Graflex Speed Graphic
Graflex press cameras were made in a number of variants and in several formats.
The earliest models were available in 3x4, 4x5 and 5x7 formats. By 1939-1940 the 5x7 format was dropped and the 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 format was added. Focal plane shutters were available from the beginning until 1970. Models with a focal plane shutter can use lenses mounted in shutters or barrel lenses (without shutters). The Pacemaker Crown Graphic, introduced in 1947, was the first model available without a focal plane shutter.
Contents
Models
- "Top Handle" Speed Graphic
- 1912-1927, 3x4, 3 1/4 x 5 1/2, 4x5 and 5x7. Focal plane shutter. Had very small lensboards so they are unable to use most later (large) lenses.
- "Pre-Anniversary” Speed Graphic
- 1928-1939, 4x5 and 5x7, (also 3 1/4 x4 1/4 from 1935 to 1939) Had larger lensboard. Focal plane shutter.
- "Miniature" Speed Graphic
- 1939-1946, 2 1/4 x 3 1/4. Used the Graphic (spring) back. There were Graflok back kits made that had a round depression with two contacts for the focal-plane-shutter flash-sync contacts where the peep sight usually folds down. Focal plane shutter.
- "Anniversary" Speed Graphic
- 1940-1946, 3x4, 4x5. Satin black with chrome trim except the wartime model had no chrome. Bed and body track rails were linked, allowing focusing of wide angle lenses within body. Solid wire frame viewfinder. Focal plane shutter.
- Pacemaker Speed Graphic
- 1947-1970, 2 1/4 x 3 1/4, 3x4, 4x5. Mahogany/metal body. Coated lenses, lenses in shutters, body release, folding infinity stops. Side mounted rangefinder replaced by top rangefinder on 4x5" Graphics in 1955. Most Pacemakers have the Graflok back. The Graflex back (usually found on the "Graflex" SLR cameras) was an option on some Pacemaker models. Newly designed focal plane shutter. The shutter table of the old cameras with 24 speeds was changed to 6 speeds in this camera. Focal plane shutter.
- Pacemaker Crown Graphic
- 1947-1973, 2 1/4 x 3 1/4, 3x4, 4x5. Same as the Pacemaker Speed Graphic but without the focal plane shutter, resulting in a thinner, lighter camera. No focal plane shutter.
- Century Graphic
- 1949-1970, 2 1/4 x 3 1/4. Plastic-body. Graflok back molded as part of body. No body-mount shutter release. early models had a flat bar viewfinder, followed later by models with a flexible wire viewfinder. No focal plane shutter.
- Super Graphic
- 1958-1973, 4x5. All metal body, flash computer, electric shutter release, front standard had swing capability, revolving back. No focal plane shutter.
- Super Speed Graphic
- 1961-1970, 4x5. Same as the Super Graphic but with faster shutter (speed to 1/1000) No focal plane shutter.
Backs
Graphic
The Graphic back (also known as the "Spring Back") retains the focusing screen and hood assembly to the back of the camera using a pair of wide flat springs. This permits cut film holders to be inserted between the focusing screen and hood assembly and the camera body. When the cut film holder is inserted, it pushes the focusing screen assembly back slightly. The tension of the springs holds the film holder in place.
Because there is no mechanism (other than removing a pair of screws) to permit the focusing screen to be removed, roll film holders were made to slide in place and be retained by the focusing screen, just as with cut film holders. Some roll film holders were made with a "straight through" film path. These had the supply spool on one side and the take-up spool on the other. This meant that the partially-assembled roll holder was inserted into the back and then the take-up side was assembled from the opposite (left) side. This type of roll film holder could not be removed until the roll was finished. Roll film holders with a "u-turn" film path were made. This type had the supply and take-up speels on the same side of the camera. They ran the film path over a roller. If supplied with a dark slide, they could be removed mid-roll.
On the Anniversary model, the entire Graphic back assembly could be removed from the back of the camera for replacement with a Graflok back. Graflok backs were sold by Graflex for this purpose.
Graflok
The cast-magnesium Graflok back was introduced in 1949. "Anniversary" and "Pacemaker" models that were made with Graphic backs could have Graflok backs installed. (These backs are attached to the cameras with just four screws.) Graflok backs were sold by Graflex for this purpose. All "Century" models had the Graflok back molded as part of the body. The "Super Graphic" and "Super Speed Graphic" models have rotating Graflok backs. Graflok backs can accept acecessories for either the Graphic or the Graflok back.
The Graflok back has two retention systems. Each system is a quick-release type. One system retains the focusing screen and hood assembly and the other system retains accessories such as roll film backs.
Graflex
Movements
Graflex press cameras have no rear movements.
Model | Rise | Shift | Tilt (deg.) | Swing (deg.) | Bed drop (deg.) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top Handle | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Pre-Anniversary 4x5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Miniature | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Anniversary 4x5 | y | y | 0 | y | |
Pacemaker (Crown and Speed) 4x5 |
0.75 | 20 | 0 | 20 | |
Pacemaker (Crown and Speed) 2x3 |
20 | 0 | 20 | ||
Century | |||||
Super and Super Speed | 1.125 | 0.5 | +/-15 | +/-25 | 15 |
Note: "y" means the movement is possible but exact figure is not available. Please help to complete this table.
Framing
Sports Finder
A sports finder was standard equipment on all Graflex press cameras. Parallax adjustment is on the hoop or the eyepiece, depending on model.
- "Automatically adjusts for most different lenses, because the hoop of the finder is the same size as the image being formed, and is at about the same distance from your eye as it is from the film, except for telephoto lenses, which are not placed their focal length away from the image plane." -www.graflex.org
Optical "Telescope" Viewfinder
This was an optional finder.
This finder uses "masks" to present the correct view for different lens/format combinations.
Format | 2¼x2¼ | 2¼x2¾ | 2¼x3¼ | 3¼x4¼ | 4x5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roll back | RH-12 | RH-10 RH-20 RH-50 |
RH-8 | ||
Catalog no. | Focal length (mm) | ||||
9105-4 | 70-84 | 78-82 | 114-121 | 127-149 | |
9105-3 | 86-90 | 83-98 | 122-133 | 150-162 | |
9105-2 | 92-101 | 100-114 | 135-152 | 164-168 | |
9105-9 | 103-125 | 116-127 | 154-178 | 170-216 | |
9105-10 | 127-138 | 129-152 | 179-203 | 217-241 | |
9105-11 | 140-162 | 154-191 | 205-216 | 243-267 | |
9105-8 | 164-191 | 192-197 | 217-305 | 268-343 | |
9105-7 | 192-227 | 198-241 | 307-352 | 344-381 | |
9105-6 | 229-267 | 243-302 | 354-406 | 383-429 | |
9105-5 | 268-305 | 303-330 | 408-508 | 431-508 | |
9105-12 | 100-114 | ||||
9105-13 | 243-302 | ||||
9105-14 | 116-127 | ||||
9105-15 | 129-152 | ||||
9105-17 | 154-191 | ||||
9105-20 | 78-90 | ||||
3060 W.A. Adapter |
47-69 | 47-75 | 82-98 |
Source: Rapid-Vance 120 Roll Film Holder Guidebook (1967)
Focusing
References
- http://www.graflex.org/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_Graphic
- Graflex Rapid-Vance 120 Roll Film Holder Guidebook