Graflex RB camera

shutterfinger · Mar 14, 2013

Now, what if I bought groovyless holders and grooved them myself. Are other dimensions the same?

NO. The Graflex film holder is wider by 1/8 to 3/16 inch and the film plane is .010 to .015 deeper. The length is the same.

k_jupiter · Mar 14, 2013

shutterfinger said:
NO. The Graflex film holder is wider by 1/8 to 3/16 inch and the film plane is .010 to .015 deeper. The length is the same.

And one has a locking groove, and one has a locking ridge to keep the film holder in place during use.

tim in san jose

shutterfinger · Mar 14, 2013

And one has a locking groove, and one has a locking ridge to keep the film holder in place during use.

Also called light trap.
Thanks for catching my oversight.

krisb1981 · Mar 18, 2013

One and only holder that would fit my camera just sold on the auction site for $62. The 120 film holder for the same camera sold for $150. I didn't get neither, my 50 dollar bid didn't cut it.

E. von Hoegh · Mar 18, 2013

krisb1981 said:
One and only holder that would fit my camera just sold on the auction site for $62. The 120 film holder for the same camera sold for $150. I didn't get neither, my 50 dollar bid didn't cut it.

Be patient. $62? A fool and his money...

mwdake · Mar 18, 2013

Take a look at Pacific Rim Camera, the have a web site and they also sell on eBay.
I have bought 3x4 slotted holders from them for $5-10 each.

k_jupiter · Mar 19, 2013

krisb1981 said:
One and only holder that would fit my camera just sold on the auction site for $62. The 120 film holder for the same camera sold for $150. I didn't get neither, my 50 dollar bid didn't cut it.

I REALLY need to go through my stuff. What do you think CNC machined plate/roll film adapters for the 3x4 Graflex would go for?

BentleyR · Mar 19, 2013

Well, folks seem willing to spend $100 for used roll film holders. While you are at it a line of Graflex 4X5 cut film holders (with the dreaded grooves) would sell I think. There are a lot of Graflex SLR's out there but very few holders, it would seem. The cameras outnumber the film holders 10:1 on the auction site.

pablogustav · Mar 19, 2013

Hey there krisb,

I have an extra slotted holder for your camera that I can give you that is in perfect shape if you could just cover mailing costs. Send me a private message with your info. and I would be happy to send it off to you.
take care, Pablo

krisb1981 · Mar 21, 2013

Thank you Pablo- this is very generous of you. I will use one and I just got an 18 septum "bull sack" graflex bag mag in very good condition for very attractive price. I will now need to get film.

mwdake · Mar 21, 2013

There are 2 slotted holders on eBay right now, item 171011461274

krisb1981 · Mar 21, 2013

Thank you for the tip mwdake. Anyways I got my bag mag and I noticed that the depth from the part that touches the back of the camera to the film plane is a bit larger maybe .020" than on the film holders. did they have different film planes for those cameras? The magazine fits perfect, it's just that depth.

shutterfinger · Mar 21, 2013

Yes, as stated in a previous post in this thread, Graflex film holders and bag magazines film surface depth is deeper by design.

krisb1981 · Mar 21, 2013

Doesn't this affect the image sharpness? The film is not in the same position as the regular film holder.

shutterfinger · Mar 21, 2013

Graflex Corp. made two major camera lines, Graflex SLR which use Graflex film holders only and Graphic press cameras that use standard film holders unless modified to use Graflex film holders. Regardless of brand, a camera is made to use standardized film holders or model specific holders and its focusing system is calibrated to work with the type of holder system the camera was designed to use.

mopar_guy · Mar 22, 2013

krisb1981 said:
Doesn't this affect the image sharpness? The film is not in the same position as the regular film holder.

It is two completely different systems.

1) Graphic Back

or

2) Graflex Back

removed account4 · Mar 22, 2013

krisb1981 said:
Doesn't this affect the image sharpness? The film is not in the same position as the regular film holder.

if you have one, you could always put a sheet of paper in it ..
then TAPE it on the back of your camera and see for yourself if
it affects image sharpness.
i have a 4x5/D and for years
i taped a polaroid 545i film holder to the back
and photographed with it. film cost at least 2$ / sheet
so i wouldn't have wasted my time oR money if it affected focus.
and CURRENTLY i have a graphic 23 roll film back (made for a camera with a modern international/graflok back )
it is TAPED on the back of my camera ( series D that like yours takes notched holders )
... i have shot maybe 200 rolls of 120 film with it. my lens is usually
a brass lens with no aperture, or a 210 tessar shot wide open ( 3.8 ) again
it doesn't affect much of anything, at least with my camera and the way i focus.
of course your camera, and your film holder, and tape-job might
give you different results, but it might be a useful experiment for you ...
considering the cost is sheets of paper and some masking tape.

