[rollei_list] Re: 6 x 9 search
- From: "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:20:41 -0700
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Bischof" <nbg90455@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 9:36 PM
Subject: [rollei_list] Re: 6 x 9 search
Jan,
There is a considerable amount of information about
Graflex built cameras at http://www.graflex.org
I agree that its a great convenience and maybe more
than that to have a Graflok back on any Speed or Crown
Graphic. I even have one on my Graflex.
For lenses other than telephoto or reverse telephoto
the wire finder is pretty accurate. Where the wire finder is
the size of the film and is mounted approximately at the
rear principal point of the lens (I think that's right) it
will show the same view as the lens because it moves with
the lens as the lens is focused. The fixed optical finder
shows the right angle of view only at a fixed distance from
the camera. Graphic optical finders are generaly masked so
that they show a smaller field of view at any distance to
insure that anything visible in the finder will be on the
film. On any of these cameras the finder field of view
should be checked against the ground glass so you know what
its looking at vs what gets on the film.
There were at least two series of roll film holders
made for the 2x3 Graphic. The earlier ones have a knob wind
and the later ones have a lever wind. Most of the later ones
were made by Singer. The later version will fit the Graflok
back but will not fit the older spring back when the spring
kit is used because the body of the adaptor will not clear
the edges of the camera body. The older versions are usable
with the spring kit. This is not a problem for the larger
format cameras.
The spring kit is a set of hold down springs used in
place of the springs from the normal film holder back. The
panel and springs are removed and the springs installed.
These will hold in place most of the accessories made to fit
the Graflok back. The spring kit is a makeshift and, in any
case, is hard to find. Graflok backs are available for both
early Pacemaker and "Miniature" speed Graphics but are
relatively rare. Probably, a complete Pacemaker Speed or
Crown with the Graflok can be bought for no more than the
back alone. Virtually any 4x5, 3x4, or 2x3 Speed or Crown
Graphic, and many Graflex cameras of these sizes can be
re-fitted with a Graflok back with very little surgery.
For those unfamiliar with the Speed Graphic there were
three different styles of backs supplied on these cameras.
The Speed Graphic was normally equipped with the "Graphic"
back, a conventional spring back. These do not take
accessories (with a couple of exceptions). The Graflex SLR
camera came normally with the Graflex back. This back did
not have a spring panel, rather, the film holders were held
in by a pair of metal stips sliding diagonally into grooves
in the sides of the holder. The ground glass panel was
similar and held in place in the same way. Graflex backs
took a variety of accessories. Either back could be had on
either camera on special order. Not many Graflex SLRs had
Graphic backs but Graflex backs were frequenly ordered on
Speed Graphics intended for special purpose technical or
scientific work. The third back was first announced about
1948 and first appeared on the Century Graphic camera, an
economy model 2x3 made mostly of plastic. Within about two
years the Graflok back became available for all other Speed
and Crown Graphic models and was the standard back by about
1951. A version was also available for the Model D Graflex
but was a special order item, never standard equipment.
The Graflok is something like a combination of the
Graphic and Graflex backs. There is a spring loaded panel
with the ground glass in it but it can be snapped out
leaving a back with two sliding metal locking strips as on
the Graflex back. however, the Graflok and Graflex back are
not compatible. The opening is slightly different in size
but the main difference is that the lock groove and strip on
holders is reversed: on holders and accessories intended for
Graphic or Graflok backs the lock groove is on the camera
side and the strip is on the holders; on the Graflex back
the lock strip is on the camera back and the holders have a
groove to fit. For this reason modern accessories for the
Graflok can not be used on cameras with Graflex backs.
The Graflok back is also called a Universal back because
simiar and compatible backs are found on many
non-Graflex-built cameras.
I certainly agree about the Kodak Ektar series. These
were outstanding lenses with performance quite comparable to
modern lenses.
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
---
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