Advice on Speed Graphic

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gdi

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What is a reasonable price for a late '40s Speed Graphic with a 127 F4 Kodak lens? I am talking to someone about one - but he doesn't have a price and wants an offer.

A couple of hundred $US ?

Thanks
 
$200 sounds good. I paid $350Cdn for mine but that was maybe 6 years ago (before film was dead) and it had been gone over by a technician and guaranteed to work.
 
I'd start lower and see what he says. He ays he has no idea... otherwise he'd state a price, but I tend to doubt the "I have no idea of it's value" unless the person lives in a stone-age cottage with no internet connectivity.

Down here in the lower-48, where film still lives, I got a SuperGraphic that needed a GG/fresnel for free about 20 years ago, and a ready-to-use, fully-functioning Anniversary Graphic (with flash, 8 film holders, and a case) for $25+shipping about 3 years ago

What's the worst thing the person will say if you low-ball the offer. Generally it is, "well, I was thinking of something higher"; to which you can reply, "OK, what were you thinking?" I assure you... the seller has a number in his head and is hoping that you'll offer more than that number.

A lot also depends on the condition... I noticed you make no mention of that.
 
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Gumby said:
I'd start lower and see what he says. He ays he has no idea... otherwise he'd state a price, but I tend to doubt the "I have no idea of it's value" unless the person lives in a stone-age cottage with no internet connectivity.

Down here in the lower-48, where film still lives, I got a SuperGraphic that needed a GG/fresnel for free about 20 years ago, and a ready-to-use, fully-functioning Anniversary Graphic (with flash, 8 film holders, and a case) for $25+shipping about 3 years ago

What's the worst thing the person will say if you low-ball the offer. Generally it is, "well, I was thinking of something higher"; to which you can reply, "OK, what were you thinking?" I assure you... the seller has a number in his head and is hoping that you'll offer more than that number.

A lot also depends on the condition... I noticed you make no mention of that.
Click to expand...

Well it seems in good condition, with some accessories - like flash, case and film holders. I'll take your advice come in pretty low to see what happens. Thanks!
 
I paid $100 for a 1953 Pacemaker from the original owner in 2006. Camera, same lens you're looking at, 5 holders and a 100 year old Voigtlander lens to boot. The seller didn't know the lens was there. It's a gem!

Since then I have spent near $200 on camera and lens shutter CLAs. Here's a quick test of the focal plane shutter that will drive the price down. Set the shutter to T. Turn the camera for a vertical shoot. Trip the shutter to open. Trip the shutter to close. Did it close? Mine didn't. It cost a bit over $100 to get working right.
 
Just an update - I did buy the kit. A bit more than I wanted to pay, but it does look very nice - bellows looks new, both shutters work (even in Portrait mode! 🙂
), but I am not too sure about the accuracy of speeds, of course. The RF needs adjusting.

It has the hard case, 4 battery flash, a set of series 6 filters, hood, a weston meter that seems surprisingly accurate, a couple of regular holders, and a ready load holder, and a useless, I suppose, Polaroid 500 back. I should get ( haven't received it yet) a Schneider loupe as well.

Now to figure out how to process some fim, maybe this weekend, to try it out.

Thanks to all for the advice. BTW, anyone know how I might test the flash? It came with a test lamp made from a household fuse and a flashlight battery. ..And some fuses that I can't figure out where they go...
 
Enjoy! Hang on to all of the backs until you figure out what current film goes in each one. Kodak discontinued Readyloads when Polaroid shut down. Fuji Quickloads will work in a Polaroid 545 holder. Is the 500 holder similar to a 545 holder? Or is it similar to a pack film holder?
 
venchka said:
Enjoy! Hang on to all of the backs until you figure out what current film goes in each one. Kodak discontinued Readyloads when Polaroid shut down. Fuji Quickloads will work in a Polaroid 545 holder. Is the 500 holder similar to a 545 holder? Or is it similar to a pack film holder?
Click to expand...


The seller told me that the Polaroid 500 would work with readyloads - it won't work with pack film. Too bad I have a big stock of 669 (exp) with nothing to try it in!
 
Heh. You're on the worst slippery slope of all... Just a thought, Freestyle's Arista.Edu Ultra is dirt cheap & very good. You might want to try a box of that too. 🙂

Good light & your wallet has my sympathy 😀

William
 
Good advice

Good advice

wlewisiii said:
Heh. You're on the worst slippery slope of all... Just a thought, Freestyle's Arista.Edu Ultra is dirt cheap & very good. You might want to try a box of that too. 🙂

Good light & your wallet has my sympathy 😀

William
Click to expand...

After burning up 100 sheets of HP5+, I bought 100 sheets of A.E U 200. Silly cheap. Nice too.

4x5 film. It's all good.
 
venchka said:
After burning up 100 sheets of HP5+, I bought 100 sheets of A.E U 200. Silly cheap. Nice too.

4x5 film. It's all good.
Click to expand...

Heh, I just got a "new" primary lens for my 4x5 Crown too - a 135 CZJ Tessar in an old dial set Compur. Cost me all of $10 for the glass... But using it, ah, life will cost me much much more for the film that goes behind that glorious piece of old glass 😉

It really is all good... 🙂

William
 
First LF

First LF

This is the first shot with the Crown Graphic I got from Chaser. Nice clean camera and lens. This is a scan of the contact print.
This is an easy camera to work with. I took two shots and the exposure, using sunny 16 outdoors, were right on.
Making contact prints in another matter and I have to work on my process. The second print has spots but they are not on the neg. When I figure that out I'll get back to you.
 

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Use the battery case of the flash as a handle. Some Graphics were set up with a solonoid mounted on the lensboard. There's a button on the back of the battery case. If everything is wired up correctly it'l actuate the solonoid which has a mechanilal linkage to the the "front shutter" in the lens.

Make sure that the "rear (focal plane) shutter" is being used make sure that the front shutter is set on T and open. Likewise, when using the shutter in the lens make sure the focal plane shutter it set on T and open!

Forget about flash bulbs. If you can find Edison base bulbs they'll be several bucks each! Also they're way too bright! With ISO 100 film you'll be shooting about f/22 twenty feet from your subject.

The 127mm f/4.7 Ektar is a nice lens but barely covers 4x5 stopped down. Press photographers liked them because it covers an angle about the same as a 28mm lens on 35mm. It was really designed to cover 3.25 X 4.25 inch film.
 
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