let's see your custom crown or speed

[jimmygcreative]

I am in the process of doing some custom work to my crown and wondering whos doing what and how you like the results.

J

 

[Desert Shooter]

I've had my Crown Grafic 50 or so years, and all I've ever done to it is mount a cold shoe so I could mount a strobe to it.

 

[Iskra 2]

When my "Speed" arrived it was a basket case. The bare wood under the leather was not the greatest looking material. I decided the original leather was the best route. You will like the camera, lots of pixies in that 4x5 negative. 😀

Regards.

 

[jimmygcreative]

Here's a picture of my crown.

 

[venchka]

Very nice. What lens is that? What tripod head?

 

[FrankS]

Mine's stock.

 

[wlewisiii]

A little while back I bought from a member of www.largeformatphotography.info a Crown Graphic for the purpose of turning it into a usable field camera. It already had the RF & leather handle removed, so I started from there.

I stripped the leather from the case, filled in the huge hole from the side release with wood putty, sanded it down and put on a couple of coats of mahogany stain. The leather on the front panel was still in nice shape so all I did to it was a bit of Kiwi. Then I added a nice brass window sash pull as a handle on the top. When I find some brass nails that are thin enough & short enough, I have the accessory shoe from a 1954 Kiev 2 (that was a basket case when I bought it ) to put on top as well.

The pics are from my phone cam, so they aren't exactly splendid, but I think they'll show what I'm up to.

The next phase involves modifying a 2nd pacemaker front standard that I bought to provide both directions of tilt & some swing as well. I've decided how I'm probably going to do it, but I'm still dithering a bit before I cut metal.

The lens shown is my 135mm Symmar convertable that is going to be dedicated to this camera.

William

 

[Iskra 2]

Very nice. What lens is that? What tripod head?

The tripod head is an old Linhof. The lens is a Schneider 210 Xenar w/o a shutter. Regards.

 

[jimmygcreative]

I wanted to also show the back.

 

[venchka]

...
The lens shown is my 135mm Symmar convertable that is going to be dedicated to this camera.

William

What focal length is the Symmar when converted? Will it focus at infinity?

 

[wlewisiii]

Pull the front element and it's a 230mm/12 lens. A bit soft but excellent for portraits in that mode.

Oh, infinity (and beyond? 😀 ) focus is just fine on a crown.

William

 

[venchka]

Thanks, William. I'll file that away for future use. My Speed came with a 127mm Ektar and a 200mm Voigtlander. I can remove the rear element of the Voigtlander and it's about 300mm which just barely focuses at infinity. If I remove the front element, the focal length must be something beyond 300mm because it won't focus at infinity. A lens like yours may be a good compromise for backpacking.

 

[wlewisiii]

Yep, it's a nice performer that makes a fairly lightweight package. When it's finished, I hope to be able to take it with me on the road. If that Voigtlander is a convertable, taking out the front element should make it into about a 380~400 range lens and that's going to take a healthy extension tube to get even infinity focus on a Speed... 🙁

Now that 127 Ektar is a very good lens in itself. I'd suggest getting to know it really well before thinking about another lens. I have used mine for landscapes quite successfully. There are a couple in my portfolio album in my RFF gallery of the empty carnival...

William

 

[venchka]

Two lenses for now.

Two lenses for now.

Yep, it's a nice performer that makes a fairly lightweight package. When it's finished, I hope to be able to take it with me on the road. If that Voigtlander is a convertable, taking out the front element should make it into about a 380~400 range lens and that's going to take a healthy extension tube to get even infinity focus on a Speed... 🙁

Now that 127 Ektar is a very good lens in itself. I'd suggest getting to know it really well before thinking about another lens. I have used mine for landscapes quite successfully. There are a couple in my portfolio album in my RFF gallery of the empty carnival...

William

Thanks, William. I agree. The two lenses I have will keep me guessing for awhile. I also plan to use the big old brass barrell Voigtlander with front element only. That makes 3 lenses total. That's enough for now.

 

[jimmygcreative]

custom speed or crown

custom speed or crown

anyone have any pics of unusual lens on a crown or speed, lens like an aero etc. large format enlarger lens any custom parts lets see some custom work!!!