R. B. Graflex, D Series with Bausch and Lomb Tessar

[ralf_j.]

I picked up a R.B. Graflex SLR(4x5), D series and was amazed at the size of this

 

camera.

First of, my unit came in a nice finished wooden body, and with excellent bellows.

 

The camera had no lens but I installed an uncoated Bausch and Lomb Tessar

barrel

 

lens which covers up to 5x7. The shutter worked properly and the aperture on the

 

lens responded to values correctly.<p>

 

I looked at the manual available for this camera on line and was actucally

 

surprised that one of the illustrations, indicated that this camera could be used

 

hand-held. I say that is a bad advice, especially after I saw what was happening

 

after I put the shutter through its paces. The focal plane shutter is loud and the

 

vibrations are unavoidable. The mirror slap/shutter release combo, puts my non

 

MLU Pentax 6x7 to shame when one compares them. Aside from this the weight

of the

 

camera is pretty high. When I went out with it, I felt I had gone shopping to IKEA

 

for a piece of furniture. My back needed a chiropractor when I returned home. <p>

On the positive side it can double as a seat once you fold the viewing hood. The

 

camera has a pretty unique operating system. In order to take a picture, one must

 

unfold the hood, use the focusing knob to adjust focusing, set tension number and

 

wind key to correct fraction. The combo of a tension value and the wind value

 

yield a shutter speed which can be found on the posted table on the right panel of

 

the camera. There are two releases on the body: on the left panel the lever

 

releases both mirror and shutter; the lever next to the wind key, releases only the

 

shutter. A "T" and "I" sliding lever assist in getting the mirror disconnected.<p>

 

In my shot of the Bay I had to release the mirror separately(after focusing) so I

 

could eliminate the massive slap. This camera needs one of those fancy $300+

 

tripods in order to achieve the steadiness it requires. A column on the

 

bay served as a resting post for the shot. After I focused, I closed the hood, and

 

leaned on the camera with my hand in order to make sure it stayed put and

released

 

the shutter. Here it is with one shot.<p>

 

<hr>

<p>

 

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2510768580_6cc8d2de1a.jpg"

 

width="291" height="500" alt="R.B. Graflex Series D" /><p>

 

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2509936211_9f4eb37b4d.jpg"

 

width="487" height="500" alt="R.B. Graflex Series D Front" /><p>

 

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/2510768832_b6fd626225.jpg"

 

width="500" height="375" alt="Bausch & Lomb 5x7 on a R.B. Graflex Series

D"

 

/><p>

 

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2510768748_cb09a08dcc.jpg"

 

width="500" height="375" alt="Bausch & Lomb 5x7 on a R.B. Graflex Series

D,

 

Take 2" /><p>

 

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2146/2509936071_e3f79f0518.jpg"

 

width="500" height="451" alt="R.B. Graflex Series D Side" /><p>

 

<hr><p>

 

<h3>Hazy Day on Sheepshead Bay</h3><p>

 

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2518062090_5a0231fc34_o.jpg"

 

width="679" height="700" alt="The Bay - RB Graflex Series D." /><p>

<i>1/235s, f/16 on Kodak Portra 160VC 4x5</i><p><p>

 

Unfortunately I had a light leak on this negative exactly on the lower right corner

 

so roughly about 1/6 of the bottom has been cropped. Now I need to figure out

 

where the pesky light leak is coming from.<p>

<hr>

[mharris]

very nice, I just sold one of those cameras, the 2x3 version. Never know it looked so good under the skin.

[tony_lockerbie]

Beautiful camera, and it's good to see thst you have the courage to use it!

 

Tony

[luis triguez]

Ralf,

 

I second Tony. You have to be a hero to take such a gigantic beauty for a walk.

 

The picture is nice. Where is it taken?

 

I hope you to find the hole and repair it.

[connealy]

Thanks for the insights on using that camera. It certainly increases one's respect for the early photographers who were able to use them successfully. I think both Weston and Modotti used Graphlex-type cameras for their portrait work.

[dan_fromm2]

Ralf, your reaction to y'r 4x5 Graflex is exactly opposite to the impression I got the first time I picked one up. It was much lighter than I'd expected. And then I realized that the large box is hollow. How much does your 4x5 RB Series D weigh?

 

I've have good results and no vibration problems with my Speed Graphic's focal plane shutter. It does indeed make a bang, but at the end, not the start, of its travel so the bang has no effect on the image.

[michael_darnton1]

Ha! Try telling all those news photogs chasing after pix in the foreground of old newsreels that the Graflex (and many of them were using the 5x7 model!) isn't a hand camera!

 

For a few years I had mine (a 4x5 Super D) fitted up with a 300/4.5 Heliar and used it to shoot 4x5 Polaroid 3000, handheld, available light at 1/30. The guys who made it weren't dummies: it's a lot steadier than you think.

