Ebay win - another rangefinder!

[ChrisN]

And a little different from the rest of the stable. I've been chasing one of these for a while, bid on a few. I missed out on one last night to a late sniper, and I'm glad he beat me! This one comes with a roll-film back. Can anyone tell me more about it from the auction pic?

 

[JasonC]

Top mounted rangefinder Pacemaker speed graphic with interchangeable cams for different lenses. TRF is the latest model of speed graphic. Could use 90mm to 350mm lenses (I think), the longer lenses being telephoto. The roll film back is an earlier model with knob wind, which usually lacks a roller to keep film flat. The later models with lever wind have the extra roller. More info could be found at www.graflex.org.

Jason.

 

[venchka]

Chris,

Nice score! Any clue which lens/shuuter is included? Be prepared to do something about the shutter speeds. If you read my other thread, the speeds can can be way off yet sound ok. Only the light passing through will tell you if the speeds are ok. Otherwise, they are great cameras. Use it like the press camera that it is. Load it up with something like Tri-X and push the daylights out of the film. Maybe you'll get a little grain that way!

Cheers!

 

[shadowfox]

Cool! here's a newbie question, are these models portable, meaning they are usable without a tripod?

 

[DougK]

That one looks like too much fun.

 

[ChrisN]

Thanks people! The seller stated the camera has a "Nova Anastigmat 1:4.5 F75mm" lens, which apparently is not a correct type (and which probably explains the low selling price). So I'll be in the market for a proper lens and shutter, probably (from my research on Graflex.org - thanks Jason) a Kodak Ektar 127mm. Has anyone got a spare?

 

[venchka]

Sorry, I only have the 127mm lens at the moment. I'm on the lookout for a Kodak 100mm Wide Field Ektar and maybe the 203mm Ektar. Both fine lenses.

Are they portable? This was THE press camera back in the day. Kitted out with a whacking great flash and bulbs that rivalled the sun and either a Grafmatic back or film pack holder, a good press photographer had all he needed. Stanley Kubric used one before he started making movies.

 

[Abbazz]

Thanks people! The seller stated the camera has a "Nova Anastigmat 1:4.5 F75mm" lens, which apparently is not a correct type (and which probably explains the low selling price). So I'll be in the market for a proper lens and shutter, probably (from my research on Graflex.org - thanks Jason) a Kodak Ektar 127mm. Has anyone got a spare?

Chris, I think the lens is a Novar Anastigmat 75/4.5, a good quality triplet lens built by various manufacturers and usually found on 4.5x6cm or 6x6cm folding cameras. So I guess your Speed Graphic is a 3-1/4x4-1/4in. or a 2-1/4x3-1/4in. camera with a 6x6cm rollfilm back. The Novar will not cover anything larger at infinity, even a 6x7 image on rollfilm.

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[oftheherd]

Nice catch! The lens you have should cover the roll film back without any problems, certainly without using movements. I don't know what kind of circle it had, but as I recall, the movements on the weren't too extreme.

Lens prices have gone down just like all other film equipment, but you still have to watch to get the bargains, just like you did to get that baby. Also be prepared to have any used lens CLAd, which at the least will be $65 to $75. You won't know until you test it. Worth it if you get a good enough deal. No matter, I think you are going to like this camera, and will probably use the roll film back more than you might think just to same film costs, and still have a fairly large negative.

 

[ChrisN]

Hi Abbazz - I can't be certain about the format until it arrives, but I'm hoping it's a 5x4. I've just enlarged the pic on my screen and measured the matchbox, which is 53mm long in real life. Extrapolating that to the apparent length of the board carrying the roll-film holder makes it pretty close to 175mm or 6.9 inches long. What format would that make it? I suspect the Novar lens might be a ring-in. I'll learn more next week when the camera arrives. In any event I wanted to mostly use roll film, so I'll have some fun!

And talking of medium-format folding rangefinders, have a look at this beauty on ebay! I didn't realise Linhof made a camera in 2x3.

 

[Abbazz]

Chris, the auction picture is rather small and blurry, so it's hard to tell which model it actually is. The 4x5 is much more interesting, because you'll be able to use sheet film. On the other hand, if it's a 3-1/4x4-1/4, you should be able to sell the rollfilm back alone for the price that you paid for the whole set.

As for the rollfilm back, to me it looks like a "22" model, an early model offering 12 6x6 exposures on 120 film.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I'm positive that it's a 4x5, the roll film holder is on a 4x5 board too.

You can always set the front shutter to B and the focalplane shutter to T and have a look at the groundglass to see if the lens covers everything properly.
Great way to check if the cam/rangefinder are in working order too.

If the roll film holder is a Graflex 23, it's for 6x9cm images on 120 film. I've got one of those too. It's a bit fiddly to load but apart from that it's a great way to get more use out of your Graflex. I've not had any problems with film not being held flat in the holder.

If you want to shoot 'vintage' looking photos I can suggest Adox or Fomapan film which are made using their original 1950s recipies.

And no, you don't need a tripod to shoot with these cameras, but they help 😉

Anyways, looks like you got a nice deal. Good luck!

 

[wlewisiii]

Just look at the size of the match box... it's a 4x5. Find a 127/4.7 Ektar and you'll be on a very slippery slope. The first time you see a 4x5 neg is bad but if you ever want your wallet to survive never look at a 4x5 transparency 😱

Enjoy! The speeds are a whole lot of fun.

William

 

[ChrisN]

Thanks again, guys! This waiting is gonna' kill me! Cheers!

 

[shadowfox]

Just look at the size of the match box... it's a 4x5. Find a 127/4.7 Ektar and you'll be on a very slippery slope. The first time you see a 4x5 neg is bad but if you ever want your wallet to survive never look at a 4x5 transparency 😱

Enjoy! The speeds are a whole lot of fun.

William

Ok, I'll risk my wallet, please tell me where I can see a sample of 4x5 positive. 😀

 

[oftheherd]

Ok, I'll risk my wallet, please tell me where I can see a sample of 4x5 positive. 😀

Don't!!!! You'll be sorry. 😀 😀 😀

 

[Mr_Flibble]

WWII dated ones over at Shorpy - The 100-year old Photo Blog

Fort Knox 1942

Madonna of the Sandbags

Art Star: 1943

All are Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer.

 

[shadowfox]

Rick, thanks... those pictures are so awesome, the color seems to not fade with time at all.

 

[venchka]

That is the way of Kodachrome. We've lost a national treasure. What will folks 100 years from now be looking at? Error messages from CD & DVD backups of digital pictures? Oh, and they will also be looking at siver gelatin prints and Kodachrome originals from the 19th & 20th century.

Thus concludes the rant for today. We now return to our original programming.

120 Velvia, Provia and Ektachrome will be plenty good enough on the back of the Speed Graphic.

I concur. The body & the holders behind it and the roll film back all say 4x5 to my eyes. I suppose the 76mm lens was set up for roll film only. I'm surprised the 75mm lens focuses on a 4x5 Speed. If it works, that's very close to the minimum focal length you can use on the camera.

 

[venchka]

ps: The Baby Linhofs are cute, huh? They seem to be more common on ebay than the 4x5s. Maybe because folks still use the 4x5 Linhofs.