When you are in the darkroom or dark bag loading the holders, guide your film into the holder with two fingers over the retaining clips, you can hear it going in smoothly and it hits the stops definitely There are still a lot of us who actually did daily work with Graphics, we should generate more videos. All these novice amateurs...
Outstanding overview of this camera my man, you didn't leave anything out. That first image of the city skyline across the water looked almost exactly like lomography metropolis film. A good thing to do to get experience using the camera without burning through so much film is to shoot dark room paper in it also. That crunchy sound in the beginning when it was bucking up against the film I can relate to. I have a 4x5 camera and I realized I had not pushed the film all the way forward and the dark slide was getting hung up on it. Keep representing
Fellow Crown Graphic Shooters here. Awesome camera to start off with 4x5. The Intrepid 4x5 Camera is a good second step. And I feel your pain for messing up sheet, I've mis-loaded my holders before.
I have the Speed Graphic and you're right, it's a beautiful camera and awesome to use. I call it my "point and shoot" film camera and then get a laugh when I pull it out of my backpack. One thing though. You begin using the focus knobs as soon as you've opened the front, without pulling the lens board and bellows onto the rails. You may see the infinity stops on the rails, so you move the sliding lock parallel to the the rails, then pull the lens board forward to the infinity stops. Once you have the lens board out to the stops, flip them up, and return your sliding lock to their locking position, perpendicular to the rails. If it hasn't been adjusted, this is synced to size of your lens and the rangefinder at the top of your camera. You can then focus by looking through the rangefinder. You will notice the range meter near the end of the front bed as well. This is how press photographers originally used this camera, without opening the hood and focusing through the ground glass. They would set up for the shot, knowing they may be 10 feet or 25 feet away from their subject. Raising the viewfinder on the back, and the 2nd part on the top of your lens board, creates the "aiming" device for framing their shot. And yeah, losing a sheet of film to the dark slide happens to everyone. Welcome to the best journey on earth!
Shooting using the rangefinder on these definitely makes it a lot more mobile and quick, which is how the press journos used to do it. So just have your holders loaded, or the pack holders from back in the day that had multi load, and you’re good to go. It’s a great system and definitely worth it once you get past the initial learning curve. So far it looks like zone focused is the official winner of 4x5 week though! He’s the only one who didn’t have any tech issues between you, his and Vuhlandes’ video dropping 😆
My grandfather had a Graflex view camera that is now in my aunt’s possession, rumor has it that the camera is in my name when she eventually passes. I enjoy photography avidly and cannot wait to try my hand at this! This video was very informative! Great work :)
The beard said, 'You thought I was gone?!" lol That crunch hurt! The price of 4x5 makes every lost sheet hurt even more. But the ones that did come out had a good look! Next video shooting 4x5 handheld??
You read my mind. I wanted so much to see your take on this camera! And here it is. Amazing channel. I've been doing photography for ten years but only recently discovered the joy from shooting film. Thanks to your channel. Thank You friend!
By now you've discovered that the little knob below the shutter cocking lever is the shutter open for focusing mechanism. It has to be cocked to work (on mine, anyway). Some accessories include a rapid cycling back, it holds 6 sheets of 4x5 and it shuffles them back to front when you work the mechanism.
I have a Calumet 4x5 monorail and it is a beast to take anywhere. Really thinking about getting a folding field type camera in the future. They are indeed amazing to look at but then I also think my Hasselblad 500C and Mamiya RB67 are pretty damn cool too.
Thanks for posting this video. I bought a Graflex and have been looking at videos all day without luck. I wanted to know how to open the lens aperture in order to use the ground glass. You explained it.
Congrats, for a very good informative video on 4X5 cameras, I own one Baby Graflex (2X3), and one 4X5 Graflex, One 4X5 Pressman, and two 4X5 bellows wood 1930 cameras. I am now testing X-ray cut film and a Polaroid 600 film adapter. Welcome to learning about never pulling the dark slide out too much; we all have done it.
"Welcome to learning about never pulling the dark slide out too much; we all have done it." They are MEANT to be pulled out all the way and then FLIPPED on inserting. Notice that one edge is black and one edge is silver. I use silver-out to signify unexposed, and black-out to signify exposed. They are also ribbed on one edge of the dark slide so you can tell in the dark which of the two sides was actually exposed.
One of the first cameras I ever used was exactly like this ine, in the only photo class I ever took in 1961. I was assigned to use it taking photos of subject around my high school, year book stuff, night time football games (with one of the earliest small electronic flashes). The Crowns are designed to be use relatively quickly with the rangefinder, not the ground glass. You can use the ground glass on a tripod, but the rigid folding hod makes it practically impossible to get close enough to focus accurately. You have to remove the hood to use the ground glass seriously, focusing with a loupe.
