Oh no! I'm now the owner of a Crown Graphic!

mooseontheloose · Aug 27, 2008

For better or for worse, I just won my auction and it looks like I have a pretty clean crown headed my way. Now I need 4x5 film holders, film(!), and time to figure how to use it, since it's been a few years since I've used a view camera and it was only a few times at that.

For the moment I guess I'll be doing tray processing when photographing close to home but what do you do with your film on extended trips? Put them in a black bag inside a box? How do you keep track of them, or do you basically have different boxes for different films and/or speeds that you use?

Oy! I feel like I've jumped into something a bit over my head but I'm pretty excited as well -- I've been wanting a press camera for ages but have been unlucky in trying to find something decent within my price range. I still think I paid too much, but I'd rather have the camera now than long for it for another year waiting for the right deal to come up.

Paul Goutiere · Aug 27, 2008

mooseontheloose said:
I still think I paid too much, but I'd rather have the camera now than long for it for another year waiting for the right deal to come up.

How can you pay too much for a Crown Graphic? Sorry, but I don't understand the concept.

Of course you didn't pay too much, it is a marvelous camera. Versatile, lightweight (relatively), rugged (very), handholdable, quite easy to use.

I would take a film changing bag and lots of film holders. Many use Tri X, (or just one film) exclusively, so if you do just empty the exposed film holders into a spare film box marked "exposed" when you have a chance, reload and keep working.
In a few days or working with the camera you'll have it figured out.

Best of luck.

Pinholemaster · Aug 27, 2008

Have fun. Great camera. Nothing is over one's head if you know how to swim.

John Kasaian · Aug 27, 2008

Great camera! It isn't rocket science. Enjoy the journey

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 27, 2008

The film comes in a bag or wrapping in a three-part lightproof box. The bag isn't necessary for it to be lightproof. It just keeps the film clean and the humidity stable until you open it. You want to have an extra empty box to hold the exposed sheets. You can ask a lab that processes sheet film if they have some or just ask here, and someone probably has some spares.

If you process all the film the same way, you only need one box. If you use the zone system or use different developers for different purposes, you can either use multiple boxes or what I do is use a divider system. I've got several sheets of cardboard with tabs on the side that I can feel in the dark, and one tab on the top edge of the top sheet, so I'm sure I've got the stack oriented correctly, and I can sort my sheets that way for -2, -1, N, +1, and +2. If I fill up the box, that means I'm emptying other boxes, so I can split the stack when the box fills up.

BrianShaw · Aug 27, 2008

Good for you... have fun!

I started out with a Super Graphic in the 1980's and still like using it.

Phillip P. Dimor · Aug 27, 2008

Great cameras! There are tons of tutorials on that largeformatphotography.info site. Like opening the box of film, loading holders, the general process of shooting and developing tips..

If it doesn't work out you'll most definitely be able to sell the camera for at least what you paid for it. The resale value on clean crowns and speeds is pretty good.

mooseontheloose · Aug 27, 2008

You guys make me laugh (another reason why I love APUG). Although if it wasn't for APUG I probably wouldn't have bought the camera. There goes the new bike I was going to buy.

I've got so many other lonely cameras waiting to be used. Last photographic expedition I took five with me while the others (about 10) wimpered and whined at home. What are they going to do when the big beautiful Crown arrives? I know I should sell a few to cover the costs of the new Graphic, but they're my babies -- even if some of them haven't aged gracefully, I'd hate to lose any one of them.

And now you want me to go to some other forum? You guys are a bad influence on me.

brian d · Aug 27, 2008

Also check out http://www.graflex.org/
Great camera

EASmithV · Aug 28, 2008

If it is anything like my pacemaker, you are going to love it.

Steve Smith · Aug 28, 2008

Paul Goutiere said:
How can you pay too much for a Crown Graphic? Sorry, but I don't understand the concept.

Well, you can if you live in England. Whilst I see them go cheap ($100) in the US, they seem to sell for £250 to £350 ($500 - $700) here which is too much for me.

I will get one eventually though.

bnstein · Aug 28, 2008

Congratulations and commiserations: I too started down the slippery slope with an apparently harmless Crown and am now pondering 8x10:rolleyes:

To add to the general advice lay out the money for a changing tent: much more user friendly than a bag and when you are starting out loading film that never hurts! Shoot and enjoy

Neil Souch · Aug 28, 2008

Hi, you have a great classic 5x4 for field work and if you have not already done so have a look at http://graflex.org/. I own a Speed Graphic (tatty but useable ) and a very nice Crown Graphic which I prefer because it is lighter and less bulky without the rear focal plane shutter of the Speed Graphic. Enjoy your purchase and you will be amazed just how good they are!

