Graflex.org

eddie gunks · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 12 Location: kingston NY

hello all,

i made a buy the other day and now i am thinking i may have made a mistake. it is a CG 3X4. i figure i will cut my own film down. i know i can buy some 3X4 but i will cut my own. any suggestions on the best way to cut my own film. i was thinking about making a templet of some sort.

so i got a CG 3X4, 3 film holders, a film pack adapter, film that says process by 1959! lol! various instuction manuals, a 2 cell flash unit and 14 "25 series" bulbs and some bigger flash bulbs. the shutter is sticky below 1/10. the lens has someting inside it, maybe fungus but i am sure it will not affect the image quality but it is still there. bulb and T work fine. the rangefinder is working. it is a side RF, with the tube. it has a spring back, and a 135 optar lens. the bellows look great and everything moves well. the "box" shutter release is working. it looks like it has not been used since the 50s. it still has tri x film in the film back and 1 film back has film in it.

okay so finally to my question.should i keep the camera? did i make a mistake in buying it. (i have too many cameras now and i probably should have kept my money for other purchases.) if i was to try and sell it what could i get for it? i see them on e bay for 100$-400$, but they are mostly the 4X5 units. i plan to shoot it a bit, but after that i am not sure.

thanks for all the help.

eddie

t.r.sanford · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject:

The resale value of 3¼x4¼ "Graphics" is lowered because of the unavailability of film, which is too bad. The format had some real advantages, and held its own into the 1970s. I have a 3¼x4¼ "Anniversary Speed," and it always has been a pleasure to use and a very good picture-taker.

You'll find lots of information on this site about lens and shutter maintenance. As for cutting down sheetfilm, I think the most efficient way to do it on a recurrent basis might be to get a small paper-cutter and carefully secure two shallow battens, cut from mounting-stock or basswood, to the board for ease of positioning the film in the dark.

If I were doing it, I'd arrange matters so that I could hold a sheet in my right hand with the code notch under my index finger, slide the film against one batten to trim off its left side, then rotate it 90°, place it against the other batten and trim off the bottom. Other arrangements may occur to you.

Rangemaster · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 6:20 pm Post subject:

There are actually a couple of companies that offer film in the sizes of the older Graflex cameras

jandcphotography.com

retrophotographic.com

filmforclassics.com

I would keep it, they are great cameras.

Dave

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Henry · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:33 pm Post subject:

FYI, one of my other hobbies is bird-watching. There's a Bird Nest ID book in the Peterson field guide series, publ. by Houghton-Mifflin, and the author, Hal Harrison, mentions (p. xix) that "nearly all color photographs...were taken with a 3-1/4x4-1/4 Crown Graphic with a 135 mm Graflex Optar lens, using groundglass focusing and flash....Daylight-type Ektachrome sheet film was used in the Graphic." He does admit to using a Hassie with Ektachrome-X slide film for the rest. The book was originally published in 1975 and is still in print AFAIK. Even more impressive to me is the physical effort (not to mention danger) involved in climbing all those trees with that gear! Not to mention focusing on the gg while perched up there. I think I would have used just the 'blad!

[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2005-12-06 13:57 ]

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

I like the format; the cameras are usefully smaller than a 45 and it can do good work. So keep it. Check it out and fix it up using the tips on this site.

I know you said that you wanted to cut the film down, but unless you need emulsions that are not otherwise available it really does not make much sense. J&C has B&W film for cheap in this format; I think some of it is less than twenty bucks for 25 sheets. Film for Classics has Kodak film (FC cuts it down) for reasonable prices if you want the name brand stuff.

Call Midwest Photo and ask Jim if he has any holders for you, cheap.

eddie gunks · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 12 Location: kingston NY

thanks everyone,
i have takena few shots today with the CG! i really enjoyed it. it was nice to hand hold it.
i cut some film down today. i used some plastic that i got from a CF card i bought recently. you know the big huge plastic containers they use to keep you from steeling the small items...you know the stuff you have to cut your way into? anyway i cut them to size, taped 2 sides together, and cut one corner off to make a 45degree angle. the i slipped the 4X5 sheet into the "holder" and felt that all the sides kind of lined up so i was not cutting a bad angle. i used the 45 cut to feel the corner of the film so i knew it was in realatively good. i carefully used a pair of scissors, because the plastic is a bit thicker i was able to feel the edge if the plastic with the opened scissors...kind of a guide. i was careful not to cut into the plastic. it kind of acts as a guide rail, only cutting the film. oh! and also being careful not to cut my changing bag!! anyway it went really well. i loaded 4 shots. i will develop them tomorrow.

cheers
eddie