Crown Graphic Recommendation

[RObert Budding]

I'd like to buy a Crown Graphic and plan to use the rangefinder. Can anyone here advise me on which is best - the side or top mounted kalart? I'd also consider a Super Graphic, but I'm leaning towards the Crown because of it's lighter weight. I've ruled out the Speed Graphic as I don't really need a focal plane shutter. I'd like to use a 210mm lens if there is enough bellows extension.

 

[wlewisiii]

It depends on if cams are available for the lens or lenses you want to use. The side mounted RF doesn't use cams but has to be individually adjusted to one lens at a time. If it's a Hugo Meyer, it will only work with one focal length.

As for bellows, on any 4x5 Graphic, 210mm is fine. My barrel mounted B&L Tessar is ~213mm and I have no problems. The Graphics can handle up to a 12"/300mm long focal lens, longer if telephoto. The real issue is how close do you need to focus because that is where you'll run out of bellows draw.

A Super Graphic is lighter (it does not have the focal plane shutter either), has more movenents, a rotating back for easier vertical format shots, cams seem to be more available but the downside is that they are usually quite a bit more expensive. I'm personally keeping an eye open for parts/beater one to rebuild or snarf parts onto my Anniversary.

Good luck!

William

 

[RObert Budding]

I'm not concerned about movements - I'll use a field camera in situations where that will matter. The Graphic will be used for protraits and handheld shooting.

Perhaps the Super Graphic does make sense, though. I'd like to use the rangfinder with several foacl lengths.

 

[wlewisiii]

Then the Super is probably the best for that. The back and cams would be much more useful for what you're describing. I am presuming you're familier with www.graflex.org
?

William

 

[RObert Budding]

I just had a very nice conversation with Fred Lustig (Graflex expert) and he suggested that I get a Crown Graphic with a top-mount rangefinder. The Crown is over a pound lighter than the Super and the top rangefinder accepts different cams for different lenses.

 

[wlewisiii]

Definately a source for good information. I thought the Crowns were heavier as I thought they were still made of wood. I learned something today 🙂

Which reminds me, I need to contact him myself and see if a couple of parts are available.

William

 

[Jason Sprenger]

I went with the Kalart side mounted rangefinder on my Pacemaker Graphic cameras so that I could adjust it to exactly match my normal lens. Cams are out there or can be made for the top rangefinder models but I wasn't anxious to do the scrounging.

Setting the Kalart finder isn't very difficult but does take some time, and once it is set, isn't something one would change quickly in the field. Certainly not as quick as changing out a cam. But I take comfort knowing the rangefinder matches my normal lens (150mm) exactly.

I don't find this to be too much of a limitation because my other lenses are a 90mm which I focus on the ground glass from a tripod (to avoid crooked verticals and horizontals) and my little Nikon 200mm. With my 200mm, I focus first with the rangefinder and then transfer the distance from the focus scale on the front of the rail to a focus scale I made for the 200mm placed behind it. For me, this process works pretty well. Though most of the time I use my 150mm.

I have enough bellows to focus my 200mm but I don't think the Crown can handle a lens much longer that isn't also a tele-photo lens. A 210mm would probably be alright but a 240mm that wasn't a tele-photo lens would be stretching things a bit far. Infinity might be do-able but not much closer.

As to switching from landscapes to verticals with a Crown, you simply turn the camera; a 4x5 also being a 5x4. The Crown happens to have tripod sockets both on the bottom and on the side for the times you're not working hand-held.

--------

Graphic, because size matters.

 

[jdef]

I always shoot my Crown handheld, and use the 135 Xenar that came with it. It was my son, leaf's first camera, but he used it on a tripod (now he shoots a Canon GIII). I've used it with flashbulbs and the wire frame finder, prefocussed and stopped down, and it's a blast! It's fun at parties with a polaroid back. I thought I wanted a Super, because I almost always shoot vertically, but the Crown is so much lighter, and shooting handheld, it doesn't really matter which way I hold it. Enjoy!

Jay

 

[RObert Budding]

I'll go with a Crown, though I would like the top rangefinder. And I'll have any camera that I buy rejuvinated by Mr. Lustig. He's doing well after having recovered from a stroke 3 years ago - with the exception of skiing. But he's working on his return to the slopes.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Robert,

If you already have the 210mm lens disregard my post; if not then I would recommend the Kodak Ektar 203mm f7.7 for the Crown. It is a very sharp and very light lens that will go great wtih the lightweight Crown. You may want to also look for a viewfinder mask that matches your lens.

A couple of other sleeper lens are the 88mm B&L and the Kodak Ektar 100mm Wide Field.

I have Speed Graphics, a Crown Graphic Top Rangefinder and a Super Graphic. The Crown is the one I use the most. I have two tripod quick release plates mounted on it, one on the bottom for horizontal "landscape" shots and one on the side for vertical "portrait" shots. I just unhook the camera and flip it to the other orientation when I want a different view.

Wayne

 

[BrianShaw]

I'll go with a Crown, though I would like the top rangefinder. And I'll have any camera that I buy rejuvinated by Mr. Lustig. He's doing well after having recovered from a stroke 3 years ago - with the exception of skiing. But he's working on his return to the slopes.

This is great news. Thanks for passing it along. He's a really great guy, ish't he? He repaired a roll film back for me a few years ago... just weeks after returning home from the hospital.

I use a SuperGraphic for the things you want to do. It's heavy, but not bad until one holds it for too long (more than a couple of hours).

 

[RObert Budding]

Yes, Fred is a great guy. He's very knowledgable and willing to share what he knows.