[LargeFormat] Crown Graphic Movements(or lack of) ?

[Clive Warren]

At 11:45 12/01/2003 -0800, Mike Kirwan wrote:
>There is one modification you can make to make the Graphic a little more
>flexible and that is to reverse the front standard. By doing this you get
>the benefit od being able to increase the depth of field from near to far by
>giving you a forward tilt rather than a backward tilt on the front standard.
snip

Whilst this may give some additional flexibility for pre-Anniversary 
models, the Anniversary, Pacemaker, Century, and Super Graphics cameras all 
have a drop bed which allows you to both use wide angle lenses (without 
taking photos of the bed!). In fact, I believe that all Crown Graphic 
models (1947-1973) had drop beds. Using the drop bed with some rising front 
gives you all the forward front tilt that you'll be likely to need for 
general landscape work.

The Crown and Speed Graphic cameras are very flexible - the only thing 
missing is back movements and of course the lack of a rotating back 
facility (which they make up for by having two tripod holes, one on the 
bottom and one on the side). Pop over to http://www.graflex.org for loads 
more information about these wonderful old press cameras, or simply wait 
for Les Newcomer on this list to read the thread as he is one of the most 
knowledgeable people about Graflex cameras.

Using an old Crown Graphic is a great way of testing the waters of large 
format photography without breaking the bank. As Richard suggests, a 
regular field camera would be a little more flexible.

Cheers,
            Clive