Cheers,
Neil.

Neal · Aug 28, 2008

Dear Rachelle,

Congratulations! Buy a couple of Graphmatic holders and you have a great walking around camera.

Neal Wydra

mooseontheloose · Aug 28, 2008

Thanks everyone.

I am afraid of that slippery LF slope I seem to be going down, but I have to admit I'm enjoying photography more than ever now that I'm shooting beyond 135 (pinhole, Holga, TLRs, etc) even though that's still what I shoot the most.

I've been on graflex.org many times but I think it's a case of information overload without having the camera in hand (kind of like the difference between learning how to teach and then actually having to do it). It was useful for me (and this site as well) in determining that the Crown would be just as good a starter for me as a Speed Graphic, since I don't have any need of the FP shutter (at the moment) and the fact that it was lighter as a result. For a long time I was looking at the smaller graphics until I realized I have enough medium format cameras (ten actually) and that if I was going to buy anything, it had to be larger. I like the idea of doing small, intimate contact prints from 4x5 as well, even though I just ordered a much larger contact frame (an omen of things to come?)

Jim Jones · Aug 28, 2008

Rachelle -- If you don't mind a steeper part of the slippery LF slope, look for a copy of Graphic Graflex Photography by Willard Morgan and Henry Lester; 8th edition or later to cover your Crown. It might not answer every question about your camera, but gives much information we wouldn't think to ask for.

ricksplace · Aug 28, 2008

Great camera. I have a Pre-Anniversary and Pacemaker Speed in 4X5 and a Century Graphic. Great fun.

Neil Souch · Aug 29, 2008

Rachelle

It will be easier to understand once you have your Crown Graphic to hand. Opening for viewing and cocking the shutter can take a bit of getting used to but once done a few times - no problems. Just remember not to force anything and you will be OK. With the FP shutter on the Speed Graphic I convinced myself I needed one but I have never used it - like a lot of other photographic items I have aquired over the years! the Crown is much better for field work and lighter too.

All the best,

Neil.

Robert Budding · Aug 29, 2008

Great camera! I even use my hand held with rangefinder focusing.

kirkfry · Aug 30, 2008

Don't forget to wait a bit longer for the autofocus and autometering to work.

K

NavyMoose · Aug 30, 2008

Hi Rachelle,

Welcome to the asylum!

I picked up my Crown Graphic a few months ago and it is a wonderful camera. I also picked up a few reprints of Army maintenance manuals for the camera. Not a lot of Crown repairmen these days.

Check out www.largeformatphotography.info , there is a ton of great information on large format. I find it more useful than graphex.org.

I use my Crown more often than my Toyo monorail camera because it is so much easier to hike with.

Enjoy the new camera!

Navy Moose

kompressor · Nov 7, 2008

My crown Grapich 45 special is en route fro US this weekend

kompressor · Nov 7, 2008

My Crown Grapich 45 SPecial is en route from US this weekend.

Sirius Glass · Nov 7, 2008

mooseontheloose said:
You guys make me laugh (another reason why I love APUG). Although if it wasn't for APUG I probably wouldn't have bought the camera. There goes the new bike I was going to buy.

I've got so many other lonely cameras waiting to be used. Last photographic expedition I took five with me while the others (about 10) wimpered and whined at home. What are they going to do when the big beautiful Crown arrives? I know I should sell a few to cover the costs of the new Graphic, but they're my babies -- even if some of them haven't aged gracefully, I'd hate to lose any one of them.

And now you want me to go to some other forum? You guys are a bad influence on me.

Are you overloaded?

Yes, you are.

You have abandoned the other cameras.

Can you change?

Yes, you can.

Your only way to avoid the slippery slope and stopped being whelmed to the send the Crown Graphic to me NOW!

Steve

Robert Brummitt · Nov 7, 2008

Damn, damn damn. I bought a Crown earlier this week and had my hands on a Baby Speed graphic but it's graflok was broken. The young lady wante $70 dollars for it too.
Oh well.

Oh no! I'm now the owner of a Crown Graphic!

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