Graflex.org

Dave Ramsey · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Montgomery AL

As previously mentioned, the 4X5 ground glass focusing panel was broken on the Super Speed Graphic I just bought. I assume any regular 4X5 panel will work as a replacement, correct? The fresnel is ok.
Thanks,
Dave
_________________
I am looking for a wire frame viewfinder for my Miniature Speed Graphic camera. It is completely missing, only the 2 screws left on the camera.
Thanks

Henry · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject:

We-e-l-l-l-l now, I wouldn't be so sure about that, pardner! I wouldn't take any bets on interchangeability of gg screens from one brand to another, even if the format is nominally the "same" size. This is why Dave Parker (the Satin Snow guy) asks you for specific measurements for the replacement gg that he cuts to size. In my experience, the dimensions should be exact down to the half-millimeter, just to be on the safe side. If you have the old screen, or enough fragments to piece together and measure, that's the best way to be sure of a perfect fit. Otherwise, you'll have to inside-measure the opening in your focusing frame, which can be tricky. Now's the time to buy that inside/outside-measuring caliper you've always wanted (digital read-out in both metric and English preferred). Harbor Freight has 'em at a good price, and they're good quality Mainland ones, too.

RichS · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject:

I just measured up my Pacemaker GG to make sure it was the same. It's the same...

Odd thing is, it can't quite fit a 4 inch high glass. 3.87 is about it. The width isn't 5 either. That comes in at 4.8. But it doeas measure the same between the Pacemake and the Super. So a 3.8 x 4.8 glass would be about right. The thickness of my Pacemaker glass is .061 or 1.55mm.

My guess would be that any Graphic GG would fit. I have an Anny aorund here somewhere but can't find it at the moment... I wouldn't put any bets on glass made for any other camera though. There tends to be quite a bit of slight differences...
_________________
----------------------------------------
"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

----------------------------------------

Dave Ramsey · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Montgomery AL

Rich and Henry:
Thanks for that further info.
There's a panel on ebay that has both the GG and fresnel glass in the mount. I'm tempted to bid on it because I have a Crown Speed Graphic that need the fresnel glass. I'm going to double check tonight to make sure it'll all kit.
Best regards,
Dave R. in sunny Alabama
_________________
I am looking for a wire frame viewfinder for my Miniature Speed Graphic camera. It is completely missing, only the 2 screws left on the camera.
Thanks

Dave Ramsey · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Montgomery AL

Can anyone tell me the trick to removing the focusing hood and panel in order to get to the GG in the Super Graphic. Tonight I shook all the broken GG from inside the focusing back of the Super Graphic but I can't see how to remove the focusing hood to get the the fresenel lens. The Pacemaker hoods remove easily but not so for the SG. I'm going to have to do this to replace the GG panel.
Dave Ramsey
_________________
I am looking for a wire frame viewfinder for my Miniature Speed Graphic camera. It is completely missing, only the 2 screws left on the camera.
Thanks

RichS · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:29 am Post subject: Re: Super Graphic

I had to pull out a Super to double check...

The focus hood is held in by two "springs" on either side and it's a tight fit. There is no catch of any kind. Simply place the blade of a small, flat screwdriver into the space where the chrome hood release is on the bottom and gently pry it up. Looking at the back, the catch is at the bottom and there is a larger space in the back where the catch moves when you push it. Place the screwdriver blade into this space below the hood catch. The hood must be removed bottom first as the top is held in by two ridges, so it swings up from the bottom.

Also, don't stick the screwdriver blade in too deep either. The edge of the hood and the edge of the GG are exactly the same and you can easily crack the GG if you go too deep before prying...

When you put the hood assembly back in, put the top in first and hold it there while you push down on the bottom. The top has a tendency to pop up which is not good with the ridges sticking out...
_________________
----------------------------------------
"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

----------------------------------------

Dave Ramsey · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Montgomery AL

Rich:

I did what you said and out it came, thanks for that.

I assume the fresnel lens is the one that should be on the bottom when you are looking through the back of the camera, right? That's the way it was on the Super Graphic. I also have 4X5 Crown Grahic that is missing it's fresnel lens and I want to make sure that the GG goes on top.

I'm bidding on ebay for a graflok 4X5 with both pieces of glass in it so if I win the bidding for it I'll have the right piece of glass for each camera.
Regarding the back on the Super Graphic. A regular graflok back will not fit on the super graphic, correct? I tried the back from the Crown on the Super and no go. Do the supers have their own graflok backs or what?

Thanks once more,

Dave R.
_________________
I am looking for a wire frame viewfinder for my Miniature Speed Graphic camera. It is completely missing, only the 2 screws left on the camera.
Thanks

RichS · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Super Speed Grahic

Great.

Yes, the fresnel should be towards the lens. The GG should be towards you when looking through the back as to focus. Plus, the grooves on the fresnel should face the GG and the frosted side of the GG should face the fresnel. The sandwich of both should be clear and shiny on both sides when put together.

Yes again. The focus panels are different between the Super and any other camera. They can both use any of the standard holders but the panels won't interchange.

If you have the optical viewfinder on top, that's different too, although it may be the same as the top rangefinder Pacemakers? I never did get a chance to look into that.

Lens boards are only interchanable in they have the four bumps on them. The earlier Pacemaker type with only two bumps won't fit the Super. Well, they fit, but won't lock down properly. The electric release Super boards will work on the Pacemakers but of course, there's no electric release on them.

Another trick with the Super is the flash brackets. They are farther apart on the Super than on the Pacemakers. That really annoyed me. I didn't want to have separate flashes for the cameras. Then I figured out that if you turn the top bracket upside down, it's exactly the same spacing as the Pacemaker. Just unscrew it, turn it around and screw it back on.

I hope you win your auction.

Rich...
_________________
----------------------------------------
"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

----------------------------------------