Suggest a new (old) medium format camera (6x7 or larger)

[trondsi]

BTW what kind of Graflex view finder mask should I look for if I want to approximate a medium format 6x8 frame?

 

[gijsbert]

Agreed ! GW670III and GSW690II here - those are reliable tools.
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Did we mention the Plaubel Makina 670 and Makina W67 wide-angle ? Never had one of those but I would like to try. Prices are a bit steep these days.

I have the Makina 67 and W67, great cameras to use, just seeing them makes me happy (that might just be me!). Much more compact than the Fuji GW690/670 series or Pentax 67, although a bit on the heavy side (1.4kg). The GF670 is about as compact as the Makina's and only 1kg, not as easy to use filters as the Makina's though. All have great image quality.

 

[Dan Fromm]

It depends on the lens' focal length. Go to https://1drv.ms/f/s!AggQfcczvHGN7QPLzcnfQqi0-7pf, download the Rapid Vance ... manual.

Oh and by the way, Graflex didn't use the metric system. Inches.

 

[Paul Howell]

BTW what kind of Graflex view finder mask should I look for if I want to approximate a medium format 6x8 frame?

Dan beat me to it.

The mask should match the lens, so if your Crown has a 135 then you need a mask for the 135, if the 127 then the mask for the 125, some Crown were sold with a 150, if you have late model Crown with top mounted rangefinder you might be able to find a cam for a wide angle lens, that is a wide angle for a 4X5, like a 90mm. Problem is that the cams are matched to a specific lens, so it;s somewhat of a risk in terms of how accurate the focus will be. I recall seeing templates for different cams on the old Graphic web site that you could use to have one machined. As you will be using the roll film back you can use a lens designed for 6X9 like a 65mm, to use you would need to put the ground glass back on to compuse and focus then switch to the roll film back to shoot. One of the reasons I use my Mamiya or Kodak Tourist when shooting roll film, just too many steps or issues that need to be addressed to use my Crown or Speed with a roll film back.

Writing this I don't know if a Kalart rangefinder for the 6X9 body is the same as the Kalart fitted to the 4X5 body, if it is the same rangefinder then a 65mm cam would work on both bodies, I assume that the rangefinder would need to be adjusted. Finding a 65mm cam: don't know if Graphic ever made a 65mm cam for the 6X9 and if they did finding one.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Paul, Kalart rangefinders don't have cams.

 

[Paul Howell]

What is the arm or lever that follows the lens board as the front standard is moved into focus? I was under the impression that the top mounted rangefinder these levers can be swapped out for different lens focal lengths.

 

[Dan Fromm]

What is the arm or lever that follows the lens board as the front standard is moved into focus? I was under the impression that the top mounted rangefinder these levers can be swapped out for different lens focal lengths.

Late Pacemaker Graphics' top-mounted RFs are not Kalarts. They couple to the rails with a tube filled with ball bearings and a plunger. They have internal cams that are focal length-specific and can be changed by the user.

Kalart RFs are side-mounted. They couple to the rails with a spring-loaded arm that contacts a cam on the rail. That cam is fixed and has nothing to do with focal length. It is used to fine-tune the infinity setting.

 

[Bill Burk]

Hi folks!
I love my Rolleiflexes, which I got for a fairly decent price (I don't have tons of cash), but I would like to try a bit wider medium format camera. I do have a very old Voigtlander, but it doesn't fit my tripod, and photos often come out a bit softer than I expect. Any suggestions? Rangefinder, twin lens, single lens, are all good. I like to experiment, and I do like cameras that function like clockworks

Do you just need a new tripod? Or a tiny thread adapter? I am sure some of the charm of vintage 6x9 is the softness.

 

[Paul Howell]

Late Pacemaker Graphics' top-mounted RFs are not Kalarts. They couple to the rails with a tube filled with ball bearings and a plunger. They have internal cams that are focal length-specific and can be changed by the user.

Kalart RFs are side-mounted. They couple to the rails with a spring-loaded arm that contacts a cam on the rail. That cam is fixed and has nothing to do with focal length. It is used to fine-tune the infinity setting.

Thanks, my Crown and Speed are side mounts, forgot that the topmount was different.

