Graflex.org

[John Newkirk]

Greetings, Graflex aficionados.

I'm looking for a Graflex camera with which to photograph some places my father saw in 1939 as he rode his Harley from New York City to San Francisco.

I, too, ride a 1930's-era Harley, so space is at a premium. A 4x5 outfit is really too much for me to carry, so 6x9 cm is what I'm looking for. I generally only shoot Tri-X 120 and Kodachrome 35mm (with a Leica IIIf). Based on the posts I've read thus far, perhaps the best combo would be:

Century Graphic or Crown Graphic 2x3
6x9 film holder(s)
Ektar 101mm (or better) lens
A wide angle lens or two?
A few Series VI filters (yellow, 81A, polarizer, etc.)

I'd appreciate your thoughts on which setup might be best - and where I might obtain it.

-John Newkirk, Author
The Old Man and the Harley: A Last Ride Through Our Fathers' America

[Dan Fromm]

John, I have a Century and a couple of 2x3 Crowns, both with Graflok. The Century and the 2x3 Crown are, IMO, functionally equivalent. According to my wife's invariably highly inaccurate kitchen scale the Century and 2x3 Crown weigh the same. So if I were you I'd buy on price and condition.

Lenses.

You'll want a normal lens. Conventional wisdom ranks standard issue normal lenses for 2x3 Graphics this way: 105/3.7 Ektar > 101/4.5 Ektar >= 101/4.5 Optar/Raptar > 103/4.5 Graftar. I've done some serious lens testing and there's been considerable discussion about how these lenses shoot. To the extent that there's an unconventional consensus it is: 103/4.5 Graftar > 101/4.5 Ektar >= 101/4.5 Optar/Raptar > 105/3.7 Ektar. That said, these days I use something entirely different. If I were you I'd go for a Century with Graftar, otherwise a Century with 101 Ektar, Optar/Raptar, they're all good enough. Read a > b as a is better than b.

Wide angle. Good idea. Two suggestions. 80/6.3 Wide Field Ektar, focus at f/6.3, shoot at f/11 or smaller. Possibly a little too close to 100 mm, still a very useful lens. 65/8 Ilex (sold as Accuwide, Acugon, Ilex-Caltar, Wide Field Paragon) or 65/8 Super Angulon. These two lenses are functionally equivalent, the Ilex is usually less expensive. These are relatively modern lenses, both much much better than the somewhat older 65/6.8 Optar/Raptar and Angulon. The O/R and Angulon are different design types, both, IMO (but I've never used an Angulon) so-so. Their big advantage over the Ilex/SA is that the camera can be closed on them.

Roll holder? RH-8 (lever wind, shell with pin rollers). I use Adapt-A-Roll 620s but they're harder to find and loading/unloading is a bit fiddly.

Filters? No idea, don't use 'em.

If you're going to use just one lens, set the RF up for it (get a body with a Kalart!), leave the RH attached permanently and don't look back. If you're going to use more than one lens, you'll be able to use only one with the RF, so will need a loupe and a tripod. Sorry 'bout that. These days I use a Toyo 3.6x loupe. Not sure which tripod it makes sense to carry on a motorcycle.

No advice on where to shop. I've bought my Graphics at camera shows, but they're pretty well gone. Lenses from a variety of sources, including sellers on eBay. There's a law of nature that all used lenses' shutters are off, so budget for a clean, lube, adjust (CLA) for each lens you buy.

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

[C. Henry]

John;

There is another way to use more than one lens with the rangefinder.
Set the rangefinder up for the lens most used and have an accurate focus scale for that lens installed on one side of the rails if it is not already there. For the other one or two lenses set up focus scale(s) on the other side of the rails. Focus with the range finder then refocus for the lens you are using by reading the distance on the scale for the lens that matches the rangefinder and setting the focus to that distance on the scale for the lens you are using.
This method was used by many Speed and Crown Graphic users before the top rangefinder with its interchangeable cams became available. This was also how we used accessory rangefinders with any scale focusing camera over a half century ago.

C. Henry

[1banjo]

will John
as your are in Denver back when I would have said Mike Camera
but now that been a few years ago BUT the last time I was in Denver
may four years back there was 6 or 8 camera store that had a lot of
large format cameras as the Colorado Institute Art studens was using
them But now they have gone most digital camera now
but I was finding some go buy's back then
you mite call ROCKY MOUNTAIN CAMERA REPAIR, 240 BROADWAY,
DENVER, CO, 80203, (303) 744-3459
ask them who still has some LF cameras
banjo

[brian d]

http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/miniature-speed-graphic.html

a 30's harley recreating a trip taken in '39 rates a camera that was available in '39 too!
( insert green with envy emoticon anywhere)

they show up on ebay fairly often
_________________
Real men use Speed Graphics and flashbulbs.

[John Newkirk]

[Dan Fromm]

Three ways to use roll film in a Mini Speed.

As you suggested, find one with a retrofit Graflok. Or find a retrofit Graflok back for a Mini (has the flash terminal in the upper left corner) and put it on yours. Or find any 2x3 Graflok back and put it on and give up bulb flash.

Alternatively, find a 2x3 Adapt-A-Roll 620, which will fit a 2x3 spring back. Anachronistic, I think. I b'lieve the AAR is post-WWII.

Or, if you're going to use just one lens on a Mini that has a Kalart in good order, adjust the Kalart to the lens and find or make a spring kit for permanently attaching a Graflex-made roll holder. Also anachronistic.

[troublemaker]

I use a Miniature Speed Graphic that I have the Graflex Spring kit for. It does a very nice job and is a nice looking camera. I use a shade hood with it, and all my cameras where possible when out hand holding. With a good working range finder, it's a nice set up, especially if you don't want to haul around a tripod. But for some things a tripod support is nice to have, and the benefit of having a Graflok back and focussing screen is being able to focus more carefully and then pop the roll holder on.
I don't think one 23 series camera I have ever received has worked very well without a lot of repair work, cleaning and adjustments. And quite a few Kalart RF's have been broken or in bad shape.
On the other hand, there are a lot of Century Graphics out there that were never fitted with a Kalart, thus they are lighter and a little smaller without it. I backpacked with one of those for a while, and then one would focus either with the GG only or make use of focus scale, which can't be considered accurate for fine work, but it worked pretty good when I tried it.
Also, having a RF and scale in combination are pretty nice to have in low light or night imagery.