The first Speed Graphics were made in 5x7 as well as smaller
sizes. There is probably more history on the graflex.org web
site. I am not sure if the 5x7 size was made after the design
change in 1928 but they may have been. 5x7 was popular for press
work as was the 5X7 Graflex. I was trying to find one at one
time but never saw any for sale.
From about the 1940s F&S was pushing the 3-1/4 x 4-1/4
version especially for press work but it was not generally
accepted, most press photographers continued to use 4x5. Many of
the advertising illustrations of the time and into the 1950s for
the then new Pacemaker series showed the smaller cameras. That
used to puzzle me because they don't look quite the same. 3-1/4 x
4-1/4 is pretty much an orphan size now while you can find 4x5
film and holders easily and even 5x7, which is a very nice size,
is still available even though it takes some searching.
Some of us go back far enough to think of 4x5 as _medium_
format, not large format. LF was 5x7 or even 8x10 and larger.
I had a Miniature SG but I think it was stolen along with
some other stuff a few years ago when someone cut the lock off a
storage space. Lesson is don't use cheap padlocks.
On 4/17/2019 8:12 PM, Richard Lahrson wrote:
Richard,
Thanks for the informative post! I sometimes see the
5x7 size (not the SLR) in an oversized Speed Graphic form.
I'm guessing they cut that size out rather early on, because
you don't see later models. Most of the 5x7 Graphics that you see are
not complete or worn out.
Rich
