Welcome to Graflex Land.

[gephoto]

Thanks Bertil! In fact I just received the camera today!!! I've been studying the PDF I downloaded from orphancameras.com so I don't do anything stupid. What a beautiful camera and it's in really nice condition. It's got the 127mm f/4.7 Ektar which seems to be a moderately wide lens. Can't wait to expose some film with it in the next couple of days. From the little bit I've played with it, the focal plane shutter seems in good condition too. The one thing that may not be working properly is the press focus button. If I understand it, shouldn't the shutter open for focusing when I press the button after cocking the shutter? Maybe I'm doing something incorrectly. Other than that, the lens glass is very clean. In fact I can't see any markings on the glass at all, including cleaning marks. Very sweet! I'm open to any tips or suggestions anyone has to share with me. Now I can actually participate with my own camera instead of just lurking! Have a great evening everyone and try to imagine the big smile on my face! Cheers!
Grant

 

[Bertil]

There should be a button on the lens such that you can open up the shutter (in the lens) in order to view the subject on the ground glass and focusing (having the focal plane shutter open). If not, there is some problem with the shutter in your lens. Really, have no problem imagine your big smile: the camera is a beauty!!
//Bertil

 

[gephoto]

Bertil,
Yeah, I have been setting the shutter on T for focusing since I get no response from the button when I press it. Everything else about the shutter works fine. All speeds work. I may need to have the lens CLA'd. If I want to spend the money. Anyway, I plan to make some images this weekend. Both color and B&W. I can process the B&W in my Jobo and scan the images. When I do I'll post them and show you the results. We're celebrating our Thanksgiving holiday here on Thursday, so I'll have an extra day off this week to play a little bit and also the weekend. Take care til then.
Grant

 

[brian d]

gephoto,
I dont know if this will help but if you have a supermatic or flash supermatic you should cock the shutter then hold down the press button while pressing the shutter release to lock the shutter open
recock the shutter to release it, if you have a Graphex shutter it will have a lever instead of a button, cock the shutter then move the lever clockwise and down to open the blades move it back counterclockwise to close the the blades (loosely copied from a '47 edition of Graphic Graflex Photography). These methods work on the camera's that I have, hope its helpful.
Have fun with your new speedgraphic!
Brian

 

[gephoto]

Hey Brian,
Thanks very much for the tip. It works just as you described! I have a lens with an Ilex No. 4 shutter that has a similar button, but all you have to do after cocking the shutter is press the button. Then to close it you simple re-cock the shutter. Anyway, I would not have figured that out about the Supermatic shutter so I appreciate your help with this. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend.
Grant

 

[brian d]

Glad to see you got it figured out
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

[gephoto]

Okay all, I just posted 4 images from my first shoot with the "new" Speed Graphic and 127 Ektar lens. I shot Delta 100 4x5 using one of my Graphmatic holders, which worked like a charm. One of the shots was taken using the GG and a tripod as a means of comparison to the rangefinder. The other 3 were made using the rangefinder and it looks like it is pretty accurate. FYI for any one that is interested, I processed the film using DD-23 A&B using my Jobo CPP-2 for 4.5 minutes. Let me know what you think. Take care all.
Grant

 

[Bertil]

Not familiar with DD-23 A&B, can you say something more what kind of developer it is? Seems to give you nice results, looking at your recent uploads (and don't think it's two bath D-23!).
//Bertil

 

[gephoto]

It's very similar to D-23 2 bath, except it uses 5 grams Metol instead of the usual 7.5 grams. The "B" sol'n is 1% Borax. It is called the Stoeckler 2 bath variation. Here's a link to a very interesting article of several variation of the standard D-23 developer. Interesting stuff: http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/DD-23/dd-23.html
Grant

 

[Bertil]

Didn't thought your picture looked like using a highly compensating developer like these variations on (two bath) D-23, thought you used something else (particularly looking at the picture with the very dark sky). OK, thanks for the link (There is a (long!) thread on the APUG forum discussing D-23 and pros and cons regarding two bath variations. Variations of D-23 is interesting for some subjects, but in my experience you don't get very nice highlights, which sometimes gives the very edge to some subjects).
Have a nice time with the Speed!
/Bertil

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Well, I got my B&J Press 4x5 camera yesterday. So, sign me up.

 

[Bertil]

You are most welcome Christopher!
Tell us more about your B&J press 4x5, is it the type with the rangefinder coupled to the viewfinder?
/Bertil

 

[Bosaiya]

I've been known to put a lot of film through my Graphic, but lately I have been using my RBs more and more. I'm not sure if that makes me a heathen or just even more of a luddite than normal. At least they have Graflex in the name, right?

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Well, the B&J has the viewfinder and the rangefinder attached. Came with an Ektar 127mm on a Kodak Shutter w/ 1/4000 - 1 sec and B and T. Shutter's kinda picky but I figured it out. Rail extensions. Bellows is in great shape. Came with the leather zipper case that holds about all of my film holders and notebooks and a hardbound copy of 'The Negative' for reference. I haven't picked up the Minoltas for over a month now. The B&J is my daily user. I love it.

