Film holders 4x5 for Speed Graphic with Graphic /spring/ back.

Demetrius · Dec 19, 2010

Hi to everybody !

I just bought a speed Graflex 4x5 with Graphic /spring/ back. I intend to purchase some film holders, but found difficult to distinguish them in the Ebay listing, because not every seller note if it is compatible.
If you can provide me with some parameters, which are specific for them, I will be very thankful !

Regards !

Whiteymorange · Dec 19, 2010

I haven't found any standard 4x5 holders that don't fit the spring back. Some of the special film holders, like the Polaroid 405, are a little thick, requiring a longer screw and a spacer on the spring, but standard sheet film holders have all been a straightforward slide-in affair for me. Other may have had different results, but I haven't heard of problems.

Demetrius · Dec 19, 2010

Whiteymorange said:
I haven't found any standard 4x5 holders that don't fit the spring back. Some of the special film holders, like the Polaroid 405, are a little thick, requiring a longer screw and a spacer on the spring, but standard sheet film holders have all been a straightforward slide-in affair for me. Other may have had different results, but I haven't heard of problems.

I hope, you do not mean Graflok back ?

Steve Smith · Dec 19, 2010

Just about all of the 5x4 double dark slide film holders you will see for sale conform to a standard set of dimensions. However, be aware that there are also similar looking holders which take glass plates and are not suitable for film.

Steve.

Demetrius · Dec 19, 2010

As I understand, every cut sheet film holder, which matches Graflok /international/ back, will matches the previous Graphic /spring/ back as well ?

djacobox372 · Dec 20, 2010

Any holder will work.

The graflok back just makes it easier to attach roll-film backs.

TareqPhoto · Dec 24, 2010

I bought 3 Fidelity Deluxe film holders used from keh.com, i am not sure if they are working fine from this thread, but i need to start to shoot LF to find out, but i am really looking to buy new film holder just to be sure i have something new at least, i was going to buy TOYO film holders as long they are available with Fidelity just to see the difference, but i really look for to buy a Polaroid back just in case if possible/available.

Sirius Glass · Dec 24, 2010

djacobox372 said:
Any holder will work.

The graflok back just makes it easier to attach roll-film backs.

No, no, no.

There are two different 4"x5" Graphic and Graflex backs.

One is the "standard" 4x5 two sheet film holder that does not have a groove on each side.
The other is the Graflex 4x5 two sheet film holder that has a groove on each side.

The second has a knife-like edges that slide into the two grooves while the first will fit into a Graflok holder or spring back.

It sound like the OP is talking about the "standard" holder for a spring back. However, too be sure, please post a photograph of your spring back on this thread.

Steve

michaelbsc · Dec 24, 2010

Steve is absolutly correct. The greflex holders with the groove will not fit. I have 3 of them by accident from an eBay purchase that prove it.

The old ones are becoming scarcer by the month, however. Any of the new plastic holders, Lisco, Riteway, or Fidelity will fit properly. It's only the wooden ones you need to examine.

djacobox372 · Dec 26, 2010

Sirius Glass said:
No, no, no.

There are two different 4"x5" Graphic and Graflex backs.

One is the "standard" 4x5 two sheet film holder that does not have a groove on each side.
The other is the Graflex 4x5 two sheet film holder that has a groove on each side.

The second has a knife-like edges that slide into the two grooves while the first will fit into a Graflok holder or spring back.

It sound like the OP is talking about the "standard" holder for a spring back. However, too be sure, please post a photograph of your spring back on this thread.

Steve

Oops, thanks for the correction.

Aren't the holders you're talking about extremely old? pre-dating the spring back? so if the TS just makes sure he stays away from the antique looking holders he should be okay. Right?

Sirius Glass · Dec 26, 2010

These holders were made until at least 1963 by Graflex. Other manufactures may have continued making them. The 4"x5" "standard" holders [without the groove] are still being made.

So is 1963+ "extremely old"? That you depend on your age.

Steve

removed account4 · Dec 26, 2010

speed graphics i don't believe ever used
the same film holders as graflex slrs ...
the graflex slrs used the grooved / slotted holders
the spring back cameras, speed graphics and
anniversary graphics, and crown graphics all
used "normal" ungrooved/unslotted film holders

you might want to poke around graflex.org, it is a place
that talks about all the graflex / graphic cameras from the very early ones
to the late model ones .. and the people there and archives there are very nice !

i searched there using this " film holders spring back " and got this:

http://www.google.com/custom?q=film...97577;"> <input+type=&sitesearch=graflex.org

and

http://graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=5752&sid=fb657d9ac4bd8c57f2bdfd5ca4f48cb1

have fun !
john

mfratt · Dec 26, 2010

I have three different types of holders (newer plastic Fidelty Elites, older metal Fidelity Deluxes and some Riteways) and they are all the same for my Graflock back. As I understand it, these are pretty much a universal holder design for spring backs. As someone mentioned, I'd be wary of the wooden holders or the ones designed for a specific camera by that camera's manufacturer such as Chamonix or Lotus (though I can't see why they wouldn't work - but just be wary). The sellers probably say "if compadible" just to make sure someone who doesn't know what he's buying gets the wrong type (not a spring back, different size camera etc) then tries to get a refund off the seller.

Film holders 4x5 for Speed Graphic with Graphic /spring/ back.

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