Hello. I have a Graflex Crown special Graphic camera myself. That prompted me to build a darkroom. I picked up a Omega D-3 enlarger that can handle 35 mm to 4x5. While working on the darkroom, I came across a Super Omega Dichronic II enlarger with the color head that also handles 4x5, so now I'll be able to print color film. On some of the newer Crown Graphics there is a code stamped on the bottom of the cross member of the slide rack. One of the numbers indicates the year it was made. These were made up into 1973. The beauty of 4x5 photography is that it really slows you down so you have to think of every step so you're not just taking a picture, you're making a photograph. Enjoy.
Wow, the camera is in really great shape for it's age, almost no wear, looks almost brand new. Nice find! I just bought my first 4x5 on ebay, a Speed Graphic, basically the same camera as Crown Graphic but with both a focal plane shutter and a lens shutter so the fastest shutter speed is 1/1000 and can also use lenses with no shutter in them. Can't wait for it to arrive from the USA, I guess it'll take a few weeks. The one I bought is older (made between 1947 and 1955 if I understand correctly) and more worn externally than yours but still in nice condition. Comes complete with Graflok back and four film holders so I'll have everything needed to start shooting.
Hello from Maine, wow the other side of the pond hope it all works out for you. Very well done again. I own the Speed Graphic and have down loaded all the instruction manuals your explanation of how to use the camera was one of the most helpful items I've found. Unfortunately most glass over the actual negative produced. Might make a nice video explaining and showing the rest of your process. You folks are a resource, most of the old timers that used these cameras are passing away and it's not like we can walk into a camera store and ask questions. Once again every piece of information given on these cameras is valuable.
That is a beautiful camera in wonderful condition. You even have the plastic battery cover. Now agree, the Graflex Crown Graphic is a beauty but I think my Sinar Norma is a beautiful piece of engineering. I have a 1949 Crown and a 1939 Pre-Anniversery Speed Graphic which I'm rebuilding. Thanks for taking the time for producing the video it was informative and enjoyable.
A future video needs to be about the MOST important part of using these cameras - closing them up. If the rails are not fully retracted before the front door is closed, the rails WILL break!
I have a Crown Graphic and it is indeed a very beautiful camera. There is one camera that is more beautiful though and it's the 4x5 Linhof Technika IV.
I have the poor man's 4x5, an MPP which is very similar to yours but no focal plane shutter. For digitising my film, I use a Pixl-latr and shoot the 4x5 film in sections, then stitch them together in Photoshop. I love 4x5, I've not done enough of it this year.
This Crown Graphic does not have a focal plane shutter, and it is very much like your MMP, except the MMP is a somewhat more ergonomic design variation. The focal plane shutters were in bodies bearing the "Gaflex" name.
Okay I will agree it's a beautiful camera but being closely edged out by the Nikon Z fc in chrome. I know a huge spread. I just love the classic look. I'm sure you know there is 120 film backs and also Ilford has direct positive paper for the 4x5 film holder. Expose it develop it and you have a print, scan the print. With the 120 film back I use the coupled rangefinder all hand held and it can prove faster that some other medium format cameras. Enjoy you beautiful camera.
Nice! Now find kindly cold stored expired 4x5 slide film, shoot, develop and look at the developed frames with a light source! I get that lovely experience via my 120 6x6 slides, you will have a even better wow moment! Keep up the good work!
I had a case of the film crunch yesterday. Kinda bummed but I brought a bunch of backup film thankfully (and it was just B&W). 4x5 is a roller-coaster but the successes outweigh the mistakes. Do you have a flatbed scanner? I use my v600 and do two scans and stitch in Photoshop. It's an extra step but the scans look great. Great work and keep up the great content! Also if you want some extra security for this issue - Get a large darkbag and bring it with you. If the film blocks the darkslide you can put the whole cam in the bag and fix it in the dark. Re-insert to the holder and tuck it in nice and gently until you're ready to dev.
I use and love my 1929 Voigtlander Bergheil camera with it's 120mm Helier lens , it's 6x9 and 35mm backs...but that is beautiful....i believe you can get 120 film backs for that Crown Graphic as well making it less expensive than the larger 5x4 film but that Graphic is in pristine condition...maybe one day i will move to a 5x4 just like your good self . P.S great presentation .
@@ribsy A Graphic of that era almost certainly came with a fresnel lens already. It sits in front of the actual ground glass on these cameras. If you look at the glass with a loupe and see concentric rings on there, then you have a fresnel as well. The Graphic ground glass and fresnel set up is one of the best ever in my opinion in the 4x5 world. So is that metal focusing shade. Chris
i also bot one the other year. had trained on in BHSC photo class in '75? i need buy film an all stuffs to develop at home if not find darkroom. planed to tour on bicyce w tent an re do old style photos.
