Roll film back recommendations

Folks,

<br><br>

I'm looking into getting a 6x7 or 6x9 roll film back for my Wista VX

(universal Graflok back).

<br>

I have seen a number of older Graflex and Calumet backs come up on

eBay and such. Are these worth considering? What are the pros/cons of

the various models?

<br><br>

Thanks,<br>

Guy<br>

<a href="http://scenicwild.com">Scenic Wild</a>

I used a Horseman 69 RFH on my Wista SP for years and am currently using a Horseman 67 RFH on an Arca 69. I've never experienced any problems with film flatness (even with film left in the holder for several weeks) or film spacing with either holder.

 

In regards to film spacing I should say I've never had any problems with overlapping. Occasionally the spacing between frames will be uneven but never to the point where it posed any problems.

Hello Guy,

 

Others may well disagree but I would absolutely stay away from the older

Graflex backs and approach the older (or newer for that matter) Calumet

backs with caution, The problem with the Graflex backs is that they were not

particularly tightly engineeered and, without some attention by a competent

repairman, you can easily have major film flatness and thus sharpness

problems. I owned several of them as part of a Graflex XL system and was

never satisfied wtih the consistency of results on the XL or on my Horseman.

 

All I can tell you about the Calumet is that fooling with one in the store I have

always found them to be somewhat fiddly.

 

While more expensive, you are much better served by Horseman, Wista,

Toyo, Linhof, etc. backs. The Horseman are the most common on the used

market. All of these are solid, precise and well built.

 

Ted

I must agree with Ted, the Graflex backs are not that great. There really isn't anything in the mechanism which assures film flatness.

WEll,

 

I have 2 of the older graphlex backs (the ones with metal rollers to ensure flatness) that I bought for $120 and $150. Much cheaper than the horseman one. I have never had any problems with film flatness. And I make 16x20 enlargements from the 67 negs so I'd be able to tell if there was a film flatness problem. Once I figured out how far to advance film upon loading, I have never had overlap problems, but I err on the side of caution and therefore usually get only 9 frames per roll. I'm sure the horseman ones are nice, but mine were cheaper and work great.

Guy, THE Wista RFB is a fine construction amd moderately priced. My recomendation is to buy a 69 back as opposed to the 67. (you can always place the 69 in a 67 mount, with, of course, the reverse not being true).

 

George

Graflex backs are fine as long as the gate includes the long skinny pin rollers. That's the mechanism that keeps the film flat, and it works pretty well. I've never had a flatness problem, and I use both the RH-10 and RH-12 models (6x7 and 6x6, respectively). The pin rollers are available on the later Singer-Graflex rollbacks that have a lever wind mechanism. Avoid the earlier knob wind models (Graflex 22, 23, etc.) which do not include the rollers. Even with the lever wind backs, check to see if the pin rollers are there. It's true that these backs are simple, and not great when compared with a Horseman. But they're not bad either, and cost a lot less. Check the www.graflex.org website for more info.

I've got a Calumet roll film back. Its main advantage is that it slides in like a normal film holder; you don't have to remove the GG like some rollfilm backs. It's kind of a pain to load, and the jury is still out on the film transport mechanism. Seems OK for flatness. One other thing, it's thicker than most film holders, about the same as a Graphmatic; I understand that might cause trouble with some spring backs.

I just bought an older Calumet C2 6x7, all metal construction. Its better-built than any graflex back I've seen or used. Cost -$150 on the auction site. Its a little too thick to slide under the ground glass springback on my Graflex View. Tried it and darn near busted the GG, although it did go in. Use the Grafloc back and it will work fine.

 

I wanted 6x7 to keep the same proportions as 4x5. I've used 6x9 backs and just wind up cropping that extra off.

 

Another possible advantage of the C2 is it will take 220 rolls. The counter goes up to 20 frames and the frame spacing is consistant. Not so on some of the graflex backs I've used.

i have a graphlex 6x6, 6x9 and a linyhof 6x9.. i like the graphlex 6x9 best becouse the knob and counter mechanism is on top for the crown graphic i use.. i was going t sell the lynhoff but mayhbe ill take a second harder look. but not not being able to see the couner tends to give a few double exposures...i guess if i had a rotating back id be ok... dave...

I have two of the Calumet C2 holders and have experienced film flatness and

spacing problems. Visit this page <A

HREF="http://www.kinesisgear.com/opinion.html"> this page</A> on my site for

more details.

I own 2 Horseman 6x9 backs and have never experienced a sinle problem.

 

I highly recommend them.

 

Mike

I have the Toyo 6x9RFH and use it as a Graflock back on an Ebony SW45.

 

The Toyo RFH has a couple of great features. It has a safety lock on the door opening mechanism, and another safety catch on the darkslide. (My Horseman 6x12 darkslide comes out pretty easily, and I have on one occasion fogged film because of it.) Furthermore, the darkslide has a second safety catch that engages when the darkslide is almost fully removed. This means you can leave the darkslide out but not removed from the RFH during exposure, which frees up a hand (although it acts as a rectangular spinnaker in windy conditions).

 

 

Film path is very flat -- only a slight curve is involved.