 

[trondsi]

I just thought of something. I still have the old Optar lens for the Crown Graphic. I replaced it with a Nikon lens because the Optar had poor coverage (I disagree with people who say you could just close down the aperture. It doesn't work)
But the Optar was very sharp towards the middle, so I could try to use it when the Crown is used as medium format. Dang that means that I need a new lens board

 

[Nokton48]

B&L 159.1mm F2 Super Cinephor on Maki Std by Nokton48, on Flickr

How about a focal plane 9x9cm Plaubel Makiflex that takes 9x12cm or 4x5" sheet film?

 

[Paul Howell]

I just thought of something. I still have the old Optar lens for the Crown Graphic. I replaced it with a Nikon lens because the Optar had poor coverage (I disagree with people who say you could just close down the aperture. It doesn't work)
But the Optar was very sharp towards the middle, so I could try to use it when the Crown is used as medium format. Dang that means that I need a new lens board

The Nikon should be as sharp as the Optar, I replaced my 135mm Optar on my Crown with a 135mm Zeiss, the Zeiss for the same reason, coverage, the Zeiss is as sharp as the Optar.

Just remember that when shooting 6X9 you have a short tele instead of a normal lens.

 

[trondsi]

The Nikon should be as sharp as the Optar, I replaced my 135mm Optar on my Crown with a 135mm Zeiss, the Zeiss for the same reason, coverage, the Zeiss is as sharp as the Optar.

Just remember that when shooting 6X9 you have a short tele instead of a normal lens.

Oh yes, I plan to mark up a rectangle on the ground glass, representing the size of the medium format frame. Maybe I'll just do the same on the viewfinder.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Um, there are focal length and format specific masks for Pacemaker Graphics' tubular viewfinders. Sorry, Trondsi, I forget which one you have.

 

[trondsi]

Does this mirror-image photo answer your question? (sorry for the low res scan)
Also, the lens is a 150 mm Nikkor

 

[Dan Daniel]

https://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/viewfinder-masks.html

 

[trondsi]

https://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/viewfinder-masks.html

Thanks! Looks like Mask 10 should work.

 

[trondsi]

I want to reset the newly loaded film holder to “S” but the knob won’t budge. In the youtube video it looks like she just turns it around. Any idea what to do?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Fuji rangefinders are he way to go, and just go for the 6x9[/QUOTE
I agree,I agree, it was a good cameras.

 

[Dan Fromm]

I want to reset the newly loaded film holder to “S” but the knob won’t budge. In the youtube video it looks like she just turns it around. Any idea what to do?

RTFM

Download from https://1drv.ms/f/s!AggQfcczvHGN7QPLzcnfQqi0-7pf

Oh, yeah, which version do you have?

 

[trondsi]

RTFM

Download from https://1drv.ms/f/s!AggQfcczvHGN7QPLzcnfQqi0-7pf

Oh, yeah, which version do you have?

Link doesn't seem to work. I haven't found the right manual so far.
But it looks like this:

 

[Dan Fromm]

I just tried the link, it works for me. It took me to https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=!AMvNyd9CqLT7ul8&id=8D71BC33C77D1008!13955&cid=8D71BC33C77D1008

Your roll holder has a knob wind insert. The manual I directed you to is for lever wind inserts. The two operate very similarly.

 

[trondsi]

I just tried the link, it works for me. It took me to https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=!AMvNyd9CqLT7ul8&id=8D71BC33C77D1008!13955&cid=8D71BC33C77D1008

Your roll holder has a knob wind insert. The manual I directed you to is for lever wind inserts. The two operate very similarly.

OK, thanks! yes it seems to be pretty much the same. It was a bit fiddly but now it seems to work.

If my roll of film is OK is quite another question. Due to the earlier problems, I had to unroll the whole thing, roll it back, and then re-insert it. I'd be surprised if it is completely intact

 

[trondsi]

It works! My Crown Graphic can now function both as medium and large format. Wheeee!

 

[kahlheins]

Fuji rangefinders are he way to go, and just go for the 6x9

Absolutely! I own both the GL690 and the GW690 III and they are excellent. If I was to only buy one, I would pick the older GL690. Both show excellent image quality, but the GL690 has interchangeable lenses and also works with Aperture priority via the 100mm AE lens!