I bought a Cambo outfit off Craigslist sight unseen for $200. I had to have the lens serviced as the shutter was frozen, problem is, it's so bulky, I have never used it. I have been thinking of a Crown Graphic because of it's portability. I already have a 6x7 and maybe a 6x9 Graflex back because that seems easier than loading and processing 4x5.
@@ribsy well dammit i'm waiting for mine to arrive, do you like it? Hang on i'll check your channel and see if you have done a vid. also subscirbed, keep up the good work
Hey, thanks for the video, I was thinking of trying 4x5 and was looking at the same camera on eBay. I use 35mm and 120 film. I have pages devoted to film on my website. Cheers!
LF cameras I think are better looking than the Graflex (I do still think the Graflex is one of the prettiest cameras ever made tho) : 1, Sinar Norma (I'm definitely biased as that's what I use) 2, Wista Field 45DX 3, Linhof Tecnica 4, Graflex Crown Graphic
Do you ever use the rangefinder to focus? If so could you show how? I think mine is broken but I can’t tell perhaps I’m doing something wrong. Thanks. Very good instruction.
There's a coupling between the focusing rail and the mirror inside the rangefinder, some sort of cam. I don't have mine at hand but it should be easy to locate.
You dont need to fire the shutter on the lense, there's a button on the bottom right edge. Also dont need to put it to bulb to open the lense. You can just cock it and hit the small lever on the left side to open it.
@@ribsy jezeli chcesz mam opakowanie mikrofilmow orwo 10x15 cm. Mozna bardzo kontrastowo wywolywac albo bardzo miekko, zalezy od wywolywacza. Wywolujesz jak papier foto przy zielonej zarowce. Oczywiscie za darmo.
A Dremel moto-tool with tiny buffing wheel works well. Some recommend Colgate toothpaste as a polishing agent. Be sure to keep excess gunk away from the shutter mechanism.
Your crown graphic looks like a later model than mine. Does it have the graflok back? Where you can use medium format film back for this camera. My crown graphic has the rangefinder on the side and a kodak lens.
Very cool and also a lot to take on in learning to shoot this camera. Did you figure out the process of inserting the film holder without damaging the film?
When you have inserted the film correctly it will lay flat on the film holder. If you touch very gently with a fingernail near the film holding rail, there will be no "give" if it is loaded correctly. If the film went into a dark slide channel, it will be about a millimeter in front of where it is supposed to be and consequently it will "give" or flex that millimeter. It helps to practice in the light with an exposed and developed negative or one that didn't work. You also need to memorize the edge cut orientation so you know the emulsion side is facing the lens.
Great video! I just bought my first Speed Graphic, an old Pacemaker with a focal plane shutter built in, though I think I need a clean, lube, adjust on that thing... I think some of those Polaroid 110B or Polaroid 900 conversions to 4x5 might look even better than the Crown Graphic. What do you think? Thanks again for this great video!
Can you also focus using the range finder on the camera (I'm assuming that's what's on the top next to the little viewfinder)? I know if you want critical focus the ground glass is far superior, but would it worked if you stopped the lens down a bit? Or would it still be too imprecise to be worth the risk of wasting film? Just curious, always wanted to try LF but could never justify the cost. Love your stuff, can't wait to see more shots with the Graflex!
I have had excellent results from the rangefinder. The ground glass method depends on that the film is exactly in the same plane as the ground glass AND that you focus using the same aperture you shoot with. Lenses typically change focus slightly depending on aperture. I don't go to that much trouble, actually, but it is a thing to know.
Umm... no. The ground glass is not the only way to focus. There is a rangefinder either on the side or top. And there is a footage scale next to the rails. Your camera should have a fold-away infinity stop attached to one of the rails so be when you pull the front standard out, you know where to stop.
Did you replace the fresnel or viewing screen? I can't see anything through mine. I've cleaned both screens, they look better but still no image when I look through the camera, not like yours at any rate.
If you have a Speed Graphic, its focal plane shutter blocks any light from coming through. Also, the lens itself has a shutter (Crown Graphic anyway) and some Speed Graphic. There's a little knob on the right about the 4 o'clock position looking at the front of the lens and if the shutter is cocked, that knob obens the lens for focusing.
Speed Graphic is essentially identical to Crown Graphic but the Speed Graphic includes a focal plane shutter so you can use lenses that do not have a built-in shutter; that would include such things as military surplus aerial lenses.
What is the function of the flat black bars that are mated to the chrome slide locks on the graflok back? Like those pictured here: www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/graflex/gbacks/kback3.jpg I'm looking to buy a setup but it lacks those flat metal parts that all other's have and it's otherwise the same exact model you have. Thanks in advance!
