"new" Super Graphic

csxcnj

csxcnj

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Hi all. I just received a Super Graphic in overall good condition that I plan on using when hiking. So mostly nature/landscapes. I'm going to be using roll film backs frequently so will be using the rangefinder, which is fairly bright and clear. But the horizontal alignment is out. Does anyone have repairman they recommend, preferably on the eastern side of the country?

I did a RFF forum search, google search and came up empty. And Largeformatphotography.com is down.

If anyone can help, thanks.

This is my first Graphic. These things are mechanical marvels. Yankee ingenuity :D

Cheers, Bob
 
That alignment is off inside my Crown Graphic also. It's not enough to really bother me, just gnaw at the back of my skull, but I just let it be. As long as I can still find some kind of vertical lines to put together, I'm good.

I've had the cover off on my rangefinder and there does not seem to be an actual adjustment for it.

Just my view on it.
Good luck, hope to see some of your images soon.
 
Pirate said:
That alignment is off inside my Crown Graphic also. It's not enough to really bother me, just gnaw at the back of my skull, but I just let it be. As long as I can still find some kind of vertical lines to put together, I'm good.

I've had the cover off on my rangefinder and there does not seem to be an actual adjustment for it.

Just my view on it.
Good luck, hope to see some of your images soon.
Click to expand...

If I was strictly doing architecture I wouldn't worry about it either but with landscapes it's hard sometimes to find vertical lines. There must be someone out there who services these.

Bob
 
Keep in mind that there is a big difference in adjusting the RF for vertical vs horizontal coincidence. On the top mounted RF, like your Super Graphic, a problem with Horizontal coincidence means the focus is off - you may need to reset infinity stops on the lens, or maybe the camera has the wrong cam in it. Adjusting the vertical coincidence on a Super Speed graphic is easy and explained in this thread:

http://www.graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=5957&sid=515642cd1e8121cc82b4dfc7bb8b5c25

Of course a side mounted RF, like a lot of Crown or Speed Graphics is opposite - Horizontal is easy and cosmetic, Vertical is critical....
 
gdi said:
Keep in mind that there is a big difference in adjusting the RF for vertical vs horizontal coincidence. On the top mounted RF, like your Super Graphic, a problem with Horizontal coincidence means the focus is off - you may need to reset infinity stops on the lens, or maybe the camera has the wrong cam in it. Adjusting the vertical coincidence on a Super Speed graphic is easy and explained in this thread:

http://www.graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=5957&sid=515642cd1e8121cc82b4dfc7bb8b5c25

Of course a side mounted RF, like a lot of Crown or Speed Graphics is opposite - Horizontal is easy and cosmetic, Vertical is critical....
Click to expand...

:eek: This is a little embarrassing but I might not even be using the correct designation for vertical and horizontal alignment.

When I say vertical alignment I mean two vertical lines coming together: I I > I

When I say horizontal I mean words on a billboard being aligned as in my example of vertical but the letters looking like one set of letters is slightly below the other.

I set the camera on a tripod, focused on a building with the ground glass and then checked the rangefinder. The building is lined up perfectly at vertical lines but there is an image of "one" building slightly below the other.

I found a fellow named Ken Ruth at Bald Mountain who states that he can repair and service Graphics. Has anyone ever heard of or dealt with him?

Bob
 
Ha! I never thought of it that way - but I can see how you would. I think you are in luck if the vertical lines in your subject are aligned when the ground glass is in focus (check it with a loupe). Your images should be in focus and if you want you can just live with the misalignment or even try to adjust it your self using the above links - I have done this and it is not hard.

I have also talked to Ken Ruth and he should be able to adjust it if you want. The true guru of Graphics is a guy names Fred Lustig, he has tons of parts and can fix anything on them. He repaired my Super Speed Graphic lens and CLA'd my camera - it took months and months and a lot of money but it is in great shape now.
 
Fred was great, he serviced my Crown and got it working perfectly, but that alignment issue of one image being slightly above/below the other is still there, and after looking at the rangefinder myself, I don't see any kind of adjustment for it.
 
