Graflex Crown/Speed/Super Graphic Ownership?

Own or use a Graflex Crown/Speed or Super Graphic?

  • No..Never understood why anybody would want one.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • never owned or used one.

    Votes: 32 12.7%

  • Used one at work / military

    Votes: 6 2.4%

  • owned one less than a year.

    Votes: 25 10.0%

  • own/owned one but don't/didn't use it much

    Votes: 61 24.3%

  • own onw e or more and use 'em often.

    Votes: 122 48.6%

  • Collector. own many use few or not at all.

    Votes: 5 2.0%
  • Total voters
    251

BradS

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I wonder how many people have owned or currently own a Graflex Crown, Speed or Super graphic.....


Also interested in how frequently it is / was used....
 

JBrunner

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Here! A really nice Crown and a Speed. They get used in spurts. In the last year I've probably run 20-30 sheets through each.
 
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BradS

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Man that was fast! I have a beatup side RF Crown from around 1952 and use it regularly.
 

removed account4

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i have a 54 pacemaker speed, and use it pretty often,
i owned an older speed as a back up, and sold it to a friend a few years ago
and was gifted a crown by a dear friend, and i loaned it to a friend in need.

they are great cameras!

john
 

2F/2F

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I have a '54 Pacemaker Speed, and use it not so much any more, although I used to quite a bit. My favorite 4x5 pix that I have taken were done with this camera. They are versatile workhorses. Even the ones that are beat to piss can be used. I will be using it PLENTY in the next six moths due to a certain project. I will be using it with an RH10 back for the project. It is the closest thing I have to a 4x5 field camera. A Tachihara some day, but for now the Speed will do. I am always on the lookout for a 2x3 clone of my 4x5. I want it to be a Pacemaker with a Graflok back, side Kalart RF, top VF. I don't mind the weight of the Speed vs. the Crown, and find the rear shutter to be a useful feature.
 

ricksplace

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'29 Pre-Anny 4X5 speed with the dreaded "graflex" back (I love it), Pacemaker 4X5 Speed with a graflock back, , and a Century Graphic (2X3). Had the pre-anny out today.
 

mwdake

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I have a Super Graphic.
I am not using it as much as I would like.
 

sly

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Crown Graphic. My favorite camera ever since I bought it 2 years ago.
 

spb854

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Mar 2, 2007
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Arkansas
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I have a Pacemaker Speed Graphic. I've used it a few times with Polaroid 55 film.
I have a Grafmatic loaded with TMax 400 waiting to use it. Plan to process the
film in Jobo processor. Will be interesting to see how I do.

Steve
 

Phillip P. Dimor

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Early Pacemaker Speed, side-mounted kalart and graflok back. Used mostly with a petzval, 7.5" kodak anastigmat and 10" kodak ektanon.
Also have a near-mint late pacemaker crown with 135mm congo. That's the handheld one.
Though I can use the speed handheld, I've calibrated the rangefinder to the 7.5" anastigmat.

Love these cameras.
 

Ian Grant

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Two Speeds 1 pre-Anniversary WA Special, & a Pacemaker with no shutter, and a Pacemaker Crown Graphic. They get used when I have to shoot 5x4 hand held (tripods are often prohibited at many places I shoot).

Given a choice I'd prefer the newer Super Graphics which were released to try & compete with the far better featured Linhof's & MPP's.

Ian
 

rusty_tripod

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I would like to own one some day. That was not on the list.
 

2F/2F

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Forgot to mention that I have two storage crates full of flashbulbs. My reflector is the 5 in. right angled bayonet one. Unfortunately, I used up all the clear Press 25s and GE #5s and am left only with the blue ones. They have a lower guide number, and I don't like to waste the blue ones on black and white film. The rest of the bulbs are larger. There are some GE #11s (the most common bulbs used in the large 7 in. screw base reflector), some that are the size of household light bulbs, and some that are larger. I also have a couple of teeny bayonet base modeling lights. All of this stuff came with the Speed kit. Niiiice.

I need to stock up on clear Press 25/GE #5s...or get a 7 in. reflector and start using the #11s. Or maybe I'll just tape a wee stack of paper plates to the back of my flashgun.
 

paul ewins

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My first was a post-war Speed Graphic with the side mounted kalart which got used on a tripod with hot lights and handheld with bulb flash. I've since bought another couple of Speeds (added a 178 Aero Ektar to one of those) and a Super Graphic, all 4x5. The original Speed still gets used the most although I hope to take the Super Graphic out into the field soon.

I stocked up on bulbs whenever I could get them cheaply and have used smaller ones (M2/M3/M5) in adapters with reasonable results.
 

gordrob

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Speed Graphics 2x3, 3x4 and 4x5 and a Crown Graphic 4x5. All with flash guns and a supply of bulbs. One of the Speeds has a 178 Aero Ektar as well.
Also a supply of Tri X film packs for the 2x3 and 3x4 sizes.
Gord
 

VaryaV

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Crown Graphic 4x5, graflok back, flash guns - yesterday scored big on a Graflarger - yippee, bought it for myself for xmas (G.A.S.) - been looking for one forever, it seems!!! Cost from going from MF to LF is astounding! Haven't mastered it yet, but once I do, I plan on using it big time. These cameras are being gobbled up, since I bought mine 1 1/2 years ago the price has tripled. 6.50 a piece for bulbs - woof - anyone aware of quirks I should know about? My first batch looks like I might have some leakage in the film holders.

2F/2F - you got way more bulbs than you need! Gimme, Gimme - ha ha! j/k
 

VaryaV

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Brad - looks like the makings of a Group! - Cheers.
 

pgomena

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I owned a Crown with a Schneider 135mm for about 3 years and traded up to a view camera. This was more than 25 years ago. I miss the lens but not the lack of camera movements. It was a good starter camera that was light and portable.

Peter Gomena
 

BrianShaw

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Super and Anny... and only a couple of shoe boxes of bulbs, none of which gets as much use as I'd really like!
 
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BradS

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I am impressed at the results so far. Looks like lots of folks shooting Graphics out there. Cool.

I guess I thought there'd be a whole bunch more people who bought one, used it for a while and moved on....
 

2F/2F

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BradS said:
I am impressed at the results so far. Looks like lots of folks shooting Graphics out there. Cool.

I guess I thought there'd be a whole bunch more people who bought one, used it for a while and moved on....
Click to expand...

I have not used it heavily for a while, because I have been messing with so many other cameras for the kind of stuff I am shooting, and because I no longer have access to a 4x5 enlarger! I am taking it to the grave with me, however! I will always think of the Speed as one of my main "keeper" axes, along with my Canon FD stuff. They are super well built, easy to use, versatile, and as an added plus, they are built in America by Americans...the only great American camera that I own, the others being a few Brownies, a B&J Grover, and an Eastman No. 2. 5x7. The latter two are good, but not great. Not anywhere near the level of design and build of the Graflex.
 
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pnance

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Apr 25, 2005
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You left off the Graphic View... I still use mine.
 

TheFlyingCamera

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The closest thing I have to any of the above is a Graflex Model D 3x4, with the long bellows. I have a 6x9 rollfilm back for it and a recently acquired 12-sheet Grafmatic bag-mag. Someday I'm going to do a project with the rig, but I don't currently trust the roller-blind shutter, so the camera sits at the moment. I've got enough 4x5 sheet film that I'm not using that I could cut it down on my rotary cutter and not have to worry about getting film the right size.
 
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