It's just the friction springs on the locking back. The normal groundglass back doesn't use these clamps at all but some backs are thick and you have to remove the groundclass back entirely and these chrome clampy things then hold onto whatever you have attached. The springs on that unit are black but the springs on mine are chrome or at least shiny metal.
😂 your face over that destroyed. Crazy that this was meant for photojournalists. Would’ve been dope to see how quick they worked with it back in the day.
I guess with enough practice you could get quite fast with one of these, especially with the Grafmatic film holder. The guys using them back in the day where professionals, they probably practiced a lot, including "dry firing" exercises until the movements became second nature to them.
When you are in the darkroom or dark bag loading the holders, guide your film into the holder with two fingers over the retaining clips, you can hear it going in smoothly and it hits the stops definitely There are still a lot of us who actually did daily work with Graphics, we should generate more videos. All these novice amateurs...
Makes me excited to take mine back out and shoot some more with it. Awesome.
for sure! they are lovely cameras 😊
Outstanding overview of this camera my man, you didn't leave anything out. That first image of the city skyline across the water looked almost exactly like lomography metropolis film. A good thing to do to get experience using the camera without burning through so much film is to shoot dark room paper in it also. That crunchy sound in the beginning when it was bucking up against the film I can relate to. I have a 4x5 camera and I realized I had not pushed the film all the way forward and the dark slide was getting hung up on it. Keep representing
Thanks! Yea I def plan on shooting on paper. I have tons of since I darkroom print often. Will save me lots of cash haha. 🤟🏽
Fellow Crown Graphic Shooters here. Awesome camera to start off with 4x5. The Intrepid 4x5 Camera is a good second step. And I feel your pain for messing up sheet, I've mis-loaded my holders before.
yea! i don't use the crown graphic enough yet so i can't justify a second step ... yet 😅
I have the Speed Graphic and you're right, it's a beautiful camera and awesome to use. I call it my "point and shoot" film camera and then get a laugh when I pull it out of my backpack. One thing though. You begin using the focus knobs as soon as you've opened the front, without pulling the lens board and bellows onto the rails. You may see the infinity stops on the rails, so you move the sliding lock parallel to the the rails, then pull the lens board forward to the infinity stops. Once you have the lens board out to the stops, flip them up, and return your sliding lock to their locking position, perpendicular to the rails. If it hasn't been adjusted, this is synced to size of your lens and the rangefinder at the top of your camera. You can then focus by looking through the rangefinder. You will notice the range meter near the end of the front bed as well. This is how press photographers originally used this camera, without opening the hood and focusing through the ground glass. They would set up for the shot, knowing they may be 10 feet or 25 feet away from their subject. Raising the viewfinder on the back, and the 2nd part on the top of your lens board, creates the "aiming" device for framing their shot. And yeah, losing a sheet of film to the dark slide happens to everyone. Welcome to the best journey on earth!
Thanks for the info! Super helpful
@@ribsy You bet! Enjoying your channel.
Shooting using the rangefinder on these definitely makes it a lot more mobile and quick, which is how the press journos used to do it. So just have your holders loaded, or the pack holders from back in the day that had multi load, and you’re good to go. It’s a great system and definitely worth it once you get past the initial learning curve. So far it looks like zone focused is the official winner of 4x5 week though! He’s the only one who didn’t have any tech issues between you, his and Vuhlandes’ video dropping 😆
haaha yea i thnk he wins. he didn't screw anything up LOL
OH man the way that the back pop's open is just so satisfying to see!!!!
haha i totally agree 😁
My grandfather had a Graflex view camera that is now in my aunt’s possession, rumor has it that the camera is in my name when she eventually passes. I enjoy photography avidly and cannot wait to try my hand at this! This video was very informative! Great work :)
Amazing to keep that in the family
Please go take pictures of your aunt and family. Ask for permission. No need to wait
The beard said, 'You thought I was gone?!" lol That crunch hurt! The price of 4x5 makes every lost sheet hurt even more. But the ones that did come out had a good look! Next video shooting 4x5 handheld??
LOL man the crunch felt like my soul was crunching. so bad ... 😂
@@ribsy lmao
You read my mind. I wanted so much to see your take on this camera! And here it is. Amazing channel. I've been doing photography for ten years but only recently discovered the joy from shooting film. Thanks to your channel. Thank You friend!
thanks for watching! i really appreciate it 😊
By now you've discovered that the little knob below the shutter cocking lever is the shutter open for focusing mechanism. It has to be cocked to work (on mine, anyway). Some accessories include a rapid cycling back, it holds 6 sheets of 4x5 and it shuffles them back to front when you work the mechanism.
Yup! Thanks
That is indeed a beautiful camera, and that specific one is in fantastic shape!
