Waiting for my Crown Graphic, my first LF camera

trondsi · Jun 29, 2015

Hi folks! I am a fan of film photography, and I recently bought a Crown Graphic camera on ebay (seller said that the shutter was good, camera clean, and original 135mm lens scratch free). It also comes with film holders, and some BW film, which is all very nice. I will probably mostly shoot in color though.

I plan to use the camera for landscapes, but I was wondering if any of you has ever used this camera for close ups (faces, flowers) as well? I plan to experiment with the original lens first.

Also, if anyone wants to give any tips on how to avoid common mistakes and such that would also be great. I have been shooting 35mm and medium format (6X6) before.

BrianShaw · Jun 29, 2015

How exciting for you! Are you planning on hand-held LF or tripod? I enjoy both, but for hand-held you really need to check out the rangefinder to make sure it is calibrated correctly.

For close-up portraiture you'll encounter the same issues as any camera regarding the possibility of getting perspective distortion (big noses). As long as you are aware of that you'll do fine. I tend to use a graphic with normal lens for environmental portraiture or "waist up" rather than "heads and shoulders".

Color is fun to shoot but costly to have processed. I stopped shooting much LF color when my local lab stopped E-6 processing; that was several years ago. But if you have a good local or mail-order lab then it can really be fun.

Sirius Glass · Jun 29, 2015

Welcome to APUG
You can also get technical help on www.graflex.org forum.
You will find examples of close up work at http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/

Sirius Glass · Jun 29, 2015

I mostly use my Pacemaker Speed Graphic hand held and my Graflex Model D only hand held.

trondsi · Jun 29, 2015

Thanks for the feedback!
I will definitely get a tripod, but I am planning to also try it hand held. I have always loved the look of slide film, so I think I will shoot that as much as possible (I also want to support the manufacturing of slide film by buying it in various formats). Yes, going for the head and upper body in portraits sounds like a good idea.

The seller said that the rangefinder is spot on. Sure hope he's right

Alan Gales · Jun 29, 2015

I had a Crown for a while with a 135mm lens. I used it for environmental portraits. I could set it up real fast! The only downside to it is that you have to turn it on it's side to shoot in portrait orientation. No biggie.

I also owned a Caltar 210mm f/6.8 lens. This lens is a rebadged Rodenstock Geronar. It was a nice lens and could even fold up inside the camera. Of course I had to use the ground glass for focussing but I always did anyway with the 135mm lens. If you want one of these gems I have seen several sell for below $100.00 on Ebay in either version.

Have fun with your Crown!

trondsi · Jun 29, 2015

It just arrived! I also got two Rolleinar lenses that I had ordered for my Rolleiflex today. No it's not my birthday

I have been looking at it for a bit now. At first, when I just opened it, I thought the Crown Graphic was surprisingly light, and that hand-held would be easy, but then I realized how many fiddly bits there are to handle (film holders, different viewfinders, ground glass etc), my arms wore out. I find the rangefinder hard to use. Perhaps when I get used to it I can use it handheld, but for now a tripod seems to be the thing. I was sort of expecting to use it mostly with a tripod anyway. I almost pulled out the dark slide while the shutter was wide open. My old Rolleiflex seems to be the pinnacle of user friendliness in comparison No worries, I'll figure it out. I have never used any kind of LF camera before after all. I'll make a list of things to do to make a successful shot.

The good news is that the lens looks like it was made yesterday. The shutter also seems to be good. The whole thing is nice and sturdy.

I'll take this one step at a time. Thanks for the response guys.

dasBlute · Jun 29, 2015

Here's the classic "what *not* to do" list, helped me alot [take it slow, lots of info]:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/mistakes.html

good as well, for other reasons: http://www.largeformatphotography.info

BrianShaw · Jun 29, 2015

There really aren't as many cuddly parts as you think. The camera and a couple of film holders. That's all you really need. Oh, a light meter too. Many before us used these cameras to make a living so it isn't too far fetched to figure out how to use them for less rigorous endeavors. Keep playing with it and it will become much easier!

BrianShaw · Jun 29, 2015

P.s. Happy birthday.

Alan Gales · Jun 29, 2015

BrianShaw said:
There really aren't as many cuddly parts as you think. The camera and a couple of film holders. That's all you really need. Oh, a light meter too. Many before us used these cameras to make a living so it isn't too far fetched to figure out how to use them for less rigorous endeavors. Keep playing with it and it will become much easier!

That's funny. I never thought of my Crown as having cuddly parts.

Dan Fromm · Jun 29, 2015

Make sure to retract the bed rails fully -- focus to infinity and a little beyond, they have to be all the way back -- and make sure that the front standard is as far back as it will go on the inner bed rails (inside the box) before trying to close the camera.

If you don't do this you will bend or break the links that connect the inner and outer bed rails. Replacements are hard to find.

BrianShaw · Jun 29, 2015

Dang spelling corrector why would fiddly become cuddly?

Alan Gales · Jun 29, 2015

Yeah, like Dan says.

A good rule of thumb is to never force anything on a camera.

Alan Gales · Jun 29, 2015

BrianShaw said:
Dang spelling corrector why would fiddly become cuddly?

