My first shots with a Graflex Crown.

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

I am beyond happy and excited. The camera arrived around 5pm, and I had a few minutes to familiarize myself with how to operate it, after reading through an old manual. I then was able to take a few shots on Arista Ortho Lith film. (Film photo below over darkslide to get the positive negative look)

All I can say is wow. This is so much different then a manual 35mm camera, a holga, box camera, pinhole etc. Yall probably already know this, but wow.

Setting it up, focusing the shot, making sure the correct order of operation is taking place, its both relaxing and rewarding.

After taking the shots, I stood there and enjoyed the sunset. I finally felt "In the moment" for the first time in a long time.

Thank yall for all your help and advice

Donald Qualls · Oct 15, 2021

Wait until you shoot a conventional negative film and get a full-range image you can scan or print.

But yes, you've found our secret -- the reason large format still exists. It's a whole different art form from 35mm or even (mostly) medium format, never mind digital.

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Wait until you shoot a conventional negative film and get a full-range image you can scan or print.

But yes, you've found our secret -- the reason large format still exists. It's a whole different art form from 35mm or even (mostly) medium format, never mind digital.

I cant wait to do conventional film in it. Im currently doing the alt processes.. but im thinking atleast contact printing to rc paper and developing that will have to eventually take place !

Donald Qualls · Oct 15, 2021

So how's the search for a second job (to pay for equipment and film) going?

Tel · Oct 15, 2021

I was up at the crack of dawn yesterday shooting magic hour footage of a local farm with my 4x5 Gundlach Korona. Right behind me was a road packed with traffic (there are several schools out there)--horns honking and engine noise and all that, but once I began framing up and pulling focus I completely forgot it was there. The sheer awsomeness of what you see in your ground glass wipes away all the noise and stress....

Donald Qualls · Oct 15, 2021

Tel said:
The sheer awsomeness of what you see in your ground glass wipes away all the noise and stress....

And that goes double the first time you enlarge from a large format negative, and find you can read license plates on cars parked more than a block away, or identify faces on an overlook at a quarter mile -- without special film and developers.

BrianShaw · Oct 15, 2021

Good for you; that worked out. But as Dan and other suggested… you need a new camera already. How are you going to do this, use old lenses in barrel? LOL

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
So how's the search for a second job (to pay for equipment and film) going?

Sold some paintings to pay for this one !

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

Tel said:
I was up at the crack of dawn yesterday shooting magic hour footage of a local farm with my 4x5 Gundlach Korona. Right behind me was a road packed with traffic (there are several schools out there)--horns honking and engine noise and all that, but once I began framing up and pulling focus I completely forgot it was there. The sheer awsomeness of what you see in your ground glass wipes away all the noise and stress....

Thats so awesome! We have tons of farms around here. I need to do some morning photod !

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

BrianShaw said:
Good for you; that worked out. But as Dan and other suggested… you need a new camera already. How are you going to do this, use old lenses in barrel? LOL

View attachment 288257

I need like 10 new cameras now!

Donald Qualls · Oct 15, 2021

BrianShaw said:
How are you going to do this, use old lenses in barrel?

Slow, slow film and a lens cap. Paper negatives at EI 3 to 6, stop down to f/32 or smaller, and you're exposing longer than a second already. Obviously you won't be hand holding with that kit, but you'd have the same issue with a view or field camera.

Or make up a guillotine shutter, or front mount a Packard.

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Slow, slow film and a lens cap. Paper negatives at EI 3 to 6, stop down to f/32 or smaller, and you're exposing longer than a second already. Obviously you won't be hand holding with that kit, but you'd have the same issue with a view or field camera.

Or make up a guillotine shutter, or front mount a Packard.

Yup. This film is 6 iso

BrianShaw · Oct 15, 2021

All of that is correct but you could do that with your box camera. Get some real film ASAP and you'll have a much better experience. Is the rangefinder working and accurate? If so, then you'll have an even greater experience.

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

BrianShaw said:
All of that is correct but you could do that with your box camera. Get some real film ASAP and you'll have a much better experience. Is the rangefinder working and accurate? If so, then you'll have an even greater experience.

Oh I have regular film, Im just having fun making mistakes with this film first before I expend more expensive film. Not sure if the range finder is working.. Do they still make batteries that size? (I havent looked into it yet)

BrianShaw · Oct 15, 2021

The battery is not necessary for using the rangefinder. It is completely optical, You should by looking through and aligning the overlapping image. The battery was for a feature (forgot it's name) that projected light as a focus aid. IDK what battery it uses because none of my Graphics have that feature.

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

Cool beans. Ill fiddle around with it and read into it more. I guess ill see how it corresponds to the ground glass to see if its accurate?

BrianShaw · Oct 15, 2021

Candlejack said:
Cool beans. Ill fiddle around with it and read into it more. I guess ill see how it corresponds to the ground glass to see if its accurate?

Yes, Focus as measured distances (and "infinity") and compare to GG. Also check the distance scales on the bed, if yo have them, to check that they are correct for the lens.

Cholentpot · Oct 15, 2021

Use the rangefinder and go full Weegee.

I've been doing that with my Crown. It was amazing how little film I shoot though. Going out and shooting two sheets is par for the course.

BrianShaw · Oct 15, 2021

Cholentpot said:
Use the rangefinder and go full Weegee.

I've been doing that with my Crown. It was amazing how little film I shoot though. Going out and shooting two sheets is par for the course.

Yes!!! For me it's 4 sheets.

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

4 sheets since im using el taco loco method to develop.

Cholentpot · Oct 15, 2021

BrianShaw said:
Yes!!! For me it's 4 sheets.

Candlejack said:
4 sheets since im using el taco loco method to develop.

Stearman and Loco Taco are set for 4 sheets. That's where I limit myself.

I've been shooting loads of X-ray stuff to get my toes wet.

mshchem · Oct 15, 2021

I've been shooting Crowns for years. Handheld how fun.

Donald Qualls · Oct 15, 2021

Heh. I've got three Grafmatics now, that's 50% more film than will fit in my Agitank, and if I'm going full Weegee, I could shoot all of that in about two minutes (fifteen seconds or so to go through on Grafmatic's six frames -- but it takes thirty seconds or so to dismount one and mount the next).

Fortunately for my budget, I have no reason to want to shoot through three Grafmatics in next to no time -- but I can easily see getting through all of them in a day of street shooting.

Candlejack · Oct 15, 2021

Cholentpot said:
Stearman and Loco Taco are set for 4 sheets. That's where I limit myself.

I've been shooting loads of X-ray stuff to get my toes wet.

How are you handling the double sided and not getting scratches?

tih · Oct 15, 2021

Just in case you haven't found it yet, this is a really useful web site: https://graflex.org/

My first shots with a Graflex Crown.

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