Graflex.org

[AlvinY]

Greetings!
I am looking for a camera with movements that can correct perspective, specifically for indoor/outdoor architecture.

Originally I was searching for information about the Crown Graphics (there's one of them ******* in my locale), but then I read about the Graphic Views on this site, which have more movements.

I'd say a view camera seems more suitable, but I've never touched a view camera, hence I would like to know if a Crown graphic has enough movements to cover architecture, or should I just go for the Graphic View?

Thanks!

Alvin

[jsiladi]

A crown graphic has very limited movements compared to a view camera (of any kind). It will rise, fall, and shift (linear) the front lens standard.. It'll also tilt back but that's used to correct the lens when the bed is dropped (for the fall). In many cases these will get you what you need.

That's not to say that a Crown graphic (or speed graphic) won't do fine work. It has several advantages over a view camera in my opinion. Not the least of which is portability. It can be used in handheld mode where-as a view camera must be mounted on a STEADY tripod..

I'm sure other folks will present thier own answers but in short, mine is, a crown graphic can be used in most cases. If you want the nice movements such as swing and tilt that a view camera offers for perspective control, go for the view camera. Jeff

[ This Message was edited by: jsiladi on 2004-09-28 21:08 ]

[t.r.sanford]

A "Crown Graphic" certainly has enough front rise (and fall, with the drop bed) to deal with many architectural compositions, and enough shift to be useful. Its limitations as an alternative to a view camera are that, when you mount it on its side for vertical work, the rise/fall becomes a shift, and the shift limits your rise and fall. Whether this is really restrictive depends on the kind of work you want to do.

It always has seemed to me that obtaining a lens able to form an image circle sufficiently large to accommodate the front movements without compelling you to back away into the next county in order to frame the subject is the more immediate issue. Given such a lens, a "Crown Graphic" surely will get you well started, and will be entirely satisfactory for many subjects.

The time to start thinking about a monorail camera like the "Graphic View" may be when you have encountered a few situations in which you know you could get a better picture if you just had a little more front movement...

[Les]

A Crown Graphic might do well enough to get your feet wet, but buying knowing that it's not good enough for all things, in particular, interiors with wide angle lenses will be difficult to handle with either the Crown (not enough movement) or the GV as it doens't have a bag bellows capability.

If you want a Crown Graphic with more movements, look at a Meridian model C. The back on it can swing and tilt, and the front standard has more movements as well.

If you want to get your feet wet with a true view camera, look into the modular Calumets. I forgot their letter designation but their design allows for all sorts of movements the GV could only dream of.

[45PSS]

[Les]

I stand corrected. Make that a model B. And yes the back of the camera does restrict Polaroid backs. Apparently it restricted adapta rolls too, which is why the guy machined a great chunk out of mine.

Still it has more moves than a Crown, and I've twisted my Calumet NX45 into a pretzel trying to get a an interior shot (always standing either on the toilet or in the shower with 4800ws of light way too near a dripping faucet.

[t.r.sanford]

Grant all of that, the question remains: what kind of architectural photography? If your objective were to document the town halls and courthouses of eastern Indiana or something, I think a suitably-lensed "Crown" would work fine. And you'd have the "Graflok" back, and a camera (ideally, with a rangefinder) that you could hand-hold when you wanted to.

If none of those virtues appeal and you really do a lot of indoor restroom photography, then a modern view with modular bellows and rails surely would be a better choice.

[AlvinY]

Hi everyone!
Thanks for the info! I believe I will look into the graphic views as I wish to improve my shots - leveling a camera's film plane to the vertical doesn't give me much leeway

Thanks again!

Regards,
Alvin