.25-x-3.25-50-Sheets

and it is FOMA 100 & FOMA 400. I have 300 sheets of each to use in the 2x3 Makiflex back I have. Would work just as well in Baby Graflexes.

 

[Zathras]

+ fotch and Zathras. I have a 1947 2x3 RB with 127mm Ektar & rollfilm back that continues to surprise me.

The 127 Ektar is an outstanding lens.

 

[mhcfires]

I have two of each size, up to 4x5. I would love to get a 5x7 Portrait Graflex, but they are hard to come by and have a dear price when you do find one. My favorite is the 2x3 RB Series B. I have a couple roll backs, a few Grafmatic changers and a bag-mag. The 3x4 RB Series D is another good one, I have a 120 rollfilm back and a bagmag. 3x4 film is harder to come by, I'm waiting for the annual Ilford order so I can replenish my stock.


m

 

[nosmok]

These RB Graflexes are the bomb. Back when photo store guys were like record store guys, I blew a couple away with a 16 x 24 print I made from my old Kodak Anastigmat equipped one.