Welcome to Graflex Land.

mopar_guy

I got my first Graphic a few years ago and I fell in love with it. Well, I think that I have enough of these nifty cameras to join the group. My most used Graflex is a 2x3 Crown Graphic with the 101mm Kodak Ektar lens and the next most used is a 2x3 Crown Graphic with the 105mm Kodak Ektar. I also have a couple of 2x3 Pacemaker Speed Graphics, a 3x4 Pacemaker Speed Graphic and a beautiful 3x4 Anniversary Speed Graphic. Oh, and there is also a 3x4 Graflex Super D. I have used all of these and I have added quite a few accessories--roll film backs, sheet film holders, Graflites, Graflex Flash Synchronizers, side lighting units, a few lenses, etc. Recently I got an Ilex Paragon 6 1/2 inch in Acme Synchro shutter that I want to use with the Anniversary, so I need to find another "A" lens board.

Dave
 

yarrumk

Hi, I've been shooting a Speedgraphic 4x5 pacemaker ever since......next week when the lens arrives (package tracking is too addictive)
I have a few medium formats and a few 35mm, but this is my first foray into large format.
I have the camera and am getting familiar with it, just waiting for that lens. (135mm F4.7 in a wollensak shutter)
I'm sure I'll be back with questions.


Keith
 

Bertil

Welcome to the group, and Good Luck with your Speed -- also something addictive!
/Bertil
 

nworth

I have a Super Speed Graphic and a later model regular 4X5 Speed Graphic. I like them a lot, but they haven't had much use lately. I use the regular Speed a fair amount for various experiments. The Super Speed is a field camera for me. Unfortunately, the Speeds are heavy - heavier than a regular 4X5 view camera - and they are hard to lug anywhere very far from the car, at least for a 75 tear old. The major advantages are ruggedness and ease of operation, along with a grip system that will actually let you hand hold a 4X5 with greater steadiness than you can hold a 35mm. I also have a 2X3 Speed Graphic and a 2X3 Century Graphic. The Century Graphic gets quite a bit of use, but the viewfinder of the 2X3 Speed is broken, and that limits its use.
 

Bertil

nworth, welcome to the group!

Yes, these 4x5 Graphics isn't very light weight.
My Super Speed goes for 2750g, my Crown a little bit lighter: 2450g and my regular Speed 2950g.
But with a well design backpack it could be endurable to carry these things!
I also use my Super Speed as a field camera,
and my regular Speed with some intersting barrel lenses, particularly the Kodak AERO-Ektar 2,5/178mm for the very amazing short DOF.
Best Regards and a Happy New Graphic Year!
/Bertil
 

BentleyR

Just joined the group. I use a 3 1/4 X 4 1/4 Series B Graflex - not a Graphic but the right manufacturer. It's my point and shoot, easy to hand hold. Also use a Linhof Technica III 4 X 5 and an Eastman 2D 8 X 10. Glad to see there are others enjoying the Graflex life.

Allan (aka BentleyR)
 

mopar_guy

Allan, I have a Super D Graflex in the same format. I really like the camera.
 

desertratt

I call him Frank after Dr. F's monster. I am building him from spare parts, of course. I bought a Crown Graphic without lens or lensboard and without a back. It is in amazing condition. It looks like its five years old or so. I bought a springback and am now looking around for the right screws to attach same. I have a service and parts manual so we shall see what my local Ace hardware has. The springback looks new. Then I look for a lens.
I came into news photography about the time the Speed Graqphic was going ouit but used one from time to time. I have the greatest respect for the (mostly) guys who operated these monsters and knew just when to press the button to get a fabulous photo knowing they probably had one shot at it. I am not sure what I am going to do with old Frank when I get him knocked together but it should be fun. Maybe some 40s-50s cheescake?
 

Ricus.stormfire

Hello everyone

I recently bought a Pacemaker Speed Graphic, I've already gotten a brass barrel lens to use on along with the 127mm f4.7 Kodak that came along with it. Sadly the adjustable knob on the back of the top viewfinder got destroyed in transit. I will replace it some time in the future. I also received a couple of film holders from another local (South African) Apugger. Since this my first LF camera, I feel overwhelmed at times, but I appreciate the slower working around it (and individual sheets). Looking forward to posting some photos soon.
 

Kawaiithulhu

Just found this group, dropping in to say hi.

Three Graflex family here: '62 Century Graphic with a xenotar 80mm, a '53 Crown Graphic 4x5 with optar 135mm and 10" tele-optar, both of those boxes are in good shooting shape, and a '44 Graphic 45 that I'm nursing back to health since it currently acts like a sick turtle.

I'll just leave a test shot behind of the 2x3 century as shot with the 4x5 and 10" tele to brighten up the the space a little bit.
 

megzdad81

Hi, guys. Been meaning to join for some time, but there's lots of things I've been meaning to do for some time. I carry a little 3x4 Crown Graphic with a 101mm Graflex Optar that I stole from Dad when he couldn't remember the last time he used it, back in the 70's. It's got a 6x7 roll-film back that I really like for format, but I tend to get a number of double exposures that reflect poor planning if that's what I thought I was doing.

Got a question--is there a place to get parts? I've lost a screw for the (what I call) the bed release that opens the camera up. I'm using a rubber band at the moment. It works pretty well other than this problem.

Actually I've also lost one for a 4x5 Crown as well.

Any help would be appreciated--I'd really like not to destroy the inserts with the wrong size.
 
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