Graflex Crown/Speed/Super Graphic Ownership?

[herb]

Crown Graphic

Bought my first Speed in 1951-shot weddings with a 4x5 crown and #2 flashbulbs.
Have a crown I use mostly with a 6x12 roll film back.

 

[mopar_guy]

1946 Anniversary Speed (3x4)
1952 Pacemaker Speed (3x4)
3-1949 Crown's (2x3)
3-Pacemaker Speed's (2x3)

I have been using the 2x3 Crown Graphics lately. I just processed some Efke PL-25 sheet film.

 

[mattk]

Speed Graphic: I just tested the FP shutter and its only 1/2 a stop slow on 1/1000th and spot on at 1/250 and 1/60. I fitted a modern 135mm Symmar and just calibrated the rangefinder after replacing the mirror--what a difference that made! If you have a dull rangefinder do yourself a favor and replace it (you get the beam splitter glass from Edmund Scientific). Can't wait to take it to Costa Rica end of November!

 

[Curt]

I used one of those square box with the fold up hood and the lens that racks out of the box 4x5, I think it was a Graflex? but not sure it was a long time ago. I really liked it and wish I had one in 5x7, it had the bag magazine and an old original lens.

 

[BetterSense]

Speed Graphic: I just tested the FP shutter and its only 1/2 a stop slow on 1/1000th and spot on at 1/250 and 1/60. I fitted a modern 135mm Symmar and just calibrated the rangefinder after replacing the mirror--what a difference that made! If you have a dull rangefinder do yourself a favor and replace it (you get the beam splitter glass from Edmund Scientific). Can't wait to take it to Costa Rica end of November!

Do you have the side-mounted Kalart rangefinder? How does the glass come to be replaced; is it clamped in with screws?

I have a pacemaker speed graphic with side-mounted kalart rangefinder and sadly the screws are all rounded. Possibly with some dremel work I could extract them and use new ones, but right not I leave it because it is 'close enough' and hopefully it will stay that way. The moving image is very dim, however.

 

[mopar_guy]

I just replaced the beamsplitter in the Kalart rangefinder on my 3x4 Pacemaker Speed Graphic. In the process of doing this I also found that something had been "hanging up". The old glass was fastened with some sort of adhesive. I grabbed it with a pair of pliers and just broke the old beamsplitter out and removed all of the pieces. I used silicon adhesive to "glue" the new one in. By the way, I got my new beamsplitter from Edmund Scientifics (50% reflect- 50% transmit). This was a 50mm x 50mm piece (about 2 x 2 inch) and I cut a smaller piece with a regular glass cutter. This is a simple fix and many people have done it successfully. What an amazing difference!

Dave

 

[Curt]

There should be a category: Never owned one but used one for a year.

 

[lambis]

Thats My baby. Peacemaker Speed Graphic with a 178 Aero Ektar

 

[mike c]

Lambus,thats a big load for the front standard.

 

[lambis]

Lambus,thats a big load for the front standard.

Its a custom made Jo Lommen Lens hood Inclusive 77mm filter holder for the aero.

 

[mike c]

Looks can of awesome on the camera.

 

[Don Wallace]

I own a late model Pacemaker Crown Graphic and a Super Graphic. I don't use either one right now, but will probably again at some point.

 

[Mike Wilde]

I was gifted a lot of 4x5 film. Borrowed a Crown Graphic 135 oem lens unit for a few months to use a bit, and bought 12 holders at a camera show for the film. Then borrowed for about 7 months a Kodak Master View monorail until the owner wanted to loan it to someone needing it for school;

I went to the next years camera show and bought a Crown with a worn out lower tripod bushing , with 2 spare lens boards, oem 135 lens in x synch shutter, and 6 holders, as well as OEM case. $120. Fixed the worn tripod bushing; a pain, but do-able

Two weeks later found a Cambo 4x5 monorail with rail extension, normal and bag bellows, a couple of camera lens hoods, one with compendium inserts, and 8 film holders, as well as a 210/420 old symmar with a screwed shutter, all for $300. So home, and fix the shutter in 20 minutes. It fits a spare board on the Crown, and the Crown with the 210 in it will just extend far enough to do handheld with flash head shot portraiture, and best of all, will just close with this lens on it.

I try to get the 4x5 gear out and into use at least every other month. Two boys, 6 and 9 with thier and moms schedule sometimes somewhat impar all of the ideal photo times that I would otehrwise like to seize.

 

[Mike1234]

I literally have dozens of Graflex cameras, plus lenses and accessories I need to sell but I need to catch up on other things first. :rolleyes:

 

[EASmithV]

long live the graflex

 

[viridari]

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 picked up a late 1920's vintage Speed Graphic on the evil auction site. It's a bit of a basket case so it needs thorough restoration before I can begin using it.