I was beginning to think you were like Jimi Hendrix. He was said to sleep with his Fender.

I'm not going to knock it. Jimi could really play!

trondsi · Jun 29, 2015

Dan Fromm said:
Make sure to retract the bed rails fully -- focus to infinity and a little beyond, they have to be all the way back -- and make sure that the front standard is as far back as it will go on the inner bed rails (inside the box) before trying to close the camera.

If you don't do this you will bend or break the links that connect the inner and outer bed rails. Replacements are hard to find.

Thanks for the tips! Why a little beyond infinity?

Also, the ground glass is slightly dirty. Does anyone know the best way to clean it? I don't want to take things apart though

shutterfinger · Jun 29, 2015

Crown Graphics were made from 1947 to 1973 in 3 formats.
I assume you have a 4x5, the most common. Being it has a ground glass it has a Graphic aka Spring Back or a Graflok Back. It will have a Kalart, Hugo Meyer, or top Graphic Rangefinder.
The best way to clean the ground glass is to remove it from the camera and wash it in warm water and dish soap. The alternative is to clean it in camera with soft towels and window cleaner.
A Fresnel was added in the early 1950's and is easily scratched as it is plastic. Clean it the same as the ground glass. Assembly is ground side of the ground glass toward the lens, the Fresnel goes in front of the ground glass with the ribbed side against the ground side of the ground glass.

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_4.html
http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_5.html
to download save each page separately. other manuals are available at http://www.southbristolviews.com/ under the Photo Related tab.

trondsi · Jun 29, 2015

shutterfinger said:
Crown Graphics were made from 1947 to 1973 in 3 formats.
I assume you have a 4x5, the most common. Being it has a ground glass it has a Graphic aka Spring Back or a Graflok Back. It will have a Kalart, Hugo Meyer, or top Graphic Rangefinder.
The best way to clean the ground glass is to remove it from the camera and wash it in warm water and dish soap. The alternative is to clean it in camera with soft towels and window cleaner.
A Fresnel was added in the early 1950's and is easily scratched as it is plastic. Clean it the same as the ground glass. Assembly is ground side of the ground glass toward the lens, the Fresnel goes in front of the ground glass with the ribbed side against the ground side of the ground glass.

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_4.html
http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_5.html
to download save each page separately. other manuals are available at http://www.southbristolviews.com/ under the Photo Related tab.

Thank you very much for all the info.

I managed to clean it a little on the viewing side by taking off the hood and using soft watercolor brushes and a little distilled water. It looks like it has been roughly wiped on the other side, so I'm pretty sure I can clean it more if I find the right screwdriver. Needless to say I'll be very careful about it (maybe the glass is actually clean enough now that I wiped it)

By the way, this is a 4X5 camera.

Dan Fromm · Jun 29, 2015

trondsi said:
Thanks for the tips! Why a little beyond infinity?

I assume yours has a focusing scale. If so and the rangefinder and scale have been set up properly you'll see that it indicates a little past infinity when the rails are as far back as they'll go.

Jim Jones · Jun 29, 2015

For new Crown Graphic users, Graphic Graflex Photography is a great source of information on these cameras. The 8th edition of 1947 by Willard D. Morgan and Henry M. Lester covers the side rangefinder model. You'll need at least the 11th edition of 1958 by Willard D. Morgan to cover the top rangefinder model. Some earlier editions may lack information on the later Pacemaker series of Graphics, but have interesting articles by some of the noted experts of their day like Rudolf Kingslake, Ansel Adams, Bernice Abbot, and Barbara Morgan.

Jim Jones · Jun 29, 2015

Dan Fromm said:
I assume yours has a focusing scale. If so and the rangefinder and scale have been set up properly you'll see that it indicates a little past infinity when the rails are as far back as they'll go.

Some of us set the rangefinder, scales, and infinity stops so all are on infinity when the rails are as far back as they'll go. This is a convenience when one might need a quick shot of a distant subject without having to focus.

Dan Fromm · Jun 29, 2015

Yes, Jim, some of us don't follow directions. Not that you're wrong or anything like that. Whatever works ...

Cheers,

Dan

trondsi · Jun 29, 2015

OK, I cleaned the ground glass thoroughly, and also the plastic in front of it. I think this really cleared up the ground glass screen. Not sure if I could have focused properly the way it was previously. I also oiled the rails lightly, as the lens was sort of taking a bumpy ride, and they it is now much smoother. Otherwise, I think this camera is good to go.

I also found out how to go past the infinity stops (easy, I just folded them down), in case I want to make close ups.

Alan Gales · Jun 29, 2015

trondsi said:
I also found out how to go past the infinity stops (easy, I just folded them down), in case I want to make close ups.

Or use a longer lens. I added an additional set of infinity stops to my camera for the 210mm lens I had. When I attached the 210 I would fold down the first set and use the second set. It worked great!

trondsi · Jun 29, 2015

I would like more lenses, but since I just bought additional lenses for my Rollei medium format camera, and also this Graflex camera, I think my wife would kill me unless I take a break from buying .

Anyway, it's also fun to see what I can do with the basic materials, before I expand on it.

Waiting for my Crown Graphic, my first LF camera

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