Want to Buy WTB: Technika, Speed, or Crown -type field or press camera

(WTB) Open to ideas. Originally wanted Horseman FA (my first choice), but now considering Linhof and others including Crown Graphic. Must have excellent bellows. Something rugged. I’m learning about cams and rangefinders — if there was one that worked with a modern 120mm, 135mm, or 150mm lens that would be icing on the cake.

I need something that I can handhold. Must be reliable.

Let me know what you have, condition, and price, shipped to Texas, regular PayPal

I assume you're only interested in 4x5 format?

I don’t have one for sale, but one nice thing about the Crown Graphic and those old Kalart rangefinders are that you can adjust them yourself. You can hang a modern lens in place of the old Wolly and as long as the focal length is close to the old lens you should be able to accurately adjust the rangefinder. Check out Graflex.org for their great information. It is considerably more complex with a Linhof Super Technika and the cams. You can buy a late model one with a modern lens on it and the correct cam so need for mucking around. It will cost at least 10x the cost of a Crown though. I have a Super Graphic and a Linhof Super Technika IV. If I am going to be walking all day with one of them in my hand it’s going to be the Graphic. The Technikas are rugged and versatile (plenty of movements, etc) but also weigh a lot. My Graphic on a monopod is a great walking around combo for me.

Thanks for the great info! A Pacemaker Speed with working focal plane shutter could also work. Yes, all 4x5.

Do you prefer a Crown or Speed? The obvious advantage of the latter is the focal plane shutter. The advantage of the former is it's lighter weight, a bit thinner, and you can use wider lenses.

BTW, if you ever make it to the San Antonio area, I live a few miles SE of SA. You can inspect before you buy.

Prefer Speed or Pacemaker Speed in excellent condition, with working focal plane shutter.

Old-N-Feeble said:

Do you prefer a Crown or Speed? The obvious advantage of the latter is the focal plane shutter. The advantage of the former is it's lighter weight, a bit thinner, and you can use wider lenses.

BTW, if you ever make it to the San Antonio area, I live a few miles SE of SA. You can inspect before you buy.

Click to expand...

Ebay has a few lisred. I saw a complete kit, several lensless bodies and a nice complete camera.

Do you have to have a focal plane shutter? I have a VGC Burke and James 4x5 Press kit I had listed here then moved to ebay.
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/b-j-press-4x5-kit.158281/

The Burke & James has the advantage of a rotating back, handy when taking vertical format photos on a tripod. Unlike late Speed Graphics, it also uses the easy to improvise 4" square lens boards. However, I don't remember ever seeing a rangefinder on a B&J. That's no problem for many large format photographers. The later Speed Graphic cameras have fold-down infinity stops, which are an asset when several lenses will be used. Most will have Graphic backs which help if one uses roll films. Build quality on the Graphics seems better to me than on the B&J.

Jim Jones said:

The Burke & James has the advantage of a rotating back, handy when taking vertical format photos on a tripod. Unlike late Speed Graphics, it also uses the easy to improvise 4" square lens boards. However, I don't remember ever seeing a rangefinder on a B&J. That's no problem for many large format photographers. The later Speed Graphic cameras have fold-down infinity stops, which are an asset when several lenses will be used. Most will have Graphic backs which help if one uses roll films. Build quality on the Graphics seems better to me than on the B&J.

Click to expand...

Kalart range finder, parallax correcting finder, and sport finder. Rotating back, and good front movements, rise, fall, tilt, shift, everything but swing

Still looking! I'm liking the Speed with a working Focal Plane shutter best. That way, I can play with barrel lenses. On the other hand, if I found a great deal on even a Crown that would be nice. But my dream is a pristine Horseman FA.

...