Introducing: A camera I didn't need but looks like fun

saman13 · Apr 9, 2018

I've been wanting a large format camera for a while for the big negatives and use of camera movements. But, I realized that until I get a large format enlarger, a large format camera won't do me much good unless I want to contact print. However, my enlarger can handle up to 6x9, so...

I picked up a Busch Pressman C, a nice little 2x3 press camera.

I got it for $30 on ebay, an auction that included a dozen cut film holders. For that price, I can't be too upset with the rough condition it came in.

The leather cover is beat up. It is missing the stops on the rails so I had to figure out the correct location for the front standard to sit so it focuses correctly. The sun shade that blocks incident light from hitting the ground glass is in poor shape. It is missing he button on top of the camera to release the cover when it is folded. The lens is fogged and it is actually the lens from an old Balda folder (from my research online), not one made for the camera. It took a decent amount of fiddling to even get the camera to open as it was not put away properly the last time it was used.

However, those are the bad. Now for the good things.

The shutter works perfectly and is completely accurate. The focusing racks in and out smoothly. The Kalart rangefinder works and is ACCURATE. All movements work perfectly. The lens actually covers most movements. So, it checks all the important boxes.

Some more pictures:

4 of the film holders had film in them, so I exposed them as test shots with this camera and I'll develop to see if the film was any good tonight.

I'm excited to use it and to learn more (read: anything) about camera movements! I have some Arista 100 cut film on the way along with some Instax Mini film to use in my film holders. I want to pick up an Adapt-A-Roll 620 eventually so I can shoot 120 film with it. Maybe some tintypes too!

I still want a large format camera and I'm sure I'll get one eventually, but for now, this little guy will do.

If you've shot with one of these or with the similar Graflex equivalents and have any tips or things to try, let me know!

M. Axel Wikstrom · Apr 9, 2018

I really like 2x3 field cameras. Mine is a Horseman VH (no rangefinder) and modern lenses. I use RB67 film backs, and the Horseman 90-degree finder. A lot more compact than the 4x5, especially nice when flying. When done right (good glass is the key) not much difference from 4x5.

mshchem · Apr 9, 2018

I have 6x9 fujis. I love 6x9. Sheet film is cool. Probably could use a Paterson reel it you are careful. I love it!

Paul Howell · Apr 9, 2018

Does not look like it will take a roll back, I think Freestyle carries 6X9 film. If you can find a Yankee cut film tank it is adjustable for 6X9. I have Graphic, but always wanted a Bushman.

E. von Hoegh · Apr 9, 2018

The Radionar is a triplet and yours is a bit "long" for the format, which means more coverage for movements. Stopped down to f:8 to 11, it will be pretty good. I think Schneider made a 105 Symmar, I know they made a 135 Symmar which would give all the coverage you could wish, plus be sharper across the frame.
Cleaned up, you'll find the Radionar quite nice I think.

Sirius Glass · Apr 9, 2018

Enjoy!!

I use a 90mm, 135mm and 210mm lenses with my 4"x5" Pacemaker Speed Graphic. I use 7.5" and 15" lens with my 4"x5" Graflex Model D.

saman13 · Apr 9, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
The Radionar is a triplet and yours is a bit "long" for the format, which means more coverage for movements. Stopped down to f:8 to 11, it will be pretty good. I think Schneider made a 105 Symmar, I know they made a 135 Symmar which would give all the coverage you could wish, plus be sharper across the frame.
Cleaned up, you'll find the Radionar quite nice I think.

I'm not sure I know what you mean by "long for the format". It is 105mm, which is just about "normal" for 6x9, right?

In any event, I'm excited to see how it performs. I also picked up a 101mm f4.7 Graflex Optar in a graphex shutter for pretty cheap from someone here on the forum, which was the standard lens (just branded for Busch and not Graflex) with this camera. So, I'll try both of these lenses out and decide which I like better. They're so similar in focal length it doesn't make much sense to keep both.

Paul Howell said:
Does not look like it will take a roll back, I think Freestyle carries 6X9 film. If you can find a Yankee cut film tank it is adjustable for 6X9. I have Graphic, but always wanted a Bushman.

No, it won't take the Graflok backs but it will take an Adapt-A-Roll 620. I just haven't been able to find one yet. I might post a WTB in the classifieds here.

mshchem said:
Sheet film is cool. Probably could use a Paterson reel it you are careful. I love it!