 

Mine had originally come from a portrait studio, where it had sat on a tripod for 30 years. They're great cameras. I've had mine for 30 years, and it's the one camera I've had that I never considered selling.

 

I see on the chart that one speed isn't noted: that's called "drop-shutter", which, if the tension is right, comes in at around 1/5 second. You set the curtain to "O" (open) and when you push the release, first the mirror rises, starting the exposure, and then the shutter closes, stopping it. That's the flash synch speed--my Super D has synch built in, but you can also rig up a switch that's fired by the mirror-setting lever, on earlier models.

[ralf_j.]

Michael H. - thank you for your comments.

<p>

 

Tony - thanks for your comments. I am not sure this camera will get the exercise it deserves. With two small kids this may hardly be the regular camera to take on outings.<p>

 

Gacias Luis - Sheepshead Bay is a huge canal that goes around the Manhattan beach section of Brooklyn and it is used by many boats as a safe harbour when not at sea. It eventually connects with the Atlantic ocean.<p>

 

Thanks Mike C. - It certainly is not a simple camera to operate, but then again that is the fun in it, isn't it.<p>

 

Dan - thanks for stopping by. I have no scale to weigh this camera, but I suspect maybe 3-5kg? Your observations about curtain's traveling time are certainly ecouraging, so I will definitely give it a try once I figure out where the leak is.<p>

 

Mr. Darnton - thanks for the tips. Would you happen to know if I can use a cable release for this camera. I am failing to see where one can be used.

[fred_haeseker]

I have a 3x4 RB Series B and have never had any trouble with camera shake using it handheld. That's what Graflex SLRs were designed for -- the focusing wheel and shutter release are very conveniently located and you'll notice there is no provision for a cable release.

If you can locate a 6x9 rollfilm back it will make a wonderful portrait camera. The 5x7 B&L Tessar has a focal length of somewhere around 180 to 220mm, which on 6x9 is equal to about 86 to 104mm on 35mm.

Your naked Graflex looks very much like the Freedom 45 Ron Wisner had listed for about $4000!

[charles_stobbs3]

I think some of those old timers had a pneumatic shutter release, a long rubber tube with a squeezable bolb for the photographer.

[Andy Collins]

Very impressive camera, Ralf, a work of art. Even more impressive is the beautiful shot you made with it.

[James G. Dainis]

Graflex cameras aren't for sissies. <BR>

 

<a href=http://www.vpphotogallery.com/photog_graubner_mbwatopchrysler.htm>Click here</a>

[Troll]

It's certainly beautiful (especially compared to my faded black leather covered ones).<P>The "Migrant Mother" pictures by Dorothea Lange were made with a 4x5 Graflex (hand held), and she was a tiny little thing. The 4x5 is a bigpig compared with the 3 1/4x 4 1/4, which is easily hand-holdable, but I have no trouble with shaky negatives from the 4x5.

[sg_adams]

So make some portraits of the kids with it. Absolutely meant to be hand held. SLR, waist level what you see is what you get instantaneous focussing (full size), and easier and more stable to use than a Rollie TLR with no paralax. Heavy is as heavy does... You get film coverage something like thirteen times a 35mm neg, but only three to four times the weight.

Dan is correct in that the mirror swing and focal shutter rolling down shouldn't effect your shots. Partly because the camera is heavy. But they do critical work rather well from a tripod also.

The problem with using the RB series on support is composition. Put the camera on a tripod and it becomes imediately apparent that this only works if you are very tall, or lower the camera to waist level. One can use a Graflex back focussing screen for direct viewing on the camera back, but not so easy if you don't have one.

[cliffmanley]

Like Michael said..

"Never knew it looked so good under the skin." I love the look of the wood. I'm sure not all of the old cameras are beautiful cherry under their skins, some are probably just old boxwood. But yours is very beautiful. Like finding a great hardwood floor under some old carpet.

[chuck_foreman1]

Ralf,

 

Wow.. What you did with your new Graflex was very cool! I often wonder about hand-held anything with Graflexes/Speeds etc. I saw a wacky photo once with a guy hand-holding an 8x10. Your Bay shot is super. Your bellows look really nice and so perhaps your leak is somewhere with the film holder or in this general vicinity. I've got the Baby Graflex Jr. for 2 x 3 and like yours needs(ed) a lens. I must admit I haven't beaten the bushes.. thinking one will come along preferably a 101mm Z. Tessar/B&L. Glad to see you using yours to excellent result!

 

Thanks

[dan_fromm2]

Chuck, are you sure a 2x3 Graflex will focus a 4" lens? IIRC the shortest lens that will clear the mirror and focus to infinity on one is a 5".