 

[brian d]

<<I haven't picked up the Minoltas for over a month now. The B&J is my daily user. I love it.>>
Press camera's have that effect, my Minoltas dont get out that often anymore either

 

[pdjr1991]

Im 18 and im shooting a crown. I love it! Hopefully more of us young bucks will carry on the tradition of these press and other 4x5 cameras.

 

[Bertil]

You are most welcome to "the Graflex Land" ! Please upload some of your pictures, it was a long time since some new pictures showed up in this group.
/Bertil

 

[jphotos]

I'm a very new Speed Graphic user. I'm reading and re-reading the manual on it but I'm bound to have questions. This group seems like the ideal place to ask those. I'm very impressed with images taken with these cameras. I've spent most of my time with 35mm and TLRs so this is a bit of a leap.

My primary concern is learning how to focus the thing, although I think I finally got that down. Glad to see this group.

 

[Tempt f8]

Really glad that I came upon this Graflex group on APUG! After 10 years of pro digital shooting, returning to film and spending money on my beautiful '45 Mini Speed Graphic 6x9 kit was a little daunting... but I'm doing this to jump start my own creative processes. Back to basics... no 'auto' anything! Thanks to all of you for easing that transition and, most of all, for helping to preserve the history of these brilliant cameras. I'm going to try to upload an image from the very 1st 120 test roll (XP2) that I recently snapped just to check the MSG for light leaks and approx. focus. Just tromped out in the snow and guessed at an exposure (100 @ f16), aimed it handheld without ground-glass focusing & 'click'... so, not bad for a start, I suppose. You just have to take that first step and keep challenging yourself. Rock on!

 

[jimgalli]

2 Speed Graphic family here. I've a 5X7 Top Handle that gets used a lot, and a Post war 4X5 Speedy. I've had a couple of the chimney models but my eyes don't get along well this those, so have to stick with the Speeds.

1912 Baker Electric done with the Top Handle and a Plasticca lens​

I'll behave next time and post the pics where I'm sposed to.

 

[Bill Cain]

Hi folks,
I just discovered this site,A real gem. I am a retired engineer from Eastman kodak (back when it was a "real" company). Shot with my first crown graphic back in 1949 and still have it. I am still avtive with B&W in the darkroom but have to admit that all of my color work is now digital. Enjoy reading about people who understand what it was like when you had to be sure you had it right in the camera, and could not check it before you left. hope to chat with you all soon.
Bill Cain

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, Bill Cain;

Ron Mowrey is also here; he uses the pen name of PE or Photo Engineer here on APUG. Nice to see someone else from EKCo. here also.

And, for Bertil, it seemed like a good idea to join this group also. (How many groups is that now?) I have been extolling the virtues of the Speed Graphic for a number of years, and I am actually starting to look for one I would like to buy. Back in the laboratory, the man I worked under used a Crown Graphic for making a quick negative of the artwork he did for Printed Circuit Boards that we made. Ray always liked the lighter weight of the Crown Graphic. I did get to play with it at odd intervals. And, like Bertil, I also play with SINAR view cameras, which is where he and I first encountered each other.

Enjoy;

Ralph
Latte Land, Washington

 

[PaulC]

Greetings. I've just started with a Crown Graphic this summer as part of my journey of exploration of different photographic media. So far, I've only put two rolls through the 6x9 back but yesterday I loaded six film holders with Fomapan 100. Now I just need to choose some subjects.

Paul
Doha

 

[Bertil]

Welcome all newcomers to the group! Nice to hear how you all enjoy using your Graphics, and also to see some activity in the group (!). Unfortunately I haven't myself been very active at APUG for some time, but hope things will change. Interesting to hear from you, Ralph and Bill, that have experiences from times when these cameras were used on a regular basis, myself being a newcomer to the Graflex family. Being located in Sweden I don't meet a single person with any acquaintance with the Graflex line of cameras. But having used Hasselblad cameras for a long time I read some time ago a biography about Victor Hasselblad and understood that he in his youth played with Graflex cameras; but thought they were too heavy and not very good for bird photography (his great interest), which, according to the biographer, was something of a background for his developing of the Hasselblad camera (which after all is quite close to a Graflex serie B, D !). So after all, perhaps there is some connection with Sweden and the Graflex line of cameras (not to forget, Bill, Hasselblad and George Eastman Co who made the lenses to the first models, 1600F and 1000F).
Bertil

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, all;

It is official! I am a full fledged member of the Graphics et al Group. Today the USPS people delivered a Folmer Graphlex Corporation Speed Graphic with the Kodak Ektar 4.7/127mm lens, a side mount Kalart rangefinder, and a couple of Fidelity Deluxe 4 by 5 sheet film holders. While it is in fairly nice condition for a 66 year old camera, it does need some TLC and a CLA for at least the focal plane shutter, and the Wollensak Graphex shutter will get in there also.

Let's see now; is it the black side of the end of the dark slide out means unexposed and ready, and the white side of the end of the dark slide out means that the film has been exposed and needs to be developed?

Now I have my very own copy of a Joe Rosenthal camera.

Enjoy; Ralph, Latte Land, Washington