Yup! It’s great
I have a Calumet 4x5 monorail and it is a beast to take anywhere. Really thinking about getting a folding field type camera in the future. They are indeed amazing to look at but then I also think my Hasselblad 500C and Mamiya RB67 are pretty damn cool too.
yea the calumet cameras are beauties. not practical outside the studio tho 😅
Thanks for posting this video. I bought a Graflex and have been looking at videos all day without luck. I wanted to know how to open the lens aperture in order to use the ground glass. You explained it.
Enjoy!
Mine should come in the mail today. Watching your video has me even more stoked!
Dope! Enjoy
Mine had an APO Rodenstock flat-fieled lens for copy work, with a built in focal plane shutter.
Congrats, for a very good informative video on 4X5 cameras, I own one Baby Graflex (2X3), and one 4X5 Graflex, One 4X5 Pressman, and two 4X5 bellows wood 1930 cameras. I am now testing X-ray cut film and a Polaroid 600 film adapter. Welcome to learning about never pulling the dark slide out too much; we all have done it.
haha yea. learned the hard way
"Welcome to learning about never pulling the dark slide out too much; we all have done it."
They are MEANT to be pulled out all the way and then FLIPPED on inserting. Notice that one edge is black and one edge is silver. I use silver-out to signify unexposed, and black-out to signify exposed. They are also ribbed on one edge of the dark slide so you can tell in the dark which of the two sides was actually exposed.
One of the first cameras I ever used was exactly like this ine, in the only photo class I ever took in 1961. I was assigned to use it taking photos of subject around my high school, year book stuff, night time football games (with one of the earliest small electronic flashes). The Crowns are designed to be use relatively quickly with the rangefinder, not the ground glass. You can use the ground glass on a tripod, but the rigid folding hod makes it practically impossible to get close enough to focus accurately. You have to remove the hood to use the ground glass seriously, focusing with a loupe.
yea good point! the classic way of using is the rangefinder ... but you won't catch me on the streets capturing quick pics with this one! haha
There’s something about large format that’s so attractive. One I’ll get it as well.
haha yea. the lenses produce such different style of composition
Hello. I have a Graflex Crown special Graphic camera myself. That prompted me to build a darkroom. I picked up a Omega D-3 enlarger that can handle 35 mm to 4x5. While working on the darkroom, I came across a Super Omega Dichronic II enlarger with the color head that also handles 4x5, so now I'll be able to print color film.
On some of the newer Crown Graphics there is a code stamped on the bottom of the cross member of the slide rack. One of the numbers indicates the year it was made. These were made up into 1973.
The beauty of 4x5 photography is that it really slows you down so you have to think of every step so you're not just taking a picture, you're making a photograph. Enjoy.
agreed! 4x5 is almost a meditative experience 😊
Wow, the camera is in really great shape for it's age, almost no wear, looks almost brand new. Nice find!
I just bought my first 4x5 on ebay, a Speed Graphic, basically the same camera as Crown Graphic but with both a focal plane shutter and a lens shutter so the fastest shutter speed is 1/1000 and can also use lenses with no shutter in them. Can't wait for it to arrive from the USA, I guess it'll take a few weeks. The one I bought is older (made between 1947 and 1955 if I understand correctly) and more worn externally than yours but still in nice condition. Comes complete with Graflok back and four film holders so I'll have everything needed to start shooting.
Yea I got a nice copy! Got lucky
Damn, it looks pristine! Practically new!
yea not bad!
Nice video! You can also open the lens once it’s cocked by sliding down the lever on the right side of the lens for focusing. Instead of going to T!
interesting - i will try that
Hello from Maine, wow the other side of the pond hope it all works out for you. Very well done again. I own the Speed Graphic and have down loaded all the instruction manuals your explanation of how to use the camera was one of the most helpful items I've found.
Unfortunately most glass over the actual negative produced. Might make a nice video explaining and showing the rest of your process. You folks are a resource, most of the old timers that used these cameras are passing away and it's not like we can walk into a camera store and ask questions. Once again every piece of information given on these cameras is valuable.
I haven’t used it much - need to get back into it!
aww man you're lucky to have gotten the glaflock back! that's tuff. also interested in seeing you make some contact prints.
yea i feel lucky haha. contact prints coming soon
I guess taking a changing bag with you to fix your jammed film
Might help .
yea for sure. but it would have been tough tho
This sound when the darkslide won‘t go back again... I know exactly how you felt. 😕
LOL so so sad
Wow! Beautiful camera and excellent video. I'd happily cross your palm with silver when you get done with it. Atb. 👍
i sold it already 🤓
@@ribsy I'm already going off you, me thinks... 🙁
Very impressive looking camera. I think my crush for the past couple years is the nikon s2 or the 28ti.
