Thinking about a 4x5 press camera

rowghani · Nov 27, 2016

Theres a lot of information out there so thought id see if people can help me narrow down the search. I travel a lot so lighter the better. Not sure how these shutters work but quieter the better, would shoot with normal to short-tele lenses and if possible keeping the cost down would be great. So far I think a Speed or Crown graphic would be the best bet but let me know what you think . thanks.

summicron1 · Nov 27, 2016

depends on what kind of shooting you want to do and how much weight you are willing to haul around. The focal plane shutter on a graphic is not quiet, but the front shutter is, and the crown is lighter. Get a pacemaker crown so it has the body release and make sure the little cable to it isn't kinked.

Best bet is to find one to try out for a while. Any 4 by 5 camera is going to be a bit heavy.

Dan Fromm · Nov 27, 2016

The 4x5 Crown Graphic is friendlier to short lenses than the 4x5 Speed Graphics (plural, there are several vintages with different names). Minimum extension 52.4 mm vs. 66.7 (Pacemaker Speed).

I don't agree with the suggestion that the body release is worth having. The front release connects via the cable to a sliding paddle on the front standard. The paddle presses the shutter release lever down. Paddles are somewhat shutter-specific, any one of them won't work with all shutters. And none will work with large shutters such as the Ilex #3. I found my body releases so obnoxious -- the cable can get in the way when closing the camera -- that I've removed them from all of my Graphics.

Reza, are you in the US? If not, a Graphic may not be a good choice because of shipping costs, duties, VAT, etc. These also apply to accessories.

John Wiegerink · Nov 27, 2016

I have and still use a Sears Tower Press camera, which is actually a Busch Pressman Model "D". It's all-metal and built like a tank. I have owned all of the model Speed Graphic cameras and still prefer the Busch Pressman. The only drawback is the lens board. It take it's own model lens board or you have to make your own, which is not easy. Also uses a slide-in 120 roll film back. I run a 210mm Fuji, 135mm Symmar-s and a 100mm Wide-field Ektar. I find this is all I need or could want for my style shooting. So, check it out!

Besk · Nov 27, 2016

John, I also have a similar set up. A Busch Pressman "D", 240/9 Fujinon, 135mm Rodenstock N, and a 90/8 Nikon. I changed out the back to a Crown Graflok back. Sort of regret that I did. I have made several lensboards for other lenses.

Greg Heath · Nov 27, 2016

I have had a Speed Graphic for a couple months. I bought it on the Bay for about $160usd. When I got it I took it apart, because I am crazy like that..lololol. Anyway. Cleaned it and found out how it works. cleaned and rewound the curtain and set the tension. I have to say that IT IS my favorite camera. I love the lens. The great part is you can still find parts for them. Sure it's a bit heavy, but it's a pleasure to carry because it's worth it. Here is my link to my album. I have not shot allot with it because I have been busy, but I intend to get to it soon.
The "Couple Portrait"... was printed recently. It was 30" by xx" and the photo was just just fantastic. It was the first time I had allowed someone to print the negative for that couple. The 4x5 printed, I was just stunned at the resolution. If you are thinking you would love using it, then use it. If it's not for you, then sell it. Wish you the best.

Greg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kb2qqm/albums/72157670106760984

Paul Howell · Nov 27, 2016

Buch Press are very good, the Air Force used a Buch rebranded to Bessler came with 3 cams. I have a Speed and a Crown. The shutter release on the Crown works very well, I upgraded the 135mm Opair with a Zeiss, 135 that matches the 135 cam that came with the camera. My Speed is Navy surplus and has 127 Kodak, I broke the rangefinder decades ago so use it as limited field camera. I have not used the focal plan shutter, of the 2 I use the crown most often, lighter, better lens. I would look for a late model Crown or Superspeed with graflock backs so you use roll film as sheet film, the Super has a rotating back. If you have deeper pockets a Lindhof or Horseman.

Besk · Nov 27, 2016

Paul Howell said:
Buch Press are very good, the Air Force used a Buch rebranded to Bessler came with 3 cams. QUOTE

To set the record straight: The Beseler is a whole different camera (I own one.) Busch Pressman "D" come with Kalart rangefinders which can only be adjusted for one lens at a time.

John Wiegerink · Nov 27, 2016

Bob,
Yup, mine is set for the 135mm Symmar-S.

John Wiegerink · Nov 27, 2016

Bob Eskridge said:
John, I also have a similar set up. A Busch Pressman "D", 240/9 Fujinon, 135mm Rodenstock N, and a 90/8 Nikon. I changed out the back to a Crown Graflok back. Sort of regret that I did. I have made several lensboards for other lenses.

