Vickko
Veteran
Oh this is so much fun, learning a new camera.
Any other users out there?
And I need the little shutter trip arm. Anyone got parts?
Any other users out there?
And I need the little shutter trip arm. Anyone got parts?
New owner of a Crown Graphic
- Thread starter Vickko
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bigeye
Well-known
Not redundant with the super Linhof?
- Charlie
- Charlie
Mcary
Well-known
Cool 🙂
Had mine for about 6 months now. Has pretty much become my primary camera 🙂
Right now working on scanning the sheets of HP5+ (ISO 1600) that I processed in D76 last night 🙂
Had mine for about 6 months now. Has pretty much become my primary camera 🙂
Right now working on scanning the sheets of HP5+ (ISO 1600) that I processed in D76 last night 🙂
nikonosguy
Well-known
just got mine
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Just scanned a photo from 2006 where I was carrying my crown.. Sold it a year later or so when I got an older Speed Graphic
Vics
Veteran
There's a repair guy who collects all those cameras (Graphics?) and he runs a business called Photography On Bald Mountain. Maybe has parts...
http://www.baldmtn.com/AINFOSHT2.htm (EDIT: This may all be outdated info; just noted his "pacbell.net" email address...)
http://www.baldmtn.com/AINFOSHT2.htm (EDIT: This may all be outdated info; just noted his "pacbell.net" email address...)
FrankS
Registered User
f16sunshine
Moderator
It's nice to have a complete camera but, the shutter trip arm is best to bypass imo.
I use a short cable lead. Much less camera shake this way.
Fun camera to shoot handheld using the top mount rangefinder 😎
I use a short cable lead. Much less camera shake this way.
Fun camera to shoot handheld using the top mount rangefinder 😎
Colin Corneau
Colin Corneau
I've got one, had it for 6 or 7 years now. A very solid camera...I just got a Polaroid 110b conversion so I'm not sure which one to keep right now.
What I noticed about this camera is how ideal it is for travel. I love how it boxes right up compactly and securely...I travelled to northwest China and it was fantastic to have an easy, quick 4x5 camera in such a place.
I'm lucky enough to have a working rangefinder on it, although I still used the ground glass anyway. If you want to shoot sheet film, this is one of the easiest & simplest ways to do it.
What I noticed about this camera is how ideal it is for travel. I love how it boxes right up compactly and securely...I travelled to northwest China and it was fantastic to have an easy, quick 4x5 camera in such a place.
I'm lucky enough to have a working rangefinder on it, although I still used the ground glass anyway. If you want to shoot sheet film, this is one of the easiest & simplest ways to do it.
rjbuzzclick
Well-known
I have one fully operational Speed Graphic, and one stripped-down Crown Graphic. If you like to experiment, I think that a Speed Graphic with a Graflok back will adapt to just about anything you want to do.
giulio stucchi
Well-known
crown graphic + polaroid
crown graphic + polaroid
I bought one couple of years ago to use it with polaroid 4x5 material.
Still having fun with it, this one from last night:
Pумен by atelierdelvizio, on Flickr
crown graphic + polaroid
I bought one couple of years ago to use it with polaroid 4x5 material.
Still having fun with it, this one from last night:
Pумен by atelierdelvizio, on Flickr
csxcnj
Well-known
Congratulations and have FUN! 🙂
I don't have a Graphic folder yet but am looking to buy one. I'm just having trouble sorting out which model. I want to use one for street shooting and landscapes ( I have a Graphic View II but it's too heavy to lug to some places).
Maybe I've misunderstood what I have read, but it seems like certain models are more suited for one type of shooting that another. A friend of mine at Penn Camera told me about a photographer here in DC who uses, and preffers, a Crown Graphic for Washingtonian magazine shoots. And an article I just read said the Super Speed was the best or landscapes...Is there a model that splits the difference reasonably well?
I don't have a Graphic folder yet but am looking to buy one. I'm just having trouble sorting out which model. I want to use one for street shooting and landscapes ( I have a Graphic View II but it's too heavy to lug to some places).
Maybe I've misunderstood what I have read, but it seems like certain models are more suited for one type of shooting that another. A friend of mine at Penn Camera told me about a photographer here in DC who uses, and preffers, a Crown Graphic for Washingtonian magazine shoots. And an article I just read said the Super Speed was the best or landscapes...Is there a model that splits the difference reasonably well?
Vickko
Veteran
May end up being the replacement for the Linhof.
The money delta will go into film and son's tuition.
🙂
The money delta will go into film and son's tuition.
🙂
FrankS
Registered User
kuzano
Veteran
Fred Lustig
Fred Lustig
Fred Lustig Reno Nevada (has phone listing in the book if still around)
Fred worked for Graflex, "in the day". I understand he acquired a lot of Graflex inventory. I've had some work done by him on my Super Graphic (bellows) and some other.
Have talked with him on the telephone 2-3 times... friendly, informative, timely in return of work.
Fred has been out of the business once for health reasons, but got back in. Last time I spoke with him was a couple of years ago. There are no new bellows for the Super Graphic and because of the wiring laced into the bellows to carry current to the front solenoid on the front standard, no one will build one that will fix the red button for handheld use. Fred has some of these parts and he fitted a very nice used bellows to my SG.
Fred Lustig
Fred Lustig Reno Nevada (has phone listing in the book if still around)
Fred worked for Graflex, "in the day". I understand he acquired a lot of Graflex inventory. I've had some work done by him on my Super Graphic (bellows) and some other.
