Grafmatics

[Curt]

Who among the members out there use 4x5 Grafmatic film holders a good deal, a lot or only? I like my Grafmatic 23's so I bought a group of three 4x5 Grafmatic holders. From what I've read the main reason for them is not weight but space.

At one time back in my school days I had the use of Graflex with a bag mag which had 12 septum's. It was great and with 12 it was a good shoot. I often wonder why Grafmatic holders didn't come in 5x7, maybe they did, or even 8x10.

Curt

 

[Mick Fagan]

Curt, I have one camera that I bought some 4x5 Grafmatic holders for, my Razzle, which is a converted Polaroid camera.

The reason and the only reason for using the Grafmatic backs is speed, portability is another reason, but speed is the real reason. As far as space goes, three DDS film holders are only marginally larger than a single Grafmatic, both hold six sheets.

I take my Razzle on my motorcycle and pushbike with one Grafmatic holder, effectively the same space is taken up whether I take three DDS or one Grafmatic, plus camera.

With the relatively unique Razzle back, the Grafmatic becomes locked in and you can pull the slide in and out without worrying about the holder coming adrift slightly from the camera and fogging film, another small bonus.

Mick.

 

[Fotoguy20d]

Did you grab the 3 for $165 (or therabouts) on the bay? Seemed like a pretty good deal - thought about picking them up myself but I have a ton of double sided holders (and one grafmatic) for my 4x5 and I usually use my LF gear when I'm driving it all around anyway so the size and weight doesn't much matter to me. A grafmatic or two for 2x3 would be nice.

Dan

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I use them mainly for space savings and secondarily for speed, except for handheld shooting, when speed is more important than space savings, though both are important (can't shoot film that doesn't fit in the bag). Kinematics offer even better space savings (10 sheets, only slightly thicker than a Grafmatic), but they're a little fiddlier to use. I've got eight 4x5" Grafmatics, two 4x5" Kinematics, and six 2x3" Grafmatics.

When I travel with the 2x3" Technika, I've been bringing rollfilm for handheld shots, and I can bring all my 2x3" Grafmatics for view camera style shots on the tripod, and that's enough for a week or two, without having to reload or sort sheets.

For a day of shooting the 4x5" Technika and two Kinematics is often enough.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I have six 4x5 grafmatics, and use them extensively in the field, but not in the studio.

 

[rwyoung]

I've used my Graphmatics quite a bit on my Pacemaker when I have a pinhole installed instead of a lens. Well, I did use them a lot that way but I've been tied up in other projects lately and haven't gotten out much to expose film in the last 3 months.

But for me, the best use I ever made of the holders was film testing. Automatic numbering of the negatives!

 

[outwest]

I use only Grafmatics and Kinematics in my 4x5s with the exception of my B&J Grover Press in which they don't seat. I had to make a slight modification to my Tech III to accept the Grafmatics, but oddly, the Kinematics worked fine as issued. I just wish the Kinematics had the numbering wheel of the Grafmatics. Some years ago, the camera stores in Denver were flooded with Grafmatics surplussed out of the old Air Force photo school there. They were going for $25-$35. It is a lot simpler to haul around and keep track of 1 Kinematic versus 5 double sides.

 

[Shmoo]

I only have 2 Grafmatics, but wish I had more. I load each one of them with a different film (b&w/color, or FP4/HP5...like that). The only thing I have to remember is to slightly shift my image to adjust for the film counter. Since they're metal, I've never had a static issue with them either...nice side benefit. I also keep a small thin butter knife around to keep the septa straight. I don't think they're a lot lighter than the equivalent Fidelity holders, but they are a lot more compact, faster, and easier to use in the field.

 

[erikg]

I have three made for the Graflex back that I use on my series D. The numbering wheel is pretty ingenious but nevertheless I removed them from my backs, carefully, of course. I like to print the whole sheet sometimes and the number gets in the way. I use that camera hand held and that's when the grafmatics really shine since they don't have to move for the next shot. I don't think there was a 5x7 size, you'd have to go with a bagmag for that, but only with the Graflex back.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I haven't tested it myself, but there was a test of various filmholders back in the 1970s or early 1980s in one of the magazines like Popular Photography or maybe Modern that claimed that Grafmatics had better flatness than standard holders.

 

[Jim Noel]

I haven't tested it myself, but there was a test of various filmholders back in the 1970s or early 1980s in one of the magazines like Popular Photography or maybe Modern that claimed that Grafmatics had better flatness than standard holders.

I believe the magazine was Petersen's Photographic and you are correct they found the Grafmatics best for film flatness. That is the reason I have 8 of them in 2 sizes. When I use 4x5 or 6x9cm in the filed I only use Grafmatics.

 

[Curt]

Dan, yes I'm the one who bought the the three, they were listed twice but no one wanted them so I emailed the seller and said I'd buy all three if he would sell them for $55 each instead of $75, he listed them again and I made the purchase. My funds are rather limited and I'm really pleased to be getting them. I have three 23's that I use in my Busch "C" and they also work with my new RB67. I have a good size collection regular 23 and 45 film holders but found the Grafmatics very handy.

As a side not I saw a die cutter for 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 but the cut out is 57mm x 83mm and the 2x3 film I measured is 56mm x 82mm and it wouldn't fit in the septum of the 23 Grafmatic. I was hoping that I could use a die cutter to cut down film of emulsions that aren't available in 2x3.

Curt

 

[Fotoguy20d]

He put up another 3 at $165 for the lot of them. I picked up a Bantam Special yesterday and a 4x5 Pacemaker Speed the day before that so I'm tapped out for a while. I have no affiliation with the seller but for anyone who's looking:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140283411931&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004

Dan

 

[paul ewins]

I've got around twenty of them including six for the older Graflex RB back. The quality of what is out there varies quite a bit given their age, but with a little careful lubrication and straightening of the septums before loading even some really tired ones were made to function properly. They are at their best with an SLR or Speed Graphic where you aren't swapping them in and out to look at the focussing screen, but just keep shooting.

 

[Curt]

How accurate is the function of the numbering wheel? I can't see the numbers to see if it works. I've heard somewhere that people have taken them off, is that a good move and how is it done if one doesn't work right or is in the film area?

 

[Shmoo]

The wheel numbers show up if the area of the negative that the wheel is exposed in isn't black. Some people take it off, but others like to have the number if you're keeping record of your shots. Six of one, half dozen of the other, I think.

 

[Curt]

Thanks, I'll just leave them alone.

 

[jordanstarr]

Just a warning if you're using them with a wooden field camera -the weight can tilt the back out of focus if you don't have everything tightened up. I've wasted a few sheets with that mistake and you never notice it until AFTER you shoot the whole thing.

 

[Curt]

I also found that the slide locks on my Shen Hao camera won't slide to the locking position, the holder side slots are just too far out, actually the Shen Hao slides are positioned too far together, just a bit, not enough to move them out without having screw hole problems. Oh well! I should have figured as much when the C1 roll holder I have wouldn't fit in the back at all.

Now all I need is a new camera to go with the accessories.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I like the numbers. They make it a little easier to correlate the negs with my notes later on.

 

[k_jupiter]

I have three 23's that I use in my Busch "C" and they also work with my new RB67. I have a good size collection regular 23 and 45 film holders but found the Grafmatics very handy.

Curt

Be very very careful with the rb67. I have found, after using my grafmatics on my rb67 that... the images are slightly out of focus even while using a tripod and cable release. The Mamiya film offset is not the same as a Graphics.

tim in san jose