Graflex Century 35N

[edward_feltman]

I have just picked up a Graflex 35n, 35mm camera. For the price I

paid, I fugured low risk. I was rather surprised to find VERY few

references to this model anywhere! I see many for the Graflex 35,

which looks completely differnt that this one. The reason that I

picked it up was that I felt that this was a very impressive peice

of machinery. Almost a work of art! Is anyone familiar with this

model? I am wondering why the Graflex 35mm cameras seem to sell for

so little given the obvious quality.

 

From the few references that I could find, it apperas that this

model was ony manufacutured for a year or so. I would also like to

find a repair person as the shutter speeds appear to work ony in

bulb, and the individual shutter speeds all appear to be about the

some.

 

Any advice or information?

 

Regards,

 

Ed

[dan_fromm1]

Well, you might consider asking your question on the www.graflex.org help board.

 

Why don't you tell us about it? And I mean tell us more than "a very impressive piece of machinery. Almost a work of art!" Graflex probably didn't make it, what brand/focal length/maximum aperture is its lens? Any indications of who made the shutter? What references did you find? And so on ...

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

[john lehman, college alask]

Graflex distributed at least 4, and I think 5 different 35mm cameras during the 1950's. The one with push-button focusing distributed between 1955 and 1958 is the best known -- is the the one you have? It is a neat camera, but one of the metal parts in the film advance mechanism is fragile and often broken -- both of the ones I have owned had this problem.

[edward_feltman]

This model has a Copal shutter and a lens by Kowa Optical Works of Japan F2. The lens also has a marking that says Prominar. It has the feel of a Leica. Also, I forgot to mention that it has no meter.

 

Any help identifying this would be helpfull.

 

Regards,

 

Ed

[kelly_flanigan1]

John; the mid 1950's model was the Graphic 35; with the push button focusing. There were at least 4 variants; the color wheel has changes; the lens is either a 3.5 or 2.8 Some of the F3.5 models say the lens is by Rodenstock; mine is a 3 element triplet <BR><BR>Later there was the JET; a CO2 powered motor drive camera. Be carefull; there was a variant that doesnt have the CO2; but the camera looks about the same. Many times EBAY bidders bit up the "non CO2" variant; because the listing says it works; rare for a CO2 JET; but it is actually the non CO2 version actually listed.

[steve_baldwin1]

<p>Edward did you ever find out much about this camera? I've just picked one up for $10 and it seems to work well. I agree that the build/feel is quite nice. No push button focusing here. Copal shutter, prominar f1.8, bottom rewind crank, very solid feel, nice camera I think.</p>