That's what I'm about to try. Wish me luck.

jim10219 · Apr 9, 2018

I have one of those and a 620 adapt-a-roll for it. It’s really the best way to shoot that camera, as cut sheet film is limited, cumbersome (with those old wooden film holders that are rarely in good shape) and expensive. You can adapt the rangefinder for other lenses. It’s not hard, but it does take some time. There are instructions at the Graflex site. My only complaints with those cameras is you need to source some empty 620 rolls (if you use the adapt-a-roll) and either develop your own film, or make sure whoever does develop them for you gives them back. I’ve actually found one in every 620 box camera I’ve found, so that may be a good place to look. The second problem is it’s almost impossible to find lens boards for them, and they’re so small, you’re really limited in the number of lenses you can use due to their small size. That being said, I just use the one lens with it, and use the rangefinder and sport finder to compose. Otherwise they’re great cameras to get you accustomed to the process of large format cameras, play around with some limited movements, and shoot 6x9 negatives, which I think are a great aspect ratio, especially for landscapes!

Sirius Glass · Apr 9, 2018

Better yet get a Grafmatic 45 and shoot six sheets of film. https://graflex.org/speed-graphic/grafmatic/

saman13 · Apr 10, 2018

Well, that was a frustrating developing session. I tried loading the 8 sheets onto my Paterson reel with no luck. Couldn't get them to seat properly. So, I just decided to tray develop them. I use an app on my phone for development times, so I started that, locked my phone, then stared developing. I had exposed these unknown sheets at ISO 25 and planned to develop them for about 10 minutes. Some unknown amount of time later, I remembered that for an inexplicable reason, the app I use does not count down unless the app is actively opened. So, no idea how long I had been developing for. I just developed for a while longer and hoped that I would get a usable negative.

Some of the sheets had been exposed to light and were completely exposed. But, I actually got an image on some of them. Problem is, I didn't develop them long enough and the negative is extremely thin. Once they dry I'll try scanning to see if I can do any magic on them to get something to post here.

The main thing I learned was that I really need a sheet film developing tank. I don't like developing in the complete dark and I don't like tray developing.

Sirius Glass said:
Better yet get a Grafmatic 45 and shoot six sheets of film. https://graflex.org/speed-graphic/grafmatic/

I haven't seen those before, and its a pretty cool bit of engineering. Not sure if it's worth the $50 they seem to fetch, but cool nonetheless.

shutterfinger · Apr 10, 2018

Kiwi Color Shine liquid shoe polish works great for faded leather, not sure how it will do on the bare areas.
http://us.kiwicare.com/products/kiwi-color-shine

The Kalart rangefinder is adjusted for one lens only. Other lens, even if the same marked focal length, will be in error at close distances unless the rangefinder is recalibrated to the lens in use.

A roll film holder for 2x3 Graflok/International back can be mounted to the camera. The requirement is the existing ground glass focus panel has to be removed and retainers installed where the spring mount screws are.
The retainer is a flat washer with a side trimmed off to just fit onto the lip of the film holder without interfering with the operation of the holder. A custom retainer can be made from 0.030 sheet aluminum also.
The rangefinder must be calibrated to the lens in use or a calibrated focus scale for the lens installed on the camera.
Composing is done with the optical viewfinder or sports finder both which are on your camera.

Kalart adjustment instructions: http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/kalart_1.html or http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/kalart-adjustment.html

Theo Sulphate · Apr 10, 2018

saman13 said:
...
I haven't seen those before, and its a pretty cool bit of engineering. Not sure if it's worth the $50 they seem to fetch, but cool nonetheless.

They are very convenient and fun to use. A clever bit of mechanical engineering went into them.

Usually, the ones I find in decent shape (nothing missing or broken) are about $75 -- that's for 4x5. However, I got lucky and found this new-in-box Grafmatic for the same price. It's very old, but looks new.

AgX · Apr 10, 2018

The first time I read "synchronized" in context with a rangefinder.

shutterfinger · Apr 10, 2018

Sirius Glass said:
Better yet get a Grafmatic 45 and shoot six sheets of film.

Its going to be very difficult to get a Grafmatic 45 in a 2x3 camera. Get a Grafmatic 23 instead. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1UXWSznZ87pwgkR2duxo24MMkYzsX4zpW
The grafmatic may be too thick to fit under the focus panel and when advancing to the next frame it may be pulled back from the camera body causing a light leak. Care must be exercised when using them in a spring back.

E. von Hoegh · Apr 10, 2018

saman13 said:
Well, that was a frustrating developing session. I tried loading the 8 sheets onto my Paterson reel with no luck. Couldn't get them to seat properly. So, I just decided to tray develop them. I use an app on my phone for development times, so I started that, locked my phone, then stared developing. I had exposed these unknown sheets at ISO 25 and planned to develop them for about 10 minutes. Some unknown amount of time later, I remembered that for an inexplicable reason, the app I use does not count down unless the app is actively opened. So, no idea how long I had been developing for. I just developed for a while longer and hoped that I would get a usable negative.