Haha yea that’s a beauty too
That is a beautiful camera in wonderful condition. You even have the plastic battery cover. Now agree, the Graflex Crown Graphic is a beauty but I think my Sinar Norma is a beautiful piece of engineering. I have a 1949 Crown and a 1939 Pre-Anniversery Speed Graphic which I'm rebuilding. Thanks for taking the time for producing the video it was informative and enjoyable.
i need to look into that one!
Thanks for the great content. Love the idea of shooting large format 4x5. Please provide more video on this topic. Thanks!
Maybe 😀
A future video needs to be about the MOST important part of using these cameras - closing them up. If the rails are not fully retracted before the front door is closed, the rails WILL break!
👍
I have a Crown Graphic and it is indeed a very beautiful camera. There is one camera that is more beautiful though and it's the 4x5 Linhof Technika IV.
I have the poor man's 4x5, an MPP which is very similar to yours but no focal plane shutter. For digitising my film, I use a Pixl-latr and shoot the 4x5 film in sections, then stitch them together in Photoshop. I love 4x5, I've not done enough of it this year.
oh good call! i need to try that scanning trick
This Crown Graphic does not have a focal plane shutter, and it is very much like your MMP, except the MMP is a somewhat more ergonomic design variation. The focal plane shutters were in bodies bearing the "Gaflex" name.
Randall Stewart oh! Thank you for correcting me :) I just heard/saw Graflex and presumed.
@@randallstewart175 crown graphics are graflex cameras. graflex is the company name. speed graphics are the ones with fp shutters.
Okay I will agree it's a beautiful camera but being closely edged out by the Nikon Z fc in chrome. I know a huge spread. I just love the classic look. I'm sure you know there is 120 film backs and also Ilford has direct positive paper for the 4x5 film holder. Expose it develop it and you have a print, scan the print. With the 120 film back I use the coupled rangefinder all hand held and it can prove faster that some other medium format cameras. Enjoy you beautiful camera.
yea lots of beautiful cameras out there!
The graflex rb super D 4x5 camera my favorite beautiful camera
sounds awesome 😊
A lot of great information 👍
Thanks for watching!
Nice!
Now find kindly cold stored expired 4x5 slide film, shoot, develop and look at the developed frames with a light source!
I get that lovely experience via my 120 6x6 slides, you will have a even better wow moment!
Keep up the good work!
yea! i hear great things about 4x5 slide film
I had a case of the film crunch yesterday. Kinda bummed but I brought a bunch of backup film thankfully (and it was just B&W). 4x5 is a roller-coaster but the successes outweigh the mistakes. Do you have a flatbed scanner? I use my v600 and do two scans and stitch in Photoshop. It's an extra step but the scans look great. Great work and keep up the great content! Also if you want some extra security for this issue - Get a large darkbag and bring it with you. If the film blocks the darkslide you can put the whole cam in the bag and fix it in the dark. Re-insert to the holder and tuck it in nice and gently until you're ready to dev.
that film crunch 😂, so so sad. and yes - i will be trying the scanning recommendation - thanks!
great video man
Thanks for watching ☺️
I use and love my 1929 Voigtlander Bergheil camera with it's 120mm Helier lens , it's 6x9 and 35mm backs...but that is beautiful....i believe you can get 120 film backs for that Crown Graphic as well making it less expensive than the larger 5x4 film but that Graphic is in pristine condition...maybe one day i will move to a 5x4 just like your good self . P.S great presentation .
Thanks for watching!
Beautiful review, beautiful camera. Enjoy it in good health!
thanks! i need to use this camera more - its been a while 😊
Talk about timing with the new Lomography polaroid back coming out.
right?! got lucky there 😊
the rolleiflex 3,5f is the most beautiful camera in the world :D
quite the statement haha
Man, that portrait looks great! Nothing can beat a LF portrait!!! By the way, a fresnel lens will improve the ground glass even better..
Seriously! The look is special 😀 gonna look it into the fresnel
@@ribsy A Graphic of that era almost certainly came with a fresnel lens already. It sits in front of the actual ground glass on these cameras. If you look at the glass with a loupe and see concentric rings on there, then you have a fresnel as well. The Graphic ground glass and fresnel set up is one of the best ever in my opinion in the 4x5 world. So is that metal focusing shade. Chris
Yes, mine has the fresnel lens on the groundglass back.
i have the same camera. great fun.
it is! nice change of pace
Excellent job sir. Great info!
thanks for watching!
i also bot one the other year. had trained on in BHSC photo class in '75? i need buy film an all stuffs to develop at home if not find darkroom. planed to tour on bicyce w tent an re do old style photos.
nice! yea def develop at home - its worth the investment
I would love to get an 8x10 someday to do cyanotype contact prints.
same! need to try it
Thank you so much for this!
np. thanks for watching 😊
Great vid. You should have a go using the rangefinder, should be pretty accurate.
yea i will need to try that!
