Who uses baby Graphic (23) a LOT?

jtk · Jan 11, 2018

I have a Century 23 with 4 excellent lenses (including 47 SA), a bunch of backs and sheet film holders and developing hangers... but I've stopped using it...switched to 4X5, returned to 35, plus of course you know what.

What do you use yours for? Does it beat something else? Serious question. Sad.

michr · Jan 11, 2018

I have one I bought December 2016 thinking I really needed it. I haven't used it yet. I have a Mamiya 23 and a Medalist II. The Mamiya has the advantage of rangefinder-couple interchangeable lenses. I use the 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 sheet film back occasionally, or a 6x7 roll adapter. It's more compact and less awkward to hand hold.

Dan Fromm · Jan 11, 2018

Nearly everything. Less, though, now that I have 2x3 and 4x5 Cambos and can shoot 2x3 and 6x12 with one camera.

About lenses, you might want to take a look at http://www.galerie-photo.com/telechargement/dan-fromm-6x9-lenses-v2-2011-03-29.pdf

Besk · Jan 11, 2018

I consider my miniature Crown Graphic to be the center of my photography hobby. However, 35mm and 4x5 and 5x7 also are used
when they best suit my purposes.

ic-racer · Jan 11, 2018

I use my Horseman 6x9cm (2x3) camera on and off. Recently using it more because those little Instax films can be used like sheet film. One drawback for me is that it is the same size as my Horseman 4x5in. and in my hands 4x5 sheet film stays flatter in the older than 120 rollfilm in the Horseman Rollfilm holder of the 6x9cm.

peter k. · Jan 11, 2018

Quite a bit, in fact just got back in exploring new location for me, and took the baby just in case, shot 6 images.

moto-uno · Jan 11, 2018

^^ I'm finding your description a bit hard to understand. Is 4x5 sheet flatter in the holder (and potentially better ?) . Regards,Peter

jtk · Jan 11, 2018

Dan Fromm said:
Nearly everything. Less, though, now that I have 2x3 and 4x5 Cambos and can shoot 2x3 and 6x12 with one camera.

About lenses, you might want to take a look at http://www.galerie-photo.com/telechargement/dan-fromm-6x9-lenses-v2-2011-03-29.pdf

Dan's link opens to reveal the most obsessed of obsessions! Fabulous

http://www.galerie-photo.com/telechargement/dan-fromm-6x9-lenses-v2-2011-03-29.pdf

tessar · Jan 11, 2018

I have a Pacemaker Crown with 101/4.5 Raptar in Rapax, standard outfit, and have always been happy with it. I use it with a 6x9 rollfilm holder, nice big format. The front rise is handy for architecture and landscape. In all as good as I want without going up to LF.

jtk · Jan 11, 2018

tessar said:
I have a Pacemaker Crown with 101/4.5 Raptar in Rapax, standard outfit, and have always been happy with it. I use it with a 6x9 rollfilm holder, nice big format. The front rise is handy for architecture and landscape. In all as good as I want without going up to LF.

Somehow I don't have that Raptar/Rapax, but I did years ago and it was excellent (opinion based on today's scans).

michr · Jan 11, 2018

ic-racer said:
I use my Horseman 6x9cm (2x3) camera on and off. Recently using it more because those little Instax films can be used like sheet film. One drawback for me is that it is the same size as my Horseman 4x5in. and in my hands 4x5 sheet film stays flatter in the older than 120 rollfilm in the Horseman Rollfilm holder of the 6x9cm.

I'm interested to hear about your experience with the Instax film in sheet film holders. Can you give me some details?

mdarnton · Jan 11, 2018

I used to shoot weddings with a Century Graphic, in the 70s. A couple of years I got another, with a couple of
roll holders, one for color, one for B&W, a 65mm lens and finder, and got briefly enthusiastic about using it as
a hand camera. The only roll I shot in it gave me this:

I can't say why I haven't used it--it's a nice camera, comfortable to use, and takes nice pictures. It is also the
very first format I started with, when I was about 11, first with a loaned speed graphic, then my brother gave
me his FR Reporter 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 when he went to 35mm.

