The Speed Graphic is a good investment, I think. I agree about the shutter. It's fun to be able to shoot barrel lenses, and most of the time they're quite a few hundred dollars cheaper...
The only issue I have with mine is that it's harder to find lens boards since it takes the ones with the rounded corners and the lip. They are NOT cheap on Ebay. SK Grimes can make them, though, I think?
These lens boards are dirt cheap, I get new ones from Heavystar on ebay 3 for $39 give or take a few cents, and even shipped to the UK they are great value. I wouldn't touch Grimes, over priced and over hyped, there's other companies who will do the same cheaper and just as well.
I make my own boards for older Speed Graphics although I seem to have acquired a surplus.
In Europe I'd look for a cheap Cambo Cadet, I sold one recently as an outfit with a good lens for under 200 euros. But there's better Cambo's for very little more and I'd look at the ones you've been offer in this thread from the EU. Importing from the US could mean somewhere between 25-30% Import Duty & VAT on top.
Personally I wouldn't recommend a Graflex Speed or Crown Graphic as a first LF camera, and that's from someone who's been using them a lot. The movements are very limited and inadequate, I mainly used mine hand held where no tripods are permitted but now mainly use a Super Graphic instead, it has all the movements I normally need and is still light and robust.
Ian