I bought a Cambo outfit off Craigslist sight unseen for $200. I had to have the lens serviced as the shutter was frozen, problem is, it's so bulky, I have never used it. I have been thinking of a Crown Graphic because of it's portability. I already have a 6x7 and maybe a 6x9 Graflex back because that seems easier than loading and processing 4x5.
yea the crown setup is nice and portable. which i really appreciate. everything else still applies for 4x5, slow and costly haha
awesome, now get yourself a lomo graflok back, great for practice and feedback!
I have one!
@@ribsy well dammit i'm waiting for mine to arrive, do you like it? Hang on i'll check your channel and see if you have done a vid. also subscirbed, keep up the good work
Hey, thanks for the video, I was thinking of trying 4x5 and was looking at the same camera on eBay. I use 35mm and 120 film. I have pages devoted to film on my website. Cheers!
cool! ill see if i can find your website
LF cameras I think are better looking than the Graflex (I do still think the Graflex is one of the prettiest cameras ever made tho) :
1, Sinar Norma (I'm definitely biased as that's what I use)
2, Wista Field 45DX
3, Linhof Tecnica
4, Graflex Crown Graphic
haha fair enough. I’m still in the honey moon phase 🤣😍
@@ribsy hahah same for me with the norma
called a contact print in my day.
Still called that 😃
Do you ever use the rangefinder to focus? If so could you show how? I think mine is broken but I can’t tell perhaps I’m doing something wrong. Thanks. Very good instruction.
Na I don’t! I think mine is broken
There's a coupling between the focusing rail and the mirror inside the rangefinder, some sort of cam. I don't have mine at hand but it should be easy to locate.
I like the 4x5!! Don't own on yet. Are you aware the Mamiya rb67, rz67 and tlr's have bellows also? Those are 120 cameras.
yea i am aware about the rb and rz and their bellows.
@@ribsy Mamiya C2, C3, C220 and C330 TLR's all have bellows.
It's almost as beautiful as a Hasselblad 500 CM. But...check out the resolution at 250% zoom! Nice!
Haha yup!
You dont need to fire the shutter on the lense, there's a button on the bottom right edge. Also dont need to put it to bulb to open the lense. You can just cock it and hit the small lever on the left side to open it.
yup
bardzo dobry aparat miałem i sprawiało mi przyjemność robienie nim zdjecia
yea its a nice one!
@@ribsy jezeli chcesz mam opakowanie mikrofilmow orwo 10x15 cm. Mozna bardzo kontrastowo wywolywac albo bardzo miekko, zalezy od wywolywacza. Wywolujesz jak papier foto przy zielonej zarowce. Oczywiscie za darmo.
Do you know how to shine the metal on a crown graphic? Mine is a bit dirty with some rust
I don’t! I’m curious too
A Dremel moto-tool with tiny buffing wheel works well. Some recommend Colgate toothpaste as a polishing agent. Be sure to keep excess gunk away from the shutter mechanism.
Your crown graphic looks like a later model than mine. Does it have the graflok back? Where you can use medium format film back for this camera. My crown graphic has the rangefinder on the side and a kodak lens.
yea mine does have a graflok back! i also have a medium format attachment for 6x7
Very cool and also a lot to take on in learning to shoot this camera. Did you figure out the process of inserting the film holder without damaging the film?
yea i did! you just have to be very careful during loading to ensure everyting is tucked in properly
When you have inserted the film correctly it will lay flat on the film holder. If you touch very gently with a fingernail near the film holding rail, there will be no "give" if it is loaded correctly. If the film went into a dark slide channel, it will be about a millimeter in front of where it is supposed to be and consequently it will "give" or flex that millimeter. It helps to practice in the light with an exposed and developed negative or one that didn't work.
You also need to memorize the edge cut orientation so you know the emulsion side is facing the lens.
Use Microsoft ICE. It is free, and it will combine two scan passes into one automatically. I use it and my v550 to scan 4x5.
i do camera scanning now, so can't use it anymore 😊
You forgot to mention use a light meter, so that you can set the shutter speed and fStop correctly.
ah yes
Great video! I just bought my first Speed Graphic, an old Pacemaker with a focal plane shutter built in, though I think I need a clean, lube, adjust on that thing... I think some of those Polaroid 110B or Polaroid 900 conversions to 4x5 might look even better than the Crown Graphic. What do you think? Thanks again for this great video!
i have no experience with that. but im sure it'd still look pretty cool!
Is it a big deal to replace the FP shutter for a new(?) one, please?
