Graflex Crown/Speed/Super Graphic Ownership?

[PCGraflex]

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....

I have 2 mini speeds that I use almost 100% of all my M/F work. I also use them with bulb flash, and multi-bulb flash as well.

I have a GII that I use for 4x5 but looking to pick up a CROWN or SPEED in that format. Probably both!!

 

[Robert Brummitt]

I got my Crown Graphic about a month ago. Used it about four or five times and really LOVE IT!
Now, I'm hunting for a second lens for it.

 

[jss]

love my crown graphic. it's my favorite carry-around "point and shoot" camera now.

 

[Konical]

Good Evening,

I have a Baby Speed Graphic which I haven't used for years because the Raptar lens isn't too great and the shutter it's in is somewhat iffy. I have often considered getting a better lens and using the camera more. I guess I've just been spoiled by the lenses on my Koni-Omega and Fuji 6 x7 RF.

Konical

 

[Jim Jones]

My old Speed Graphics and a B&J Press have been modified and adapted to a variety of uses. It's nice to have a system of press, flatbed, and monorail cameas that use the same easily fabricated lensboards.

 

[KPT]

1940 Speed Graphic w/Zeiss 135mm. I plan on shooting a box of Efke25 and a box of Tmx this winter. I love my Speed Graphic! its my 2nd favorite camera.

 

[fatboy22]

Own 2 4x5 Crown Graphics, 2 4x5 Speed graphics, 2 2x3 graphics all set up with different lens lengths ready to use with range finders. Absolutely love these american press classics! Have a large flashbulb stash which I use quite often, great light quality. Old Strobofash heads are great as well!


Jamie

 

[michaelbsc]

I have a top RF mounted Crown Graphics (4x5) and a side mounted Kalart pre-anniversary Speed Graphics (2x3), and both get used occasionally. Occasionally means not within the past month, but often enough that I wouldn't offer them for sale without a replacement on the horizon.

I suppose if I had a true field camera I would trade the 4x5 Crown in favor of the extra movements, but the range finder sure is handy when I'm just goofing around. (Maybe I need both.)

 

[tessar]

I have a 1947 Pacemaker Crown 2x3 with a 101 Optar and the dreaded Graflex back, but after much searching I managed to find a 6x9 roll film holder. It's a wonderful medium-format camera, the fastest to use of my medium-format collection.

 

[Colin Corneau]

I've got a Crown Graphic, with an original box of accessories (flash, cord and even flashbulbs) as well as a 2nd Crown body sans lens & lens board.
They are fantastic cameras to work and travel with...now that I want to really get into Petzval lenses, it seems I need to get a Speed to take advantage of its built in shutter!

(anyone want to trade..?)

 

[Ole]

A nice old 4x5" Anniversary Speed Graphic. I was lucky enough to have a universal lens mount small enough to fit on an Anny lens board, so that's now my standard camera for barrel lenses.

Oh yes - and a Kalart flash, and a crate of flashbulbs...

 

[2F/2F]

Anybody here using HR flashguns?

I don't use them, but have several that I got in a lot with some other stuff, including one of the short little extension units, and REALLY BIG reflector.

If I ever come across a camera with the right mount, I will use them.

 

[Gadfly_71]

49/50 (not sure of the exact year) Pacemaker w/side mounted Kalart, graflok back and the 127mm Kodak Ektar in Graphex shutter.

Included in the kit:
Original faux crocodile hard case, 3 cell Graflite (with both reflectors) and the 6X9 roll film adapter. Also included in the kit was a Wollensack Tele-Optar in barrel (the 15" model) in the original wooden case (need a new lensboard before I can use it though).

OT but related I also have a Graflex 3X4 RB with the 5X7 B&L Tessar.

Love my Pacemaker. Have used it press style to do film production stills on occasion.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[eli griggs]

I've got a Pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic, or most of it anyway, with the focal plane shutter and a 135mm Jena lens, without working shutter or iris blades that I only recently be able to use again, after a break of about 18 years.

I use to use this hand held or on a mono-pod for location model shots with the camera shutter and liked the limited DoF it gave, as well as the look. Now, that I've got some decent sheet film holders and a 545 to play with, as well as a 5x7 enlarger, I want to try it for still-life, etc. using paper negatives, film, Polaroid transfers and negative (I've a bit of Type 55 stashed) etc.

I also received a 1943 or '45 Kodak LF lens from a generous member here, with working iris, so if I can clean the lens well enough, I'll also try that with the cameras' shutter, though I'd love to find a shuttered lens at some future point, I just love hearing that little 'SNIP...CLICK'.

Eli

 

[Sanjay Sen]

I never owned or used one of these, but someday I hope to get one...

 

[Vaughn]

Years ago I bought a used import pick-up in San Francisco from the owner. After completing the deal we got to talking and I found out that he had an interest in photography. I just happened to have a portfolio with me, so I showed it to him. As I was leaving he brought out an old wood-body Speed Graphic w/ lens, and included it in the deal for the truck.

Haven't used it much, but it is nice shape and nice to have around.

vaughn

 

[John Kasaian]

4x5 Crown and an Anny Speeder, plus a 5x7 Speeder and a GVII. The Crown and Anny need bellows The 5x7 and GVII are just great fun!

 

[jimgalli]

I have 2. A 1946ish (how do you guys date them?) minty 4X5 Speed, and a 1923ish top handle 5X7 Speed that Fred Lustig just restored the shutter in. They are tools in my satchel. The main draw is the focal plane shutter for fast speeds with very fast antique lenses. Funny how fast I got used to no movements. Just aim and take the pitcher.

 

[JBrunner]

I have 2. A 1946ish (how do you guys date them?) minty 4X5 Speed, and a 1923ish top handle 5X7 Speed that Fred Lustig just restored the shutter in. They are tools in my satchel. The main draw is the focal plane shutter for fast speeds with very fast antique lenses. Funny how fast I got used to no movements. Just aim and take the pitcher.

Hi Jim,

I dated mine by the serial number on the lens. If it is the normal Ektar for the camera in an original board in about the same shape as the camera, it's not a sure thing, but it's a good bet that they are contemporary to each other.

Here is the code:

http://graflex.org/speed-graphic/lenses.html#EktarLenses

 

[jimgalli]

lol. So how do you date a 162mm Optar? It's gold rim btw. woohoo.

 

[Michael W]

I have a 45 Crown Graphic with a 135 Optar lens. Bought it 6 months ago as a cheap way to get into 4x5. I love it, it's a simple system that produces great results. I'm looking to add a 210 or 240 lens for portraiture.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

There's a guy on graflex.org with the serial number list, or what remains of it..
also many people on that site can roughly give you a good guess at it.

I've been wanting a graflex slr for ever, there's someone on ebay who wins all of them. Completely depressing, I won't even look anymore.
Plus the 4x5 ones are pricey (rightfully so), but the 3x4 ones with a hacked-on graflok run almost as much sometimes!

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

Wolly's are a mystery. There's a post on graflex.org (Kerry Thalmann) where he gives some pretty reasonable guesses.
I bet that 162mm is pretty nice.

 

[JBrunner]

lol. So how do you date a 162mm Optar? It's gold rim btw. woohoo.

IDK, but I heard Kerry Thalmann knows.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

first! do I score some APUG-nerd points?!