Graflex.org

[rtphotos]

Greetings all,

I just ran across an interesting article appearing in the May/June 2005 issue of View Camera: “Turn Your Graflex Into a Full-Featured View Camera”, by John Blackford.

In the article Mr. Blackford describes that by simply grinding a tiny bit of the corners of the pressure plates on the front standards, he is able to introduce swing movement in the horizontal (and tilt in the vertical). He claims 45degs of unhindered movement, except where the door struts will block the lens board.

Just thought you do-it-yourselfers might want to take a look at his article and accompanying photographs, especially since the topic seems to come up now and again.

And has anyone tried to do this? Are there any problems, concerns I should be aware of before I crank up my dremel? I don’t plan on selling my crown, so am not concerned about its resale value.

rtphotos

[RichS]

I think this was already mentioned? Maybe somewhere else?

There are two issues with this:

First: Most people here do not appreciate the permanent modification of these cameras...

Second: Many people do not like the function of this arrangement. It becomes difficult to keep the font standard in-line with the back once this is done.

And third This is far from a new idea. Most of the old field camerass functions just this way. My 70 year old Century Universay has a similar locking system, complete with rounded corners so it can do swings.

I suppose someone happend to realise this mod could easily be done on a Graphic and got it published....

Personally, I find very little use for swings! Although on the Graphics, with this mod; you could then do front tilt with the camera in a vertical position. That would be a good thing! I don't remember if he mentioned that in the article?

[Dan Fromm]

[RichS]

Thanks Dan. Interesting ides.

I was kind-of relating thoughts in general on this subject though. To be honest, I don't really worry about it all that much. Of course the GVII's have a center click, but any other camera and I just 'eyeball' it. Something to get used to with a camera like the Century Universal where the front standard is pretty free to move in any direction at all.

I never really could understand that exactness people strive for. Those cameras with micometer adjustments and all? It is after, what we see on the GG that matters and when I do move something, it's in relation to what I'm seeing on the GG, not how many degrees I've moved something... Maybe I just miss the finer points of the process?

Now on the Crowns & Speeds, there's the infinity stops. As long as there's two and properly set, the front standard should be set to the back. Another reason I don't worry...

As I get older, there's more and more on the "don't worry" list

[Dan Fromm]

[RichS]

Nothing wrong with 'gadgets' Love 'em myself. But that's the problem... Too many of them... I'm still trying to squeeeze everything I "need" into the Graphic case for my Super P&S. No space left and down to juggling for a better fit. Gees those cases can get heavy


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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"
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[rtphotos]

Hi all,

I'm from the school of keeping it simple. As I haven't graduated yet, I was thinking of using two infinity stops, or even just a couple of marks on the bed to eyeball the squareness of the front standard when needed.

I also do appreciate that some of you are not in favor of mangling your graflexes, but my Crown is definitely a "user", if it's any consolation to anyone.

Thanks all,
rtphotos

[RichS]

As a totally devaout "do not mangle a good Graphic" proponent, I will add this...

The mod to add swing is two things.

1> Very usable. As I said it offers front tilt when the camnera is in the vertical position and that's something sorely lacking in the original design.

2> Not visible. And I think this is VERY important. Too many people do things like strip the letherette of the boxes. That no only ruins the original finish, but it's rather obvious. Also difficult for the next owner to fix. This mod would be comepletely invisible, although difficult to reverse. As long as the next owner knew about it, I really see nothing wrong with it.

But I do hope that anyone who does this mod takes care in only removing just enough material to accomplish the swing. We do after all want these cameras to be around, and functioning for another 50 odd years, at least


[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2005-07-12 13:11 ]

[David A. Goldfarb]

I used to be skeptical about scales and micrometer movements, but they really do make things faster and easier.

On a Sinar F-series camera, for instance, you can focus on one spot, use the micrometer focus to focus on another spot, read the angle off the tilt calculator and apply the tilt to either standard, refocus, and the tilt will be just where you want. Then you can use the built in DOF calculator to find the optimal focus position and f:stop to get anything that needs to be in focus that can't be obtained with tilts and swings. And these days an F or F1 isn't necessarily more expensive than a late Graphic (though obviously these cameras serve different functions).

[RichS]

Interesting David. I can see how that would be easy once you got used to it.

But then there's 'me' I like the old KISS principle. Look at the GG, take a guess at what would work, look at the GG....

It's like the people who use math to figure bellows extension and those that guestimate it with no more than maybe a tape measure of the bellows, if that. ( although I use a thing similar to the calumet ruler and target, made my own).

To me it's more of viewing it and feeling it. The more calculations, mechanics and technology involved, the less I would enjoy it...

Might be different if someone gave me a Sinar