Graflex.org

[R_J]

Need some help on the above combination which is bewildering me.

After reading the FAQ, I surmised that a 23 Graflex roll holder back was what I needed for the Century Graphic. This has a built in Graflok which has around 3 centimetres of pull.

I've not found a quick way to remove the Graflok back and focussing screen. The pressure required to pull this away from the image's focussed plane feels very forced. It does not seem possible to have the 23 film back on the Century Graphic at the same time.

Have I a mismatching back, or is there some other way to use the focussing screen and film back interchangeably?

Thanks for any comments.

[t.r.sanford]

The "Century," unlike its stablemates, has the "Graflok" back molded as part of the body. This is a good system.

I infer that you want to remove the focusing panel. The "Graflok" focusing panel (of any size) has two heavy chrome-plated arms that extend from the right side of the panel (when you're behind the camera) to the center. Toward the left end of each arm is a knurled area. The idea is, with the camera closed and lying face down, you press down firmly on each of those knurled areas, then move the whole focus panel assembly to the right. The arms terminate in little hooks that engage lugs recessed into the rails.

When you get it off, you'll see the elegance of this system, which retains a spring-loaded focusing panel for use with cutfilm holders, but allows you to remove it for thicker accessories, like rollfilm adapters or the "Grafmatic" magazine.

Once the panel is off, you simply put the rollfilm adapter in place and lock it with the two chromed slides, top and bottom.

[alecj]

Another way to describe it is to raise the focusing panel as if you were about to slide a cut film holder underneath. At that point, you'll see the arms TR described and how they hook to the camera. While holding the panel up, push those two arms back toward the camera unhooking them and slide the panel off the back to the right [away from the handle side].

To reinstall it, just slide the panel onto the back from the left. The hooks should engage.

You're roll film back will be attached with the chrome sliding arms remaining on the back after the panel is off.

[clnfrd]

Please be advised that a GRAFLEX roll film holder is for a Graflex back...a GRAPHIC roll film holder is for a Graflok back.

[ This Message was edited by: clnfrd on 2004-08-11 14:23 ]

[R_J]

Thank you for the clarification.

I've tried out the suggestions and I gather that it is not possible to switch from using the focussing screen to the roll holder, without refocussing for every single shot before reinserting the roll holder. Nor is it possible to pull the focussing screen back and insert the roll film holder between the lens and the focussing screen without damaging something.

This seems like a very slow process. Perhaps I should have thought about a Kelart rangefinder instead of relying on the focussing screen, although the latter is more enjoyable to work with.

Clnfrd - forgive me for not understanding the difference: could you please explain what the difference between the two backs are?

Thanks.

[Les]

The Graflex company made three different styles of backs; the Graflok back, the Graphic or spring back, and the Graflex back.

The Graflex back is incompatible with the other two as it uses slightly wider film holders.

Graflex Inc made roll film holders for both the Graflok back and the Graflex back. For the Graflok back the holders say "22 Graphic" or "23 Graphic", for the Graflex back, it says "22 Graflex"

Now as to roll film holders. Calumet makes a roll film holder called a C2 or C2N that looks like an odd film holder. It will slip in behind the ground glass just like a sheet film holder. The Calumet version takes both 120 and 220 size film but only one format 6x7cm. Other companies make similar holders in other sizes up to 6x12 but they are very expensive.

[Dan Fromm]

[t.r.sanford]

The whole idea of the "Graflok" back was to make it easy to focus, remove the focusing panel, attach the rollholder, make your exposure or exposures, then detach the rollholder and replace the focusing panel. I've done this countless times with Polaroid filmholders on a 4x5 "Speed" and "View II," and it is neither time-consuming nor tedious. But you do want a sturdy tripod!

[R_J]

[Graflex Inc made roll film holders for both the Graflok back and the Graflex back. For the Graflok back the holders say "22 Graphic" or "23 Graphic", for the Graflex back, it says "22 Graflex"]

Years later, I'll still be trying to get my head around the terminology of the Graflex, Grafloks, Graphics, 22, 23's; spring backs etc.

My mistake: I thought that it was possible to use the Century Graphic with a rollfilm back, like a 5x4 with film sheet inserts in front of the focussing screen. Just being able to move the focussing screen to the left or right when the roll film holder is in place would have been an ingenious design. Thanks for the advice on the tripod TR!

[t.r.sanford]

Back in those dear, dead days gone by, there were such things for large-format cameras. "Repeating backs" could accommodate three cutfilm holders, and move them successively into position when you wanted to make color separation negatives directly. If you replaced one of the holders with a groundglass and shortened the whole assembly by a third, the result would be something along the lines you propose.

The difficulty, I think, is that the apparatus is cumbersome, and you'd need to exercise considerable ingenuity in figuring out how to make sure the darkslide was in place before sliding the filmholder away.

Incidentally, you also need a sturdy tripod (and a firm grip in tightening the screw) before you ram a cutfilm holder under a spring-loaded focusing panel, "Graflok" or "Graphic" or anything else!

[RichS]

Graflex did make a sliding back for the 4x5. I believe it was two 2x3 openings with a GG. I could dig it out, but right now I just can't remember the configuration? The only thing I see in GGP is the "Dividing Back" for two shots on a single 4x5 sheet.

But sliding backs were apparently very common even in 8x10. They get rather large and heavy. I just passed on one in auction because I knew I'd never use it...

The best one I've seen is the 4x5 back that has a GG and 35mm camera attached. I just can't imagine using a 4x5 camera to shoot 35mm negs? But someone did...

[Dan Fromm]

[R_J]

This is making sense to me now; TR & RichS - I understand why the cut-sheet holder fell out of favour (interesting then that Dan is using it

I don't object to the slow pace of using an A620 type film sheet back, although then it makes sense just to take the Graflok back off and slow things down this way instead...... I suppose it would be the bulk of the holders which is disturbing, along with the darkslide issues which TR mentions. Also, paradoxically and counterintuitively, there are some film emulsions exclusively available in 5x4" which will be available long after 120 roll format versions have become extinct....

I'll make an effort to try and find one of those A620's.

Thanks Dan.

[Dan Fromm]