I recently received a speed graphic camera...help

[www.wesleyalmond.com]

I recently received a speed graphic press camera. Everything

functions perfectly shutter [Compur]is dead-on and the lens [Dominar

Anastigmat]is fungus free. The one tif I have is the film format 3

1/4 x 4 1/4, which means I 'll have to cut my 4x5 sheet film down a

little. I have googled info on this camera but I can't find anything

related to this specific model. I would like to know more about this

lens too. So any info or links would be very helpful. It looks a lot

like the model pictured below, same Rangefider, name plate, body

style etc. <img

src="http://www.gibbesmuseum.org/images/1974.12.155.JPG">

[frank_scheitrowsky1]

Everything you need to know at graflex.org

[dan_fromm1]

I second Frank's motion. For 3x4 film, try http://www.jandcphotography.com/ Also, its kind of a waste but if you want to shoot roll film there are roll holders, including Adapt-A-Roll 620s that slip in like a sheet film holder, that will work on 3x4 Graphics.

 

Good luck, have fun,

[wendell_kelly]

J&C Photo is offering 31/4 x 41/4 sheet film.

 

Tryt here: http://www.jandcphoto.com/browseproducts/JandC-200-3x4-Film---25-sh---10-Pack.HTML

 

They also list 127 and 620 roll film for those who might be interested.

[Troll]

3.25x4.25 Anniversary Speed Graphic, with Kalart rangefinder, and Heiland flash. Made from 1940-46.

[dave_s]

Uh, Bill, does this mean you think that's a picture of Wesley?

[www.wesleyalmond.com]

Yeah that's a picture of me up there, I'm connected to the Internet with a typewriter, duck tape and a rotary phone. It's slow but it is 1943 after all. So how about the [Dominar Anastigmat 135mm] lens? I can't find any info on this through the sites posted above.

[dan_fromm2]

According to the Lens Collector's Vade Mecum, 135/4.5 Dominar was originally made by Huttig, a lens maker in Dresden that had been merged into I.C.A., after the merger. ICA in turn was merged into Zeiss-Ikon and Z-I continued to use the trade name Dominar. The VM says that the 135/4.5 Dominar was fitted to the 9x12 Icar and is a good grade of tessar type lens.

[tito sobrinho]

Wesley, you're lucky to be able to find film for your camera, nowadays !

 

The 3x4 film was defunct for many years, and when I bought my 3x4 Crown with the Optar 135 twenty years ago, it took me 5 years before ebay to be able to find a 3x4 Graflex 6x9 roll film back (rare bird).

 

I had to do minor adjustments to the Kalart rangefinder for the Optar 135/4.7, and had to buy the mask #10 (6x9 + 135 lens) which inserts in the view finder so that I could photograph using the 6x9 back as a hand held camera.

 

Someday, I will try the 3x4 film as I have 4 film holders that came with the camera.

 

Cheers, Tito.

[john_wire]

Hi Wesley....... IMO the most needed help for these old machines is "upper arm" strength. A 4x5 with a Grafmatic, long lens and flash requires some prepatory workout sessions before venturing out in public. Who do you think would win an arm wrestling contest...... a press photographer from the 40's or a current version? Smile. Regards.

[James G. Dainis]

The photo above is, of course, Weegee (Arthur Fellig), a freelancer who often arrived at a crime scene before the police which prompted them to think that he must use a ouija board. Sort of a hero to us old Speed Graphic users.

<BR><a href=http://www.temple.edu/photo/photographers/fellig/titl.html>http://www.temple.edu/photo/photographers/fellig/titl.html</a>

[www.wesleyalmond.com]

Thanks Dan for the lens info. Luckily I have 10 film holders for this camera. I plan on constructing some type of 4x5 film cutter, since sharp objects and darkness can be dangerous. Maybe 3 1/4 x 41/4 matboard that will sandwich the film and whatever hangs off the edge I can easily cut with scissors in the dark.. sound good?

 

This camera was free so I can't complain though I do wish it was a standard 4x5. I would love to have one of those roll film adapters, since all the photo stores in Asheville have gone digital and do not sell 4x5 film I may cut a 120 roll into strips and load a few holders. So I'll basically have a 6x9 camera to do my first test shots.

 

I am also lacking developing holders and tanks which I may have to construct those also. This is the largest format I used to date.

This will be fun. Considering my other Mf cameras are Holgas, Lubitels

and a Moskava 5 I think this camera will fit in nicely

[dan_fromm2]

Why make what you can buy? Try J&C for 3x4 b/w film, as has been suggested. If you want to shoot color, then you'll have to trim a larger size of sheet film.

[micah_henry]

Wesley,

 

Hey, you mean Asheville, North Carolina? I'm from N.C. as well, up in Wilkes County (a good two hours away).

 

Hope you have fun with the "Speed." I have a Pre-Anniversary Speed in 4x5" size--it's a blast!

 

--Micah in NC

[www.wesleyalmond.com]

Yes, that's right Asheville, NC, a few years ago I met a photographer named micah here in town. Are you friends with Jonah Goldwag? Small chance you're who I'm thinking of but who knows?

Oh and dan the prices for 3 1/4 film seemed higher than that of regular 4x5. Plus I seem to have a higher variety of films to choose from with 4x5. I'm a very thrifty person and budget everything. I take after my grandparents. Plus I can save the leftover film strips and do something experimental. For instance crudely taping the strips together, loading them in holders and photographing nudes..

[James G. Dainis]

Do you have a paper cutter? I would occassionally need some 5 x 7 film so I would use my paper cutter to cut down 8 x 10 negatives. I would tape a ruler or straight edge 5 inches from the edge, place the film against that in the dark and cut a few sheets. Now I had 5 x 8 film. Then I would put the film in a light safe, move the sraight edge to 7 inches from the edge and cut off one inch. It went pretty fast.

[micah_henry]

Wesley,

 

Sorry, I don't recall a Jonah Goldwag. I'm more of a photographer on the side--I'm a reporter for a small town newspaper and take pictures for it, too. (No staff photographers.)

 

This is a neat time to have a large format camera, with fall here and winter coming! I have a few sheets of Kodak E100G 4x5" transparency film to capture fall color...I hope!

 

--Micah in NC

[glen peterson]

If you cut 4x5 film down, make sure you leave the notches, you won't want to forget which side the emulsion is on.

[bill_force]

A blast from the past...I packed a 4 X 5 around for 8 years as a U.S. Navy Photg during the Korean War and after. With a full load of film, bulbs etc., my gadget bag needed wheels on it. When I needed a lot of light I would hand hold two additional P40 flash bulbs next to the primary one (touching) and fire off three bulbs at once. When I see a photo like yours I know why I went to 35 mm and eventually digi. A CF card doesn't weigh very much compared to a a dozen film packs.