Do not forget that you can get Medium Format backs for this camera, 6X6 up to 6X12.
yea i have one! got a 6x7 back 😊
Can you also focus using the range finder on the camera (I'm assuming that's what's on the top next to the little viewfinder)? I know if you want critical focus the ground glass is far superior, but would it worked if you stopped the lens down a bit? Or would it still be too imprecise to be worth the risk of wasting film? Just curious, always wanted to try LF but could never justify the cost. Love your stuff, can't wait to see more shots with the Graflex!
So to be honest to haven’t tried yet!! 😂 been only using the ground glass on a tripod - but you are totally correct
I have had excellent results from the rangefinder. The ground glass method depends on that the film is exactly in the same plane as the ground glass AND that you focus using the same aperture you shoot with. Lenses typically change focus slightly depending on aperture. I don't go to that much trouble, actually, but it is a thing to know.
Umm... no. The ground glass is not the only way to focus. There is a rangefinder either on the side or top. And there is a footage scale next to the rails. Your camera should have a fold-away infinity stop attached to one of the rails so be when you pull the front standard out, you know where to stop.
👍
Did you replace the fresnel or viewing screen? I can't see anything through mine. I've cleaned both screens, they look better but still no image when I look through the camera, not like yours at any rate.
Nope I haven’t - but it’s something I should do
If you have a Speed Graphic, its focal plane shutter blocks any light from coming through. Also, the lens itself has a shutter (Crown Graphic anyway) and some Speed Graphic. There's a little knob on the right about the 4 o'clock position looking at the front of the lens and if the shutter is cocked, that knob obens the lens for focusing.
135mm equates to 39mm on 35mm format
How has it been going with the camera, where did you get from as I see a lot from Japan but very uneasy with buying when I decide to get one.
Cheers
I got mine locally from a friend. Expecting with japan has been so so tho. Make sure seller allows returns / refunds
Doesn't it have a range finder on the top for the real photo journalist ?
It does have one! I’ve never even tried to use it tho, not sure if it works ... 😅
@@ribsy Give it a try :-)
Do i need a magnifier to adjust the focus?
It def helps
Nice vid, have you tried the contact printing yet?
I haven’t yet
if you're just starting out, get some 10x12 or 8x10 x-ray film on ebay and cut it down to 4x5 with a paper cutter. it'll cost 10 cents per shot.
Good point! I’ve heard good things about X-ray film
I just found one in a old house and cant get the darn thing open!
Haha good luck
135mm is a nice focal length on these.
yea! i need to use it more
What 150mm lenses u recommend for this camera?
Mine came with the lens already. Not sure what else to recommend
Got to use one of those in HS :-)
ah very cool!
Dslr scan panorama will yield larger files easily for pixel peepers.
Yea def! I haven’t tried that
Not lens board that moves up, but the front standard.
sure thing
polecam zakupienie rękawa ciemniowego, przydaje sie przy małej ilosci kaset
thanks for the suggestion
If you want some expired provia 100f for a video send me a message!
That would be amazing 😀 where can I send you a message?
@@ribsy i Messaged you on Instagram!
How about a Speed Graphic?
Never used one 😃
Speed Graphic is essentially identical to Crown Graphic but the Speed Graphic includes a focal plane shutter so you can use lenses that do not have a built-in shutter; that would include such things as military surplus aerial lenses.
What is the function of the flat black bars that are mated to the chrome slide locks on the graflok back? Like those pictured here: www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/graflex/gbacks/kback3.jpg
I'm looking to buy a setup but it lacks those flat metal parts that all other's have and it's otherwise the same exact model you have. Thanks in advance!
hmmm i don't know actually. not an expert on this camera
You might be looking at one with a "spring back" not a graflok
It's just the friction springs on the locking back. The normal groundglass back doesn't use these clamps at all but some backs are thick and you have to remove the groundclass back entirely and these chrome clampy things then hold onto whatever you have attached. The springs on that unit are black but the springs on mine are chrome or at least shiny metal.
@@thomasmaughan4798 thanks. I was able to ascertain this and find a replacement part for the unit I was looking at on eBay.
Nice, but next time get a film back so you can use 120 film so you can try it. Before you do the deep dive of 4x5 prices...
i have a 120 back! but i thats half the fun of 4x5. 😊
😂 your face over that destroyed. Crazy that this was meant for photojournalists. Would’ve been dope to see how quick they worked with it back in the day.
lol i was so sad man. that is bad for my health 😂
I guess with enough practice you could get quite fast with one of these, especially with the Grafmatic film holder. The guys using them back in the day where professionals, they probably practiced a lot, including "dry firing" exercises until the movements became second nature to them.
hope you have gotten lots of practice since this vid....
nope sold that camera ages ago
@@ribsy ....U gave up on 4x5?
Deardorff 8x10 is nicer :P
haha ok
You get a like for saying fucked up
Hahaha
A prettier camera: Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1
Haha fair enough