Pirate said:
Fred was great, he serviced my Crown and got it working perfectly, but that alignment issue of one image being slightly above/below the other is still there, and after looking at the rangefinder myself, I don't see any kind of adjustment for it.
Click to expand...

Was this service done recently? I'm wondering if Mr. Lustig is still in business.

I have the Super Graphic service manual coming so that should tell me whether the misalignment I'm dealing with is fixable.

Don't know if I'd attempt that myself if it can be worked on. I don't mind trying to fix things. I am playing around with several lenses and bodies just to see if I'll enjoy tinkering with photo gear. But I'm reluctant to try it in the Super Graphic. I don't want to screw it up.

Bob
 
gdi said:
Ha! I never thought of it that way - but I can see how you would. I think you are in luck if the vertical lines in your subject are aligned when the ground glass is in focus (check it with a loupe). Your images should be in focus and if you want you can just live with the misalignment or even try to adjust it your self using the above links - I have done this and it is not hard.

I have also talked to Ken Ruth and he should be able to adjust it if you want. The true guru of Graphics is a guy names Fred Lustig, he has tons of parts and can fix anything on them. He repaired my Super Speed Graphic lens and CLA'd my camera - it took months and months and a lot of money but it is in great shape now.
Click to expand...

Thanks gdi. Was the work by Mr. Lustig done recently ?
 
Fred has no web presence, you have to call him - last I talked to him was a couple of years ago and I think his most recent phone # is (775) 746-0111. But as Pirate said, shipping the thing back and forth may result in the RF getting bumped out of alignment - pack it well. I don't think it is an indictment of Fred's service, but mine came back fine, but soon after I received it the RF mirror fell off and I had to send it back to Fred and he quickly fixed it and sent it back.

Your adjustment should be very straightforward you can reach the adjustment screw by removing the flash meter on top. But if you aren't comfortable, I think Ken or even a good local repair man could adjust it.
 
I always got good work out of Frank Marshman at CameraWiz in Harrisonburg, VA.

Phone: 540-867-9671

Email: camerawiz@msn.com

Address for shipping: Mr. Frank Marshman
1495 Needmore Lane
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802


he fixed my crown graphic and is awesome to deal with
 
I am sure Fred is great but he is getting pretty far along in years... You don't want to have your camera in his repair que when he makes his final exposure.

Marshman is also great but claims he doesn't work on Graphic rangefinders. He'll tell you to just use the ground glass, which is good advice anyway.

Your best bet is to buy another Graphic on eBay and sell the one with the problem - cheaper net cost than repairing it. Be honest of course, but it's silly to throw money at a camera that can be had for relative peanuts in the first place.
 
frank --- marshman did all kinds of body work, fixed the rails, adjusted the rangefinder, made it a brand new camera --- spent $150 for everything
 
Frank Petronio:
"I am sure Fred is great but he is getting pretty far along in years... You don't want to have your camera in his repair que when he makes his final exposure.@

Something to think about

"Marshman is also great but claims he doesn't work on Graphic rangefinders. He'll tell you to just use the ground glass, which is good advice anyway."

Worth sending an emai to find out. Won't have the ground glass with me when using RF backs.

"Your best bet is to buy another Graphic on eBay and sell the one with the problem - cheaper net cost than repairing it. Be honest of course, but it's silly to throw money at a camera that can be had for relative peanuts in the first place."

What I paid for this plus $150 or so to get the finder aligned etc. would be less than what I've seen clean Super's going for. They don't come up for auction that often. If and when I get another one in better shape I'll use this one to learn how to work on them. I wish $500 was "relative peanuts" :)

Thanks, Bob
 
Here's a copy of the receipt from Fred. It was April, 2011.

receipt_by_dudewithad700-d3e3bg1.jpg
 
When he had the camera and had checked it out, he called me and asked me if I wanted the focus spot-on lighting fixed. I said that I didn't need it. He fixed it and fitted the new door on it anyway and didn't add it to the charge. Great guy and really helpful for sure.
 
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