Graflex.org

[Silfver]

I want to get a Graphics for use in portrait photography and some cases when I want to use front movements to achieve certain selectice dof effects.

I basically have two questions:

1) Between the Super and the Super Speed Graphics - which one would you reccomend? Is the 1000 rodenstock shutter really that bad?

2) What lens would be the best to allow for tight head shots? Focal length suggestions as well as lenses you know have good glass.

[sobahguy]

Hello,
There have been several threads regarding the Graflex 1000 shutter, many such posts by me and others. The shutter has shown its unreliability due to age. The plastic cams on which the aperture blades sit become brittle and break easily. According to Mr. Lustig in one of my many conversations with him, the problem is compounded by an inherent design flaw in the earlier Graflex 1000 shutters which caused the blades to jam easily, even on those not very old back in the 60's. This was corrected by flaring out the tips of the leading edges of the outside blades, so the later (post-1962 or so) shutters didn't jam up as often, atleast not for this reason.
If you treat the shutter with some TLC it should be ok. Some advice which I got from JP Mose was very helpful and I stick to it religiously. Always leave the shutter speed at 1/2 sec when not in use & leave the aperture wide open. When changing speeds and apertures, change from one speed (or stop) to the next VERY SLOWLY. Always cock the shutter by turning the front hood clockwise VERY SLOWLY. Never trip the shutter directly or remotely while the shutter is open (like after checking focus on the ground glass).
I had Mr Lustig rebuild my 1000 shutter after it jammed. I paid almost as much for the shutter repair as i did for the camera, but that was what i was willing to do to preserve the camera as original. I have yet to fire the shutter again (and likely won't) at its top 1/1000 sec speed, since the last time i did all hell broke loose inside it. If I ever need to repair again, i will dispense with the shutter altogether and see about having SK Grimes put the Optar in a new shutter.
I would think about maybe something in the 162mm-180mm range would work well for long portraits. For upper body/head & shoulders work something from 210mm to 270mm should do the trick, although I haven't done much of either; perhaps other members can speak about portraiture in greater depth than I.
Hope this helps.

[45PSS]

The only difference between the Super and Super Speed is when they came from the factory with the 1/1000 shuttered lens the lens lock plate says Super Speed Graphic. Leaving the 1/1000 in the sun too long, not having it lubed regularly, recocking it in the "O" position contribute to its failure. At the first sign of roughness is when to have it serviced.( I'm tempted to see if Fred Lusting will sell me his parts supply for this shutter).
If you're going to do portrails I think one of the Reflex series cameras would be better. Even on the earliest versions, one could leave the focal shutter open and use a leaf shutter lens on the camera.
Charles

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[Silfver]

Thanks for your reply.

One thing that sort of 'confuses' me is that I often hear about 'Speed Graphics' as a category of cameras - it's even the name of this forum. But in that category seems to be Crown, Super, Speed and Super Speed. Is it just an 'over-all name' for these cameras or is the "Speed" camera really that dominant?
Just curious.

I'm still on the fence about the camera. I am leaning towards a Graflex Super Graphics - as it seems to have the movements I want, flexibility in lenses and backs and also within the 500 dollar budget I have.

[clnfrd]

The "Speed" denotes the cameras with the focal plane shutter with speeds to 1/1000th of a second. Fred.

[Les]

Before 1947, there was the Speed Graphic and then the reflex cameras where you look down a tall chimney.

The press loved the Speed, so it became the dominant name. Some people even refer to other manufacturer's press cameras as Speed Graphics.

Once the Flash bulb was firmly entrenched and shutters got relieable synchronization, the focal plane shutter wasn't as desireable...

by the late 50s the Crown was out selling the Speed. Even more in the 60s

Graflex Inc was forever trying to get a cheaper camera out to bring in the amateur market. That's where the Century came in as it's made of plastic.

The Super series was the last revamping of the Graflex Press camera, and it's the only Speed that doesn't have a focal plane shutter.

[clnfrd]

I stand corrected. The Super Speed Graphic, circa 1961-1970 did not have a focal plane shutter. The 1/1000th/sec shutter was a front shutter. Fred.