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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
OT: Graflex users
Chris Peterson, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbia Falls | MT | USA | Posted: 9:58 AM on 05.13.09 |
->> I bought a Speed Graphic recently for a project I'm working on, and I was wondering if there was a "fail safe" combination of f-stop and distance that would get most photos in focus (8 to 20 feet) without having to mess with the ground glass or the rangefinder (the problem is, my rangefinder is out of whack, go figure, the camera is pre-WWII). Also, has anyone used an modern flash with this camera? I've trolled the web and the Graflex sites without much luck, so I thought I'd give the board a shot.
Oh yeah, the lens is a 135 zeiss tessar... |
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Ron Manfredi, Photographer
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Merrick (Long Island) | NY | | Posted: 10:27 AM on 05.13.09 |
->> Chris,
Check this site:
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
Looks like with 4x5 film, if you set the focus distance to 10 feet, you will have a range of focus from about 8-14 feet at f/16.
As to the flash, some of the shutters did have an X synch setting on them. If yours has this, then all you will need is the appropriate cable with connector from the lens to your flash.
Remember to pull the dark slide before exposure! (and have the focal plane shutter open if your model has one, and just use the leaf shutter in the lens. ) |
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William Maner, Photographer
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Biloxi | MS | USA | Posted: 11:12 AM on 05.13.09 |
->> Chris:
I bought a Crown Graphic for $75 at a government disposal sale some 25+ years ago. The lens I have is an Optar 135/4.7 lens.
The lens has a leaf shutter, so I don't know if it handles a flash connection differently than what you have on your Speed Graphic.
The lens has two pins that stick out. You'd need an adapter cord that would allow you to mount a PC flash connection to the Graflex. I can't remember if the cord I have came with my camera or I ordered it. But you can use a current flash on a Graflex. You'd have to use the flash in its manual mode.
I've had a lot of fun using mine. I don't use it for any professional applications, but it could handle the task.
Here's a great resource for any Graflex-related topic:
http://graflex.org/
Hope this helps.. |
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Bradly J. Boner, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Jackson | WY | USA | Posted: 11:12 AM on 05.13.09 |
->> I would still take the time to putz around with the ground glass to get a ballpark focus. Film is expensive these days and you want to make sure you get it right.
Saddest day in the world when the Polaroid Type 55 film faded away... |
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Bradly J. Boner, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Jackson | WY | USA | Posted: 11:13 AM on 05.13.09 |
| ->> Oh, I've used mine with White Lightnings. If the lens has the PC terminal just make sure the lens is also set on X for studio flashes. |
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Chris Peterson, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbia Falls | MT | USA | Posted: 1:06 PM on 05.13.09 |
| ->> William, I've been to the Graflex site. It's a cool resource. |
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Chris Peterson, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbia Falls | MT | USA | Posted: 1:17 PM on 05.13.09 |
->> Thanks everyone so far. Since I posted, I also found this cool DOF chart online.
Here: http://johnhendry.com/gadget/dof.php |
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Jon Blacker, Photographer
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Toronto | ON | Canada | Posted: 2:32 PM on 05.13.09 |
->> Chris,
If your camera has a Kalart rangefinder on the side of the of the body, here's a specific page that addresses adjusting it for your specific lens; http://graflex.org/speed-graphic/kalart-adjustment.html I used that page to adjust my Speed for my Nikkor 180/5.6 It worked perfectly & has stayed true for over a year so far.
As for a sync cable, Paramount will make one for you if your lens has the bi-post connection; http://www.paramountcords.com/bipost.asp Just match that up to whatever you want on the other end, including a Pocket Wizard & you're good to go. |
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Dave Breen, Photographer
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Somerset | PA | USA | Posted: 2:41 PM on 05.13.09 |
| ->> If you don't have a PC sync and your shooting permits it, use "open flash" (a long enough shutter speed to fire the flash by hand). The two-pin cord that plugs into the solenoid will fire the shutter when triggered by the flash gun, but the flash would fire first (longer-lasting light). |
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Phil Sedgwick, Photographer
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San Luis Rey | CA | USA | Posted: 3:36 PM on 05.13.09 |
| ->> I used a two pin molex plug I bought at Radio Shack to make a flash cord for my Crown Graphic. Pins lined up nicely. |
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Ray Anderson, Photographer
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San Francisco | CA | USA | Posted: 6:42 PM on 05.13.09 |
->> Having shot with a speed graflex many times I would urge you to get the Rangefinder fixed.
Not sure if the gentleman is still in business but goggle Fred Lustig in Reno this guy has rebuilt two cameras for me and the rangefinders work perfect.
Keep in mind if you do get your rangefinder fixed always store the Graflex with the body opened and bellows extended. |
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Steve Ueckert, Photographer
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Houston | TX | | Posted: 9:08 AM on 05.14.09 |
->> Chris--
Ditto what Ron posted re: the D-o-F. His other hints are important as well.
With respect to your flash issue, are you planning to use the FP shutter of the Speed body or use the shutter of the lens if the lens is in a shutter and not a barrel mount (non-shutter) lens?
The strobe sync of a 4 X 5 FP shutter is really slow, that was remedied by the use of FP flash bulbs. But good luck finding and using those things now.
Most lenses for the Speed and almost all lenses for the Crown Graphics are mounted in leaf shutters that will sync at all speeds. If that is what you will use to sync the strobe to the camera then find an appropriate sync cord (as already mentioned Paramount can make you about anything you want) and remember to have the leaf shutter set to X. Older lenses will have the bi-post sync and newer lenses have the PC plug.
--Steve |
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