good luck !
john

ps. feel free to look in my gallery and do a search under "laverne" or series d to see some photos ...
no disrespect intended to the folks who have posted to this thread, they are all know their stuff ...
but often time on discussion boards people talk and talk and talk, but they have never done anything they say they have
and they are just repeating and repeating and repeating what others have repeated to them & i don't want to come off as one of them.

shutterfinger · Mar 22, 2013

jnanian,
The .010 or so difference in film plane position between standard and Graflex film holders will not have much difference on images shot at small apertures but will on images shot at wide apertures. You may have gotten your taped on holders close to the actual film plane of the camera. TXP (triX 320) in 4x5 sheet is .007 inch thick. T Max in 120 is .0045 inch thick.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thirteenthumbs the 3A Graflex I made a new shutter curtain and modified the transport to use 120 film; the 3x4 RB Auto I made a new shutter curtain and an adapter to use standard 120 RFH.

removed account4 · Mar 22, 2013

beautiful stuff shutterfinger!
i also have a 3A, but the shutter is kind of wonky
so i use a lens cap and paper negatives
not as high tech as yours, but its OK for now ...

you are probably right, maybe i got lucky !
( with the film plane ) ... i did throw salt over my shoulder
and find a 4 leaf clover before i did the taping .. if i would only be so lucky
with my power ball jackpot picks

thanks for the link!
john

shutterfinger · Mar 22, 2013

jnanian,
you may find this post of mine useful. It's the camera I put the shutter curtain in and modified for 120 film.
http://www.graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=6131

removed account4 · Mar 22, 2013

thanks for the link !
we are very lucky here on apug
to have a graflex expert amongst us

i roll my own 122 spools with photo paper taped end to end
that is about as far as i get to modifying my 3A

im happy to know if something goes wrong i know who to contact !
john

pramaglia · Apr 15, 2014

Adapting a Graphic Film Pack Adapter as a focusing panel for a Graflex back

mopar_guy said:
It is two completely different systems.

1) Graphic Back

or

2) Graflex Back

I have a 2x3 Miniature Speed Graphic with the rare Graflex back, but no ground glass focusing panel. So I took a Graphic film adapter and taped a ground glass inside it were the sheet film would normally sit. Then I found a Suydam 120 roll film holder for Graflex backs. I shot a few pics last fall with this setup to check focus and it appears to be ok. The film plane and ground glass are in the same place. The Film pack adapter was easy to find. The Suydam roll film holder not so easy to find.

toolbox · Apr 16, 2014

pramaglia said:
I have a 2x3 Miniature Speed Graphic with the rare Graflex back, but no ground glass focusing panel. So I took a Graphic film adapter and taped a ground glass inside it were the sheet film would normally sit. Then I found a Suydam 120 roll film holder for Graflex backs. I shot a few pics last fall with this setup to check focus and it appears to be ok. The film plane and ground glass are in the same place. The Film pack adapter was easy to find. The Suydam roll film holder not so easy to find.

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Never seen a baby Graphic with a Graflex back... I own the only 4x5 Pacemaker I've ever seen with one . It's pretty well documented that it was an option, but you just don't see them.

It was purchased new in 1956, per the original receipt.

One of these days I'm going to pick up a bag mag for it.

Dan Fromm · Apr 16, 2014

toolbox said:
Never seen a baby Graphic with a Graflex back... I own the only 4x5 Pacemaker I've ever seen with one . It's pretty well documented that it was an option, but you just don't see them.

It was purchased new in 1956, per the original receipt.

One of these days I'm going to pick up a bag mag for it.

Receipt notwithstanding, the picture you posted looks very much like a Graflok back. It has too many sliders to be a Graflex back. Could you have posted the wrong picture?

I'll grant you that it doesn't have the Graflok back's groove (like my Graphics') or Graflex back's ridge (like my RB's) at the right end of the gate.

toolbox · Apr 16, 2014

Dan Fromm said:
Receipt notwithstanding, the picture you posted looks very much like a Graflok back. It has too many sliders to be a Graflex back. Could you have posted the wrong picture?

Nope...it's definitely a Graflex . The sliders don't have the "wedges" a Graflok has, and the focus panel is retained by them. At first glance it does look very much like a Graflok...but if you look at the focus panel, it's completely different from a Graflok--it doesn't have the spring bars you depress to remove it, it's just completely plain.

But yea...unless you do a double take, it does look like a Graflok.

Graflex RB camera

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