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

[Les Newcomer]

Minor correction.  Graphic Graflex Photography went throught the 1st in 
1940 through the 11th in 1958.  The 11th I believe is in reprint, but the 
original is often cheaper.  the 10th seems to be the most popular as it 
has all of the Pacemakers, but it doesn't have the Supers yet.

Les

On Sunday, January 12, 2003, at 02:36 PM, Richard Knoppow wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Clive Warren" <Clive.Warren@megacycle.co.uk>
> To: <largeformat@f32.net>
> Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 12:21 PM
> Subject: RE: [LargeFormat] Crown Graphic Movements(or lack
> of) ?
>
>
>> 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
>>
>>
>   The pre-Anniversary (1926-1939) and Anniversary Graphics
> (1939-1947) do not have any front tilt. No modification of
> the front standard will give you tilt. On pre-Anniversary
> Graphics the front rises. On Anniversary Graphics it also
> moves sideways a little. Both series have drop beds for wide
> angle lenses but the inside part of the track is coupled to
> the focus mechanism only on Anniversary Graphics.
>   The Pacemaker Graphic has front tilt upwards. A limited
> amount of back tilt can be gotten by lowering the drop bed
> and raising the front on its standard. This is inconvenient
> to say the least, but does give you some tilt.
>   It is possible to remove the stops on the front to allow
> it to tilt upward but you no longer have a reference for the
> straight position. I think there is a modification where
> part of the font standard is reversed but its not trivial.
> Graphics simply do not have full movements. Where movements
> are important some other camera should be chosen.
>   FWIW, Speed Graphics are cheaper than Crown Graphics. The
> Crown was offered only in the Pacemaker series, they did not
> exist in the earlier versions.
>   The Crown is more compact, a little over half the depth of
> the Speed, and its lighter. However the minimum bellows draw
> is about the same plus the focal plane shutter is sometimes
> quite handy to have, it lets you use barrel lenses by just
> sticking them on the camera.
>   If you intend to use sheet film only the Graphic back is
> fine. However, the Graflok back allows the use of some
> useful accessories and is a more secure mount for Grafmatic
> holders and Polaroid adaptors.
>   The Graflok was introduced on the Century Graphic in 1949.
> It became standard on all 2x3 Graphics in 1950, and on all
> sizes of Graphics by the end of 1950. Many earlier cameras
> were retrofitted with Graflok backs. Any Graphic and most
> Graflex cameras up to 4x5 will take a Graflok with little or
> no surgery. The Graflok is heavier than the original Graphic
> back. An Anniversary Graphic with a Graflok is quite a
> heavyweight.
>   If you decide to get a Speed Graphic check the condition
> of the back shutter curtain. They can be replaced but the
> price should come down substantially if the rear shutter is
> not functioning or needs a curtain.
>   Bellows are usually OK on Anniversary or Pacemaker
> Graphics. They are made of a synthetic which seems to be
> very long lived. Earlier Graphics may have leather bellows,
> which should be carefully examined. Earlier Graphics when
> rebuilt by Graflex had the bellows replaced with the
> synthetic kind. Graflex offered a rebuilding service which
> was pushed during WW-2 because new cameras were not
> avialable on the civilian market.
>   All of these cameras were designed for press photography
> and are very rugged and reliable. Most problems can be fixed
> but beware of true junkers, there are plenty.
>   On one of the web sites there is a statement that the
> focal plane shutters are useless and are often removed. Not
> true. The rear shutter can be very useful. A camera without
> one has probably been gutted for parts and should be avoided
> except as a parts camera.
>   Beside the Graflex.org web page check your library
> holdings for any edition of _Graphic-Graflex Photography_
> Morgan and Lester, and later Morgan and Morgan. This book
> was published in about yearly editions from 1939 to sometime
> in the mid 1960's. The later editions have good charts of
> all the models.
>   They are old enough to have been withdrawn from many
> libraries but you may be able to find one through
> interlibrary loan. They also still show up used.
>
>
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