danny_liao Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 How do the Crown Graphic 4x5 perform? Are they compareable to a, lets say, a Horseman VH/45FA or more of a Toyo 45CF? I find the Horseman awesome to use and the Toyo cheap and flimsy. I have a chance to pick up a fairly good condition Crown Graphic for a very good price, but I don't want it if it's doesn't perform wel. Can anyone with experience with these cameras give me some insight? Also, does anyone know if the old Horseman 980 could fit a 4x5 back? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 If there was ever a bulletproof camera, it is the 4x5 Crown Graphic. Over fifty years of experience in building and using Speed Graphic cameras went into it's design and construction. But don't forget that most have already been in use for 50 years, and that it was intended as a Press Camera. A Master Technika it ain't (nor was it ever intended as such). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronald_moravec1 Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Horseman is better for fine art work. If you are happy with limited movements and say a 90 and 127, the Crown is your camera. Remember this was designed for fast newspaper work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_liao Posted October 22, 2004 Author Share Posted October 22, 2004 Thanks for the responses. Ronald, "90 and 127," do you mean i am limited to lenses with focal length between the 90 and 127? yeah, it's a stupid question but just wanted to make sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leonard_evens Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 I have a Horseman 980. I'm pretty sure they made a 4 x 5 back for it, but I don't know if you can find one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 The Crown works well with lenses from 65mm to over 250mm focal length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal_wydra1 Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 Dear Danny, I use a Crown Graphic, but most of the time just the way it was intended. Hand held using the rangefinder. I have several graphmatic holders and it makes a nice "walking around" camera. The movements are extremely limited. I have used a 300mm lens on it, but not closer than about 10 feet. If you are looking for a true view-camera, this is not the answer. If you want a large negative in a rugged, easy to use package, you will enjoy it. Make sure the rangefinder is in good working order and that the correct cam is installed for the lens. Check out www.graflex.org for information. Neal Wydra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronald_moravec1 Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 You can use other than 127 and 90, but those were most common in my limited experience. The bellows are short for longer glass limiting close focus. 65`s have limited coverage for 4x5, as do 90 Wallys and 90 Angulon. The color saruration of these is also low, but they are ok for B&W. When you are done, it is a rangefinder box with a few features.Again a pretty good newsphotog camera for the age, but fine art it is not. It you like longer glass, the FA has somewhat short bellows, but there is a back extension. To me this is a pain to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_liao Posted October 23, 2004 Author Share Posted October 23, 2004 I am looking for a 4x5 to do strickly environmental/location portraits and head to full length portraits. I don't really need all the bells and whistles. The Crown Graphic should do fine, right? Also, how well does the 135 Xenar perform, color satuation, contrast, sharpness...etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 The 135 Xenar is an excellent lens, with high contrast and sharpness. It does not have great covering power so its use for architecture is quite limited. Do you realize that the Crown has a fixed HORIZONTAL back? Vertical hand-held pictures are easy, but somewhat inconvenient on a tripod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn_thoreson Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 These cameras are a lot of fun to use. I have built over a dozen in all formats for my own use. The 135 lens is a good all purpose lens. When you get the chance, a 210 Symmar would be a good investment and an excellent addition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_liao Posted October 24, 2004 Author Share Posted October 24, 2004 How about a Crown Super Graphic compare to a Linhof Technika III? I know that the Linhof is a better camera but accessories are limited and hard to find. I have the chance of picking up a brand NEW Crown Super Graphic w/lens or a used Linhof III w/lens in excellent condition. Crown Graphic will be around $350 and Linhof for about $700. Which one will you choose? And why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave schlick Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 the crown needs a 135 , 127 lense to fold in the camera, others above and below that i know of need to be taken out to fold becdouse the lens is too big. .. the biggest problem i see with your idea is that you want to use a 135 for portraits.. this to some has the wrong look for portraits,, the other photographers here can explain it but it deepens the face not compress it, not giving the best glamor.. for instance a 70 mm lens is good for the 35mm camera for portraits.... the best lens in my thinking would be the 210 for portrait.. then your depth of field is limited.. that is on a uper torso shot if you focus on the eyes the nose will be ok, but the ears are getting out of focus unless you use a lot of light. a group of poeple is very very difficult with the 210. . making it nessesary to use side lights, background and backlit lights for high end (quality)shots.. my opinoion only . but when you get that good shot its good for 30x40 prints.. this is why 6x6 and 6x7 is poplular for poeple shots. good to 16x20. .altho i know lots who have done it, and ive taken some stuning crown graphic shots with 135 of my youngest son (hes the only one that would have mercy on me and stand still for it.. .. allmost all the problems can be overcome with experience and study.. but some wont be easy. you can get a 6x7 back and shoot great portraits with the 135, and then use the 4x5 for some others,, and landscape and etc.. get one youl be very pleased.. good luck dave.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w_t1 Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 Danny, if you can get a mint/new one for $350 , seems like a good deal. I was tracking a mint one at ebay, that just went for over $800, which wasn't inline with other mintish prices of previously sold cameras. I have a hard time with not being able to rotate the back, so i bailed at less than $200! This one did look nice, see link below, but at $821 my 15 year old Tachihara is looking better and better http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3846308272&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholas_t. Posted October 25, 2004 Share Posted October 25, 2004 I reckon the main thing you need to work out is whether you want/need movements because you are only limited to front rise on a Crown Graphic. That said, if you don't need those movements a Crown Graphic with a Kalart rangefinder is an amazing camera, and incredibly well made. I use mine with a 127mm and 90mm lens and a 6x12 back. I hear 65mm lenses work well on this camera too and will try it out one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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