graywolf
Well-known
That kind of limits you a bit, doesn't it?
graywolf
Well-known
Thank you!
nonuniform
Established
I have both Crown Graphics (note the plural!) and I've had a couple of Linhof Technika V's.
Crown:
pro: lightweight, easily handheld down to 1/60th of a sec, easy to fix if you know what you're doing
con: top rangefinder cams are nonexistent, some claim to make them, haven't seen anything convincing there yet (yes, I know all about Fred Lustig in Reno). So, you're kinda stuck with limited lens choices, even with the sideRF.
Linhof:
pro: if you get a Tech IV or V you can get RF cams made, I've had great luck just buying cams for my lenses and having them work with my V. YMMV. Rangefinder is ok vs. Crown, neither is any good in low light.
con: too heavy for handheld. I found the Linhof great as a replacement for my Wista, but impossible for handheld work. The Crown excels in that area.
So, it depends on what you want to shoot.
As an aside, I shoot the Portra 400 4x5 film and it rocks at 1 or 2 stops underexposed. Just saying.
Crown:
pro: lightweight, easily handheld down to 1/60th of a sec, easy to fix if you know what you're doing
con: top rangefinder cams are nonexistent, some claim to make them, haven't seen anything convincing there yet (yes, I know all about Fred Lustig in Reno). So, you're kinda stuck with limited lens choices, even with the sideRF.
Linhof:
pro: if you get a Tech IV or V you can get RF cams made, I've had great luck just buying cams for my lenses and having them work with my V. YMMV. Rangefinder is ok vs. Crown, neither is any good in low light.
con: too heavy for handheld. I found the Linhof great as a replacement for my Wista, but impossible for handheld work. The Crown excels in that area.
So, it depends on what you want to shoot.
As an aside, I shoot the Portra 400 4x5 film and it rocks at 1 or 2 stops underexposed. Just saying.
Dwig
Well-known
Actually, when properly setup the Crown's RF can work very well in low light. The darker the better.
Proper setup involves having the proper projection bulb attachment for a side mounted Kalart along with the battery case from a Graflex flashgun and the proper cord. With the top mounted RFs the illuminator and batteries are in the finder. When properly setup and powered (push the red button on the side of the top mounted RF or turn the dial on the side mounted's illuminator) they project two Vs (images of the bulbs filament). Focusing is accomplished by making the 2 Vs merge into one. You can do this viewing through the sport finder.
I used a Crown back in High School. The RF was out of adjustment and the batteries had leaked in the RF. The annual staff sponsor wouldn't let me readjust the RF even though I have torn down two broken leaf shutters and replaired them and overhaulded and returned to service a smoke damaged Kodak RF35 previously. I cleaned the battery contacts to make the illuminator work and adjusted the RF everytime I took the camera out since I had to mis-adjust it before returning it lest the sponsor found out what I was doing. Once setup, I found the projection RF system quite usable for the various club group shots I usually got stuck with shooting for the annual.
menos
Veteran
Nice story Dwig ;-)
Thanks for the comparison nonuniform - I have played with the Crown Graphic for a few weeks more and have left it home since some point.
The negatives, although wonderfully huge really needed a LOT of attention in preparation, to juice out that extra nicety over medium format.
I happen also to not really like the 127mm lens of the Crown - it just doesn't spark with me.
Aligning the RF is indeed easy enough, but in fast use, it nowhere near is as easy and fast, like a 35mm RF to use.
I fiddled a bit with Technikas in some shops and am very happy, I didn't spring for one.
The Graphic really is so much nicer in handheld use, if I now would get warm with the format.
It's a real pity, there is no Polaroid 55 stock available around here.
Once the good people @ New55 get up their business, I might give 4x5 another look.
As it is for me now, I don't see the quality difference, considering the gymnastics and cost, you go through with the 4x5, compared to just using the Hasselblad, which is worlds more compact and much easier to use.
I do love rangefinder focussing though and a good RF camera really could have an edge over the darn ground glass focussing with the Hasselblad.
Thanks for the comparison nonuniform - I have played with the Crown Graphic for a few weeks more and have left it home since some point.
The negatives, although wonderfully huge really needed a LOT of attention in preparation, to juice out that extra nicety over medium format.
I happen also to not really like the 127mm lens of the Crown - it just doesn't spark with me.
Aligning the RF is indeed easy enough, but in fast use, it nowhere near is as easy and fast, like a 35mm RF to use.
I fiddled a bit with Technikas in some shops and am very happy, I didn't spring for one.
The Graphic really is so much nicer in handheld use, if I now would get warm with the format.
It's a real pity, there is no Polaroid 55 stock available around here.
Once the good people @ New55 get up their business, I might give 4x5 another look.
As it is for me now, I don't see the quality difference, considering the gymnastics and cost, you go through with the 4x5, compared to just using the Hasselblad, which is worlds more compact and much easier to use.
I do love rangefinder focussing though and a good RF camera really could have an edge over the darn ground glass focussing with the Hasselblad.