Have talked with him on the telephone 2-3 times... friendly, informative, timely in return of work.
Fred has been out of the business once for health reasons, but got back in. Last time I spoke with him was a couple of years ago. There are no new bellows for the Super Graphic and because of the wiring laced into the bellows to carry current to the front solenoid on the front standard, no one will build one that will fix the red button for handheld use. Fred has some of these parts and he fitted a very nice used bellows to my SG.
kuzano
Veteran
There are quite a few variations.
There are quite a few variations.
As Frank said, Graflex.org.
But there are a couple of variants and some lack of clarity between the Super Graphic and the Super Speed Graphic.
They are both the last 4X5 field camera's made in 4X5 and all metal. They have the red button shutter release on the body for tripping the shutter on the front standard.
The bodies of the Super and Super Speed do not differ. They both have a couple of "hidden" movements on the front standard for side shift and side swing, which make them a bit more versatile than earlier models.
The only real difference between a Super and a Super Speed is the shutter/lens combo. the Super Speed has a Rodenstock lens, and a high speed shutter that was supposed to offer 1/1000 second. Fred Lustig told me that the shutter was a bit problematic (as was my experience) and on a good day was lucky to reach 1/800th.
The front door plate on the Super said Super Graphic, while the front plate on a Super Speed said Super Speed Graphic. Most likely when you run across a Super Speed name brand, and open it, the Rodenstock lens/fast shutter are no longer there.
So, many advertise the Super Speed as such, when they are not correct if the Rodenstock lens/shutter is gone. The identifying mark of the FAST shutter was a chrome aluminum ring that stuck out about and inch in front to wind for cocking. Without that lens/shutter, you just have a Super, regardless of what it says on the door.
The Super Graphic inventory and tooling were sold to Toyo and occasionally you see one on eBay for outrageously high prices. They added the small word Toyo on the door which is the only change that made visibly identifies the camera as other than a Graflex Super Graphic or Super Speed Graphic
There are are three great links on Steve's CameraQuest.com page for the Supers and their distinctions... We all know who that is, do we not?
There are quite a few variations.
As Frank said, Graflex.org.
But there are a couple of variants and some lack of clarity between the Super Graphic and the Super Speed Graphic.
They are both the last 4X5 field camera's made in 4X5 and all metal. They have the red button shutter release on the body for tripping the shutter on the front standard.
The bodies of the Super and Super Speed do not differ. They both have a couple of "hidden" movements on the front standard for side shift and side swing, which make them a bit more versatile than earlier models.
The only real difference between a Super and a Super Speed is the shutter/lens combo. the Super Speed has a Rodenstock lens, and a high speed shutter that was supposed to offer 1/1000 second. Fred Lustig told me that the shutter was a bit problematic (as was my experience) and on a good day was lucky to reach 1/800th.
The front door plate on the Super said Super Graphic, while the front plate on a Super Speed said Super Speed Graphic. Most likely when you run across a Super Speed name brand, and open it, the Rodenstock lens/fast shutter are no longer there.
So, many advertise the Super Speed as such, when they are not correct if the Rodenstock lens/shutter is gone. The identifying mark of the FAST shutter was a chrome aluminum ring that stuck out about and inch in front to wind for cocking. Without that lens/shutter, you just have a Super, regardless of what it says on the door.
The Super Graphic inventory and tooling were sold to Toyo and occasionally you see one on eBay for outrageously high prices. They added the small word Toyo on the door which is the only change that made visibly identifies the camera as other than a Graflex Super Graphic or Super Speed Graphic
There are are three great links on Steve's CameraQuest.com page for the Supers and their distinctions... We all know who that is, do we not?
kuzano
Veteran
Some talk here of stripped down Crowns
Some talk here of stripped down Crowns
I particularly like this version of a Crown, customized by Joh Grepstad. His stuff is pretty interesting, and I have an old parts Crown that I would like to get around to doing this with.
http://home.online.no/~gjon/crown99.htm
Since most of the late Super Graphics I have found are parts, or non working, I too strip about a pound or two off the camera, since they are past rebuilding to handheld operation with the rangefinders. Perhaps I will trim one of those out in Teak for that custom look. Maybe my pictures will improve. It could happen!!
Some talk here of stripped down Crowns
I particularly like this version of a Crown, customized by Joh Grepstad. His stuff is pretty interesting, and I have an old parts Crown that I would like to get around to doing this with.
http://home.online.no/~gjon/crown99.htm
Since most of the late Super Graphics I have found are parts, or non working, I too strip about a pound or two off the camera, since they are past rebuilding to handheld operation with the rangefinders. Perhaps I will trim one of those out in Teak for that custom look. Maybe my pictures will improve. It could happen!!
FrankS
Registered User
I decided to get a speed Graphic some years ago so I could experiment with older lenses with no shutters or with trashed shutters, using the camera's focal plane shutter. It's waiting for my retirement.
csxcnj
Well-known
After having done extensive reading and studying of that site and others I have narrowed own my choices to.......one of each!😀
Vickko
Veteran
I shot the Crown Graphic on the weekend, with a roll film back. Oh what a blast.
Certainly appreciate how far we've come in user-convenience and ergonomics. But made me really appreciate the journalists of the 30/40's that slogged one around, every day, for their bread and butter.
Certainly appreciate how far we've come in user-convenience and ergonomics. But made me really appreciate the journalists of the 30/40's that slogged one around, every day, for their bread and butter.