A period shot, around 1960, from the FR Reporter, on Super Hypan sheet film:

and another vintage shot, a bit earlier, maybe, from the Speeder, roll film back:

Marco Gilardetti · Jan 12, 2018

jtk said:
What do you use yours for? Does it beat something else? Serious question. Sad.

I understand you. I used to own a terrifc Linhof 2x3'' set, with an outstanding Carl Zeiss Planar f:2,8 that I will most probably never own again, plus two other great Schneider-Kreuznach lenses, each custom-cammed for the rangefinder. A real marvel in outstanding conditions.

When I later decided that the time to step up to 4x5'' has come, I also asked myself what to do with the 2x3'' Linhof. Of course I was very fond of it - so many nice memories of photographing outings. However, the 4x5'' could easily handle a 120 rollfilm, and the 2x3'' was not significantly lighter and smaller to keep it as a "portable camera for hiking" as an excuse. So, although very reluctantly, I eventually made my mind up that keeping such a fantastic and valuable camera as a shrine item was just nonsense. I don't have room and money enough to stock up objects like collectors do; but most of all, leaving a camera such as that Linhof unused is a sin. It had to be in the hands of another photographer.

I still miss it of course, but I am persuaded that I took the right decision.

ic-racer · Jan 12, 2018

moto-uno said:
^^ I'm finding your description a bit hard to understand. Is 4x5 sheet flatter in the holder (and potentially better ?) . Regards,Peter

Due to the bend of the 120 film in the Horseman Rollfilm holders, the area that was bent over the roller will eventually find its way to the film gate for an exposure. If the film had taken a curl due to extended length of time in that position, the film will bulge away from the pressure plate. The paper backing of 120 does not help (RIP 220). I try to shoot all 8 exposures in a session. If I do leave the film in the holder for a long period of time between shots (months) I'll consider the first frame a 'throw away."
The base of 4x5 film is thicker and it holds its intended flat position very will in film holders.

ic-racer · Jan 12, 2018

michr said:
I'm interested to hear about your experience with the Instax film in sheet film holders. Can you give me some details?

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/instax-mini-film-fits-2-1-4-x-3-1-4-film-holders.156089/

michr · Jan 12, 2018

ic-racer said:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/instax-mini-film-fits-2-1-4-x-3-1-4-film-holders.156089/

Thanks. I'll have to try it. I have a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Grafmatic. I would be awesome if I could use that.

ic-racer · Jan 12, 2018

Yes, try and see. I think the pod thickness might not allow six to fit. Either way, if your camera can hold the Grafmatic it can hold the standard 2x3 film holders that will take 2 sheets of film. They are not that expensive on the used market.

michr · Jan 12, 2018

ic-racer said:
Yes, try and see. I think the pod thickness might not allow six to fit. Either way, if your camera can hold the Grafmatic it can hold the standard 2x3 film holders that will take 2 sheets of film. They are not that expensive on the used market.

I have a few of those as well, which is what I should try first for simplicity's sake. I still don't understand how the pod might get in the way of the tab, so I'll have to experiment. I've pull the rollers off an old Polaroid so I have something to feed the exposed film through to develop.

ic-racer · Jan 13, 2018

I still don't understand how the pod might get in the way of the tab

On my Fidelity film holders (2x3) the flap (tab) presses down on the film. If you load the pod toward that end (to center the image) the flap (tab) would press on the pod when you close it. Other film holders might be slightly different in the construction of the flap.

M. Axel Wikstrom · Jan 16, 2018

Actually use my 2x3 Horseman VH quite a bit more than the 4x5 for the same type of shooting. Mostly landscape/fine art when traveling light. A lot more compact, and with the right lenses it's hard to tell the difference in quality. Have to use modern lenses, but it's worth the extra premium.

Who uses baby Graphic (23) a LOT?

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