I was going to do a job on my back also, but changed my mind and went with a 6x7 slide-in Calumet C2. I'm a happy camper. You can also use Graphic roll film backs by altering the spring slots on the ground glass back/hood. If you lengthen them it will allow the back to extend out farther and the Graphic roll film back will slide under and in. There was a "brown skinned" version Model D that I wouldn't mind having, but I haven't seen one lately. To the OP............I'd go for the Crown Graphic myself, but not in place of my Tower Press (aka Busch Pressman D).

Vaughn · Nov 27, 2016

One nice thing about the back shutter is that it allows one to use a wide variety of lenses without shutters -- such as a cheap magnifying lens (on a pre-anniversary Speed):

Vaughn · Nov 28, 2016

Actually, the Graphics have some front tilt as well. Not straight-forward, but not bad. Drop the front bed, use full rise on the lens, and tilt the lens backwards to the amount of forward tilt desired...you can tilt lens lens back enough that it will again be parallel to the back. Then one can tilt forward far more than is normally needed for landscape use. But as someone mentioned, this does not work when turning the camera 90 degrees for portrait orientation.

In considering the over-all weight, the Graphics do come in their own case! I like the Busch, also -- the revolving back is nice.

edited for clarity -- hopefully for the better!

Ian Grant · Nov 28, 2016

I use Crown & Speed Graphics, the Speed is great with older brass lenses etc, however I find the lack of movements extremely limiting for my landscape works. I was lucky to find a very cheap Super Graphic, OK it had some issue which I was able to overcome so I could use it until I found the spares I needed about a year later.

The range and ease of movements with the Super Graphic is more than adequate for all my landscape uses and I'm very happy with it, I guess I've been using it around 8 years now. I do occasionally use the Crown Graphic and almost every time get frustrated by the poor front tilts, and worse handling if used in portrait mode. I use the Graphics hand held on many occasions and the Super Graphic is quick to use.

Ian

Jim Jones · Nov 28, 2016

At one time or another I've owned a Busch model D, a Meridian, a Micro-Precision, a Burke & James, and many variations of Speed Graphic. The Meridian and the Micro-Precision were the poor man's Linhof with the back movements valued by scenic photographers. The former, like the Busch and late SG, used proprietary lens boards while the B&J, M-P, and older SGs used easily fabricated and readily available boards. As mentioned in an earlier post, the Busch had the smallest lens board which would preclude the mounting of monster lenses. None of these cameras had focal plane shutters except some models of the SG. Only some models of the SG were fitted with the versatile Graflok back, although I've seen Graflok backs grafted onto other models and brands. The SG system was extensive. The Graphic Graflex Photography manual available in many editions over many years is a valuable resource. Early editions included articles by icons of the era such as Ansel Adams, Barbra Morgan, Rudolf Kingslake, and Laura Gilpin. SG still used well-crafted leather covered wood bodies while the others were all metal. However, this served them (and us) well. The SG accepted a range of focal lengths more conveniently than the others with its fold-down infinity stops and, in the later models, interchangeable rangefinder cams. Perhaps the biggest shortcomings of most SGs were the lack of a revolving back and the limited (or nonexistent) front tilt. The modest B&J had both of these, but may have had poorer build quality. Any of these cameras (and the expensive Linhof) in good condition and with appropriate lenses would serve the OP well. A Crown Graphic without the rangefinder and the tubular viewfinder is probably the lightest and most compact.

Ko.Fe. · Nov 28, 2016

Travel light with 4x5 is oxymoron. I took 4x5 press camera on trip only once. I also do travel light. It was waste on space, time and didn't give anything worth of it.
But here is nothing wrong to try it.
Speed Graphic camera with standard lens on it is worth of 200$. Make sure it has lens matching RF, VF mask and cam. This will allow to use it handheld.

Ian Grant · Nov 28, 2016

Ko.Fe. said:
Travel light with 4x5 is oxymoron. I took 4x5 press camera on trip only once. I also do travel light. It was waste on space, time and didn't give anything worth of it.
But here is nothing wrong to try it.
Speed Graphic camera with standard lens on it is worth of 200$. Make sure it has lens matching RF, VF mask and cam. This will allow to use it handheld.

At times I have to travel light wit 5x4 and often work hand held where tripods aren't permitted, it's been very successful so far. Choice of camera is the key and it's personal in terms of what works best for you, for me the Super Graphic is easy and fast to use hand held, I focus and compose on the GG screen making a mental note of the boundaries of the image them set the camera and frame with the wire finder, that works for all three lenses I usually carry, as well as with some movements. I have a light weight lens set a 90mm f6.8 Angulon, 135mm Symmar S or 150mm f4.5 CZJ T Tessar, and a 203mm f7.7 Ektar (in a Compur #1 shutter), all lenses I can rely on in terms of performance.