Some of the sheets had been exposed to light and were completely exposed. But, I actually got an image on some of them. Problem is, I didn't develop them long enough and the negative is extremely thin. Once they dry I'll try scanning to see if I can do any magic on them to get something to post here.

The main thing I learned was that I really need a sheet film developing tank. I don't like developing in the complete dark and I don't like tray developing.

I haven't seen those before, and its a pretty cool bit of engineering. Not sure if it's worth the $50 they seem to fetch, but cool nonetheless.

If you find a good Grafmatic for $50, jump on it! They're great accesories.
For whatever reason I read the fl of your lens as 13.5 cm. Neither triplets nor Tessars (Optar) cover much more than their focal length, just because a lens illuminates a large circle does not mean it covers sharply. Your lenses will cover 6x9, but not much room - if any - for movements.

jim10219 · Apr 10, 2018

I'm not a huge fan of the Grafmatic film holders. I have a 45 and while it's supposed to hold six sheets of film, I find it jams up frequently when I try to load all six. It does a lot better if I only load five. Also, I like being able to write directly on the film holder what shot I took and any special developing needs. With the Grafmatic, you can still take notes on that, but I find it more cumbersome and confusing. All in all, it's an okay device. It's certainly fun to use and an interesting piece of engineering. But I don't like taking chances with my sheet film. It's just too expensive.

saman13 · Apr 10, 2018

Like I said, it came with 12 film holders, so I think I’m set for now.

On every one of the film holders, the previous owner wrote (50 40). Sometimes (50 new 40, sometimes (50 old 40). Does anyone know what this might mean? Not that it matters at all, just curious.

saman13 · Apr 10, 2018

I also cleaned the camera up last night. Took out the ground glass and cleaned it, repaired the light shade over the GG, cleaned the viewfinder and rangefinder glass, and cleaned the lens. Those things made a huge difference. Looking forward to shooting more with it!

P.johnson14 · Apr 10, 2018

Looks like fun!

If you find a 620 adapt-a-roll, plastic 620 spools are being made.

Ian Grant · Apr 10, 2018

I have a similar camera, came without the ground glass focus screen frame, the springs look similar to yours, however they allow a Graflex or similar roll film back to be slide in. I was given two focus frames (with hoods) and adapted one to fit. The downside to this camera is it's not very practical changing lenses and the lens board size is very limiting. in terms of what lenses you could use.

Have fun

Ian

E. von Hoegh · Apr 10, 2018

jim10219 said:
I'm not a huge fan of the Grafmatic film holders. I have a 45 and while it's supposed to hold six sheets of film, I find it jams up frequently when I try to load all six. It does a lot better if I only load five. Also, I like being able to write directly on the film holder what shot I took and any special developing needs. With the Grafmatic, you can still take notes on that, but I find it more cumbersome and confusing. All in all, it's an okay device. It's certainly fun to use and an interesting piece of engineering. But I don't like taking chances with my sheet film. It's just too expensive.

You have at least one bent septum, mine work flawlessly and are invaluable for hiking and action photography. Yes you can photograph action with a Technika.

E. von Hoegh · Apr 10, 2018

AgX said:
The first time I read "synchronized" in context with a rangefinder.

Same as "coupled", iirc it was used in prewar Contax literature along with "distance meter", "telemeter" and "automatic focussing".

saman13 · Apr 10, 2018

Ian Grant said:
The downside to this camera is it's not very practical changing lenses and the lens board size is very limiting. in terms of what lenses you could use.

Have fun

Ian

That is what I'm beginning to see... I got it because I thought it might be better for landscapes than my Mamiya TLR but the ease of changing from a 65mm to a 135mm on the Mamiya is giving me second thoughts...

I would hate to lose one of the lens board screws while out on a hike.

saman13 · Apr 10, 2018

Here's one of the shots from yesterday:

Like I said, it was a very thin negative because I didn't know the film's ISO and didn't know how long I had developed it for. It took some work to get a decent image but it showed me that the lens is entirely adequate. And that my dog is a good sport with all of my fiddling with film holders and dark slides.

None of the other 8 shots were really usable. Oh well, it was free film and I used replenished XTOL so didn't even cost me any developer!

MattKing · Apr 10, 2018

saman13 said:
On every one of the film holders, the previous owner wrote (50 40). Sometimes (50 new 40, sometimes (50 old 40).

Could be film speeds.

Introducing: A camera I didn't need but looks like fun

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