Excited about Crown Graphic!

BradS · Dec 5, 2007

My first LF camera was a Crown Graphic. I sold it 9 long months ago and almost instantly began to suffer seller's remorse. Tonight, I scored another one at a fair price and I'm ecstatic!

It's a side range finder model with a Kodak Ektar mounted in an old Supermatic-x shutter (are these any good?) and comes with a whole sh*t load (that's a physics term) of extras -- film holders, a fancy case, a graphlite, synch cords and even some flash bulbs!

I can't wait to get back to the big point and shoot!

(End Jovial Rant)

sar-photo · Dec 5, 2007

I know exactly what you mean! I had a Crown Graphic - took it to France for a trip and then sold it. Not sure why!

It was an excellent camera and certainly a good talking point - Whenever I got the camera out people would look and smile. The question I got asked most was whether I was a press photographer!

I think I'll keep an eye out for a baby Graphic.

Cheers,
Simon

John Kasaian · Dec 5, 2007

IIRC, SK Grimes thought the supermatics to be as good as modern copals.

Phillip P. Dimor · Dec 5, 2007

Awesome! I love graphics. I've a near mint crown w/ top-rf that was given to me by a good friend. He was given several back in the 70s when a local police dept. was moving to nikons. It's fantastic as a handheld camera, I use the graflite w/ regular vivitar flash attached to the top. It's pretty fun! Also have a speed w/ side-rf and have calibrated it to an aero ektar that I own. I realized that using a laser pointer, or versalab parallel (or similar device) through the cover where the kalart focuspot goes is probably the easiest way to calibrate these things.

I've been having a dream where a small laser module replaced the lightbulb in the top-rf for the ultimate in accuracy. Oh well.
Congratulations on the new camera!

filmnut · Dec 5, 2007

Hope you have lots of fun with it! I have shot with a Speed Graphic since the early seventies, which my father bought in 1951.
Mine has a side mounted Kalart rangefinder, that is remarkablely accurate, although for the last number of years, I've usually used the groundglass.
It has a 127mm Ektar, with Supermatic shutter that is good and has been extremely trouble free. Much better in the corners when closed down a few stops though, at least mine is.
Keith

Paul Howell · Dec 5, 2007

I have a crown that I bought in the early 70's must have run a thousand negatives through it over the years. Much lighter than my speed. The standard lens is a 127 ektar, not bad but will cover when using front rise. have been looking for a Bush Pressman as well.

JCT · Dec 5, 2007

I have to stop reading these threads -- I have a 2x3 Speed that I love to fiddle with, would *really* like to get a Crown one of these days.

Sigh.

JT

JBrunner · Dec 5, 2007

Yeah. I have a really nice Crown Graphic I bought from some dude on APUG.....

BradS · Dec 5, 2007

He, he, he...yeah. I promse, I'm gonna stop bugging you to sell it back to me now too.

buze · Dec 9, 2007

The Crown is the thing that got me on the slippery slope of LF ! I think it's near perfect, apart from the non-rotating back. I now have a Tachi 8x10 and a... Chamonix 45 on the way for xmas
I will reconvert the Crown to handheld duties when I get the Chamonix. Grafmatic + HP5, here we go

John Shriver · Dec 9, 2007

Supermatics are fine shutters, Kodak's best bread and butter shutter. They aren't pretty inside, the surface finish of the stamped parts is not fancy like a Compur. But there's precision enough where it matters, they are value engineering of the best sort. Easy to clean/lube/adjust as well.

BradS · Dec 13, 2007

My new crown graphic arrived today. It was as dirty as can be imagined. I spent about two hours with hot soapy water and Q-tips...It's pretty clean now.

The stock 152mm Ektar and Supermatic shutter are in OK condition. The shutter is a little stiff / slow. I'm pretty sure a CLA is in order. Some of you made it sound like this was, possible at home? Can anybody point me to some directions? Or, should I just send it off to Carol straight away?

eddie gunks · Dec 13, 2007

brad,
keep playing with the shutter. mine loosed up after i shot it many many times. it began to work just fine shortly after that.

eddie

Frank R · Dec 13, 2007

BradS said:
My new crown graphic arrived today. It was as dirty as can be imagined. I spent about two hours with hot soapy water and Q-tips...It's pretty clean now.

I also think that is one of the fun parts of buying old cameras; discovering a jewel under a little bit of grime. Almost like archeology; cleaning the dirt away to find a treasure.

eclarke · Dec 13, 2007

Jeez, you guys got me too. I have a Crown that looks new and haven't had it out in 2 years. I am in the photo doldrums right now and just got the impulse to do some handholding!!!!..Evan Clarke

JCT · Dec 13, 2007

And I'm scouring the 'bay for one too -- have to stay away from those minty ones -- they're beautiful!

Thanks guys, I think....:rolleyes:

JT

Excited about Crown Graphic!

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency