Graflex.org

[daddeldu]

Hi!

Thanks to all you guys who put their work into maintaining this extremely informative site! -
I am about browsing for a 2x3 inch (6x9 cm) Graphic. I am not a collector, I just want the most lightweighted, collapsible 6x9 with interchangeable lenses and film holders. Therefore, I am thrilled to read that the Century weighs only 41 ounces (that is 1.16 kg to me). Then I have 2 questions:
1- In case a Century is difficult to locate - just how much more weight would I have to face with a Crown or maybe even Speed? I refer to the weight without lens and roll film holder, but including the groundglass and hood.
2- Some Centuries have red bellows. Are these red on the inner side as well? This would cause a problem with color film.

Thanks in advance for any answer!

daddeldu

[Dan Fromm]

[danimal]

Hi,

you shouldn't have too much trouble scrounging up a Crown Graphic in 2x3. Remember, though, that the 1.1Kg figure will go up when you add necessities like a roll back to the camera. For the backcountry, I carry a Zeiss folder that weighs less than a kilo with film.

Dan

[ This Message was edited by: danimal on 2004-10-28 13:36 ]

[daddeldu]

Hi!
Thanks to both Dans (!) for their answers. - Danimal, what is your "Zeiss folder"? I guess that you are referring to a folding camera with bellows, but with a fixed (non-interchangeable) back and dito lens - is that correct? Or is there any 6x9 (or 6x7), that has interchangeable backs and lenses, weighs under 1 kg, and which I have overlooked? In this case - could you be more specific about the model and details, maybe refer me to an online picture?
Thank you! - Daddeldu.

[troublemaker]

I have been backpacking with a stripped down Century throughout the last summer. I carry two lenses and an adapter for using the Cokin filters. Since one lens stores on the camera this helps, but as noted, and I can attest to this, there is still substantial weight when one adds the film back, film, meter, release, filters and adapters etc..., required for the mini field set up. I have a Speed 23, and it is way too heavy for packing. Might as well get a light weight 4x5 in that case. The Century I use in the backcountry has no rangefinder and I removed all viewfinders including the wire frame finder on the front standard which is fairly easy if mechanically inclined. The nice thing about the Century is they are relatively easy to get, inexpensive, and often in quite serviceable condition. They also only come with the Graflok Back. I also save a little weight by using the older less desired Graflex-23 back with the knob wind. In searching these out I have gotten a couple that do not work well, but they are lighter than the later RH series with the lever, and considerably lighter than the Mamiya RB67 which almost always need repairs. The old Graflex roll backs necesitate small apertures when possible as there is some film bend and I have noticed a lack of sharpness in the center of some of my images, others are stunning.
I suppose the real issue, provided one has a good Century body, or any other one for that matter, is lens choice. Then there is the tripod weight to support issue and all that. I actually place mine on a flimsy velbon desigend for small cameras, but it works because I can not carry much weight, so I make it work.
Regards,
Stephen

[glennfromwy]

Good points, Stephen! To help with film flatness on the "23" roll holders with no pin rollers (they came both ways), don't advance the film until immediately before shooting. Gives it less time to pucker.

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

[troublemaker]

I accquired a knob wind with pin rollers in the box mint at the begininng of the summer and it seems to perform reasonably well though the rollers are in the exposures at the edges.
I see the point in winding last, but I wonder about film creep as the exposure is made?

[Dan Fromm]