Note I never use the rangefinder or the optical viewfinder, they are useless as soon as you use movements or change lenses.

Ian

Vaughn · Nov 28, 2016

Ko.Fe. said:
Travel light with 4x5 is oxymoron...

I resemble this remark. If you are an ox and a moron, traveling with a 4x5 is light and easy. I am a bit ox-like and I am sure that many folks seeing me weighed down thought I was a bit moronic. Hitchhiking thru New Zealand for 3 months, I had a full backpack with camping gear (the first Kelty internal frame pack), with a smaller pack with about 25lb of 4x5 gear strapped to the back of the Kelty. A bit silly-looking. My next trip to NZ, I got a lighter 4x5 and put it all on a bicycle instead of my back!

Have you (OP) thought about film holders and/or other options? Managing one's film can take up some space -- as much as the camera itself.

Sirius Glass · Nov 28, 2016

Vaughn said:
One nice thing about the back shutter is that it allows one to use a wide variety of lenses without shutters -- such as a cheap magnifying lens (on a pre-anniversary Speed):

Vaughn said:
Actually, the Graphics have some front tilt as well. Not straight-forward, but not bad. Drop the front bed, use full rise on the lens, and tilt the lens backwards to the amount of forward tilt desired. With the front bed dropped and the front lens tilted all the way back, the lens should be parallel to the back -- thus one has the same angle of forward tilt possible as the angle of the dropped front bed.

In considering the over-all weight, the Graphics do come in their own case! I like the Busch, also -- the revolving back is nice.

I have a Pacemaker Speed Graphic that I use as a view camera and hand held. I have 90mm, 135mm and 210mm lenses for it. I use both the lens shutters and the focal plane shutters as well as the movements. I have found that it works well in many situations.

Vaughn · Nov 28, 2016

And I suppose one can figure out and mark the bed at the hyperfocal distance for each lens and then just use the sports finder for quick hand held images. I had to pre-focus for the image above (wide-open magnifying glass of unknown focal length) -- obviously, turned to portrait and using the sports finder, it was not easy to get Alex dead center!

MultiFormat Shooter · Nov 28, 2016

John Wiegerink said:
I run a 210mm Fuji, 135mm Symmar-s and a 100mm Wide-field Ektar. I find this is all I need or could want for my style shooting.

Can the rangefinder on the Busch Pressman/Sears Tower Press be adjusted for different focal length lenses, or are you "stuck" with the 135 mm focal length if you want to use the rangefinder?

Dan Fromm · Nov 28, 2016

Depends on the RF. The Kalart can be used with multiple focal lengths, AFAIK the Busch RF can't be.

rowghani · Nov 28, 2016

lots of info here that unfortunately is going way above my head but basically would it be a steep learning curve using one of these? i use a mamiya c330 so i'm happy to do my own metering, cock two shutters etc but id rather not get into tilting and all that stuff. hearing about multiple shutters/finders is stressing me out.

Wayne · Nov 28, 2016

My first 4x5 was a Busch D handed down from my father. I took it with me when I moved west and shot a lot of Polaroids and Ektachrome in the mountains. I removed the rangefinder which I've regrettted to this day because I also lost it somehow, and I'd love to have it back on there for handheld portraits. But anywho I used that Pressman for 3 years until I bought my Wista, but I still have it. The Pressman is simple to use but I haven't used other press cameras so I can't compare and contrast. I just know if that's what you end up with it will serve you well for many months or years.

Bill Burk · Nov 29, 2016

rowghani said:
lots of info here that unfortunately is going way above my head but basically would it be a steep learning curve using one of these? i use a mamiya c330 so i'm happy to do my own metering, cock two shutters etc but id rather not get into tilting and all that stuff. hearing about multiple shutters/finders is stressing me out.

Haaa, If you can use a Mamiya C330, you can use any camera

summicron1 · Nov 29, 2016

rowghani said:
lots of info here that unfortunately is going way above my head but basically would it be a steep learning curve using one of these? i use a mamiya c330 so i'm happy to do my own metering, cock two shutters etc but id rather not get into tilting and all that stuff. hearing about multiple shutters/finders is stressing me out.

a speed graphic is a LOT simpler than a mamiya anything, so don't stress. It does have two shutters and to use one you just open the other one -- no biggie. Speeds have minimal tilts and swings -- they're just a good solid basic 4 by 5 that can be used forever because that's how long it will last.

and only one setting on the rangefinder -- usually to match the lens on the camera. Use a longer/shorter lens? Thats what the glass focus screen is for. But if you can shoot with a c330, you can shoot a speed or crown graphic.

Thinking about a 4x5 press camera

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