Bought a Crown Graphic ... Now what do I do?

[JCT]

rob-- perfectly good start, and I have to echo the others regarding what a wonderful *travel* cam the Crowns are. Nothing beats it for just tossing in a bag with a few holders and a small meter. I even take mine on business trips now for R&R. I finally invested in one of the traveler Gitzo tripods, not cheap, but does the job and a pleasure to carry. And Grafmatics are great.

I think most of us have fiddled around with different 4x5 development methods. Have you considered a Unidrum + rotating base? The LF website discusses it in detail here . It's one of my favorite methods along with the BTZS tubes and the Paterson Orbital.

I'm still relatively new to LF (~2-3 years), but one of the best pieces of advice I received was to pick one film and one developer and stick with it for awhile until you get your shooting/developing technique down. Probably good advice in general for all film, but given the unique variables with developing LF I found it a useful approach.

And holy cow carterofmars -- I have one of those Supers and they are fantastic -- built like a tank.

 

[helen.HH]

tres Coool Robert
had to post this ..Thinking of YOU
when I bimped into Lois Mendes Today
as He Double Exposed Moi with the Crown Graphic / 135mm f4.5

he wants me to Buy One and will teach me all his Tricks
as well as go down to New Orleans this 4th of July...
I'm thinkin about it...😱

 

[Particular]

I'm wondering if that white line in the shot isn't just the anti-halation backing that didn't wash away properly where you were using the hair band. I've never had problems with "un-digested silver clumps" on my negatives.
That film loading contraption for paterson tanks may work, but it looks like overkill to me.
I can bring in a grafmatic holder to the next meet if you like. Also, perhaps you should consider getting a polaroid (Fuji) back. Those are a lot of fun.

 

[Particular]

Helen, that is a great shot.
Was it on instant film?

 

[helen.HH]

Helen, that is a great shot.
Was it on instant film?

Yes Instant (which made me 'feel' so RETRO with my M4)
he said it was Fuji film

btw,
the right side of pix was FLASH
the Left side Natural light

 

[JCT]

Isn't he a blast to run into, Helen? I love the stuff he does with his Graflex -- he has the flash jerry-rigged in a very interesting way if I recall correctly.

I ran into him most recently at the PhotoExpo -- I was grouchy over the lack of film stuff and he cheered me up a bit.

The best part was the look on his face when I pulled my favorite film walkaround camera out of my bag -- my beloved, taped together old Rolleiflex.

 

[maddoc]

Great !! Thanks for mentioning the seller of the film holder !! 🙂🙂🙂 I had missed the first run of this holder (50 pieces or so from memory) and was waiting eagerly for them to show up again.

So far I use either the Combiplan (works so-so ...) that leaks a little and takes > 1min to fill / drain (which is to slow IMHO) or two sheet of 4x5 in a 700ml MaSuKo tank that is waste of chemicals.

About LF and RF coupling, I have a Technika IV and no cammed lenses but would like to try RF-style 4x5 photography some time ... 😀

Yup, I read some of those threads about processing. I'm thinking of the tortilla method in a three-reel Paterson tank for starters. A fellow in the UK is selling an interesting film holder on ebay that fits in those tanks and he's even got a video showing how easily he can load sheets into it (don't believe everything you see, right?). Here's a link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130508096411&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:ITThe orbital looks cool, too. The Combi Plan looks fussy and prone to leaking if you're as ham-handed as me.

As to the body shutter release, I suppose I could get by with a cable release for hand-held as well.

 

[Pirate]

Great, I just spent more money! I followed that link and just bought a MOD 4x5 holder and a Paterson 3 Reel tank!

 

[robklurfield]

Pirate, thanks for the tips on Fred. Others here and on LF recommend him highly.

An update... processed last night.

arista 100 edu 4X5. the streak was the result of doing the tortilla method inside out, blocking my chemicals from getting at the emulsion (ran it back through the fixer with some improvement, but the damage was already done). oops. if I learn to process this stuff right, how to focus, set a decent exposure and compose for LF, I'll be all set. Miles to go yet. rather challenging now.

broken crown graphic, fungus-infected optar 135/4.5, non-working RF, screwed up focus rack yoke, but look there's a readable image here. hurray. cause for optimism that I can actually make pictures with this setup even with the camera needing work and the shooter even more.

 

[twopointeight]

I happen to have a Grafmatic film holder in excellent shape if you are interested? It has 6 good septums (dividers), and I also have 6 brand new septums still in original packing, which is very rare.

 

[ChrisN]

Pirate, thanks for the tips on Fred. Others here and on LF recommend him highly.

An update... processed last night.

arista 100 edu 4X5. the streak was the result of doing the tortilla method inside out, blocking my chemicals from getting at the emulsion (ran it back through the fixer with some improvement, but the damage was already done). oops. if I learn to process this stuff right, how to focus, set a decent exposure and compose for LF, I'll be all set. Miles to go yet. rather challenging now.

broken crown graphic, fungus-infected optar 135/4.5, non-working RF, screwed up focus rack yoke, but look there's a readable image here. hurray. cause for optimism that I can actually make pictures with this setup even with the camera needing work and the shooter even more.

That's a pretty good start. You are on a steep learning curve - so many things to think about all at once. But anyone can see that outfit will produce a beautiful neg when the planets are aligned! Keep at it! 🙂

You' gotta love this slow photography - the antithesis of instant photography!

 

[robklurfield]

Thanks, Chris. Definitely addictive. Glad I bought a really cheap box of film to start as I expect to waste a quite few sheets getting acclimated. Mistakes and all, this is great fun.

 

[oftheherd]

heh... nice selfie Keith !
;D

Interesting self portrait as well. 😛

 

[gdi]

Another very cheap solution for development is to use a print drum and unicolor or besler roller base. I did that for a while, then broke down and bought a proper 4x5 holder for my Phototherm. I also tried the tortilla method which rarely worked well. A how-to on the roller base solution is here - http://www.largeformatphotography.info/unicolor/


If send the camera off for all those repairs you may be into it deeper than you'd like. I picked up a lightly used Speed Graphic kit with original case, flash grip and reflector, series VI filter/hood set, holders, flashbulbs and all - all it needed was the RF adjusted (easy). That was $250 if I recall correctly.

I also bought a nice military Super Speed for around $300 - it needed a few small things so I sent it to Fred and had him give it and the 1000th Optar a CLA. And now, 7 or so months after sending it, I have about $750 in it - ouch!

And I agree with Keith, you really need to hand hold these for them to make sense - if you're on a tripod, then why not just get a field camera and have movements? RF is critical if you want to shoot with wide apertures and can't zone focus. The Speed Graphic (not the Super!) is a bit heavier than the Crown, but I still hand hold it 90% of the time.

 

[gdi]

Whoops - also need to issue a warning! Do not check out the Fuji FP-3000B45 shots around the web, it will cost you dearly! 🙂

 

[jan normandale]

Pirate, thanks for the tips on Fred. Others here and on LF recommend him highly.

An update... processed last night.

arista 100 edu 4X5. the streak was the result of doing the tortilla method inside out, blocking my chemicals from getting at the emulsion (ran it back through the fixer with some improvement, but the damage was already done). oops. if I learn to process this stuff right, how to focus, set a decent exposure and compose for LF, I'll be all set. Miles to go yet. rather challenging now.

broken crown graphic, fungus-infected optar 135/4.5, non-working RF, screwed up focus rack yoke, but look there's a readable image here. hurray. cause for optimism that I can actually make pictures with this setup even with the camera needing work and the shooter even more.

It looks like a very fine photograph to me. Nice going.