Graflex Speed Graphic 4X5 Camera

[gforce118118]

nice video. what is this cameras serial number? mine is 841891...

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@gforce118118

I never looked up the serial number to find it's manufacture. I thought it was one of the last marked because it does not show much ware. When I find it I'll post the serial number.

[gforce118118]

@AllAmericanFiveRadio - the SN should be on the plate attached to the inside of the door, between the two rails. i dont know what year mine was made, but the ektar lense code ET**** means year 1949. any info on obtaining 4x5 double sided film holder(s), and the film? any info would be great, i havent used my camera with film yet...

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@gforce118118

I had looked for it a few days before your comments. I did not find it yet, but I found my Philco Tombstone Radio that I could not seen for years.

I did a video on loading the double sided 4X5 film holders.

[JustPlainCurt]

Informative. Thanks.

[porousman]

Thanks for the video, it was a great help!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks porousman

[venchlin]

Thank you for this video sir, very informative. I am just about to buy a Graflex on Ebay and your information has been invaluable!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks venchlin

Good luck and let me know what happens.

[N2CBiohazard]

Had a question, after giving a thorough cleaning to my speed graphic I had to remove and clean the focusing screen...now I'm not sure if I put it back in correctly but I placed it back with the matte part facing foward toward the rear part of the camera lens element and the smoothest part facing towards the rear of the camera, can you tell me if I installed it correctly? Thanks!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@N2CBiohazard

Send me pictures. allamericanfiveradio@yhaooDOTc­om

[N2CBiohazard]

@AllAmericanFiveRadio You want pictures of the camera or the focusing screen?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@N2CBiohazard

What ever part you are wondering about and anything else you would like to send. But let me know what you are look for, and I take pictures of my camera and send it back to you.

[N2CBiohazard]

Finally got around to cleaning my Graflex Speed Graphic that I bought off Ebay about 1 yr. ago and boy was it dirtttttty!!! Everything seems to be working great, except in the middle of the cleaning I had a small screw and a triangular shaped plate w/ 3 small screw holes fall out...not sure what it is or where it came from...all I need now is some film and film holders.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@N2CBiohazard

It is a great camera, hope you have fun with it.

[stickwalker]

Very good demo of a great camera. Thanks for posting it.

If I to ever come across a Speed Graphic in great shape I'll buy it.

It looks fun to set up and shoot. I know they take very good photos

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks stickwalker 

[pacosaidso]

Thanks for posting this! Very useful information. Weather looks good today, so I'll probably go out and take my first shots today. Polaroid for quick assessment.

Any further info on the relationship between the two shutters would be useful. I did something and now I can't get the leaf shutter to trigger with the button on the camera. The leaf shutter works fine in the old fashioned way, cord or pressing on the optic itself. Thanks again for this video!

[Myakkachoppertube]

very informative video! i loved the knowledge you provided! The only bummer for me was I wish you would have showed the picture you took at the end of the video. I would love to see what a pic looked like from that camera. I have one dont know how to use it at all probably gonna sell cause i really need money but it is awesome! now i dont wanna sell but dangit.....

[gtc1961]

Boy did this bring back some memories! I was making my way through your radio related videos when I saw this one. I was a photographer's mate in the Navy, went to photo school in late 1979.  We used these extensively at the school even though it was the 70's/80's! It was bizarre for me to use one since I was used to a 35mmm Nikon but I guess the navy was slow to recognize these were passe by then. We even used it's big brother the "view" camera, which was amazing. Never saw another again!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks gtc1961

[micmoable]

seems so complicated--all those manually-done steps to take

[SAHBfan]

@micmoable

Yep, but no nested sub menus to get lost in, no frustration remembering which button combination to put into into macro mode, no missing the shot because the autofocus keeps homing in on the background instead of the subject, no underexposing everything because the auto exposure is fooled by the bright background.. and the batteries never go flat!

This guy takes it reeeaaallly slooww...... just to demonstrate what is going on. In anger, with practice - it can all be very quick ;-)

[Dagarvs]

this is very very useful, thanks so much!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Your welcome, and thanks. 

[dizkoteck]

What do you mean by "lining up" in the rangefinder?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

There are two translucent yellow circles, when you have adjusted them so they are one it is focused on the object.

[RavenOfTheSouth]

Is this the same type of camera Dorothea Lange used?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I don't know but the Graphic Cameras was the dominant portable professional camera from the 1930's through the end of the 1950's.

[RavenOfTheSouth]

It might be the same type then because she was one of the most famous photographer's of the 1950's. I was asking because I'm doing a project on her for my history class. Is there anything else you can tell me about this camera?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I found a lot of information about the camera on the web. I Googled the title of this video and I also Googled "Graflex Speed Graphic history". Hope this helps and good luck with your history project.

[maplewoodsp]

I paid $60 for my excellent Speed Graphic. Of course, I was a Sophmore in High School, and I am over 60 now. :)

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

How cool. I found this one about ten years ago. Just had to buy it. What amazing quality and it is a beautiful camera. Thanks.

[1omegaB22]

Say now aren't you pressing a press camera into the role of a field camera! Would you know how the press photographers of old were able to focus their cameras fast enough to take pictures when there was a lot of commotion? I reckon a press photographer would not have the luxury of a tripod and time.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Yes, they understood depth-of-field very well.

[bcherson]

i would like to use the speed graphic as a handeld 4 x5..could you explain how to focus better with the rangefinder..i have the kalart synchronized randge finder..to use with different lenses..i have a 90mm,120mm and a 250..it is hard to find a good tutorial on this

[cherrytreeandon]

just got me one of these on the bay as my main camera is so not portable 10kg+ bits and a tripod so learning all i can about them while i wait for the post. this vid was well helpfull, its the first time i've seen one moving as it were. Got a stack of old lens's that i cant wait to use the fp shutter is a genius idea and with a fujiroid back on it so much better than a digi cam. Viva big bits o' film + speed graphics. top vid thanks.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks! Using a 4X5 camera is very interesting and yields great results. I just did a video on loading 4X5 film holders. You might be interested at the end of it, I show a positive 4X5 of Bryce Canyon. I'm thinking about doing a video on my Crown Graphic. Good Luck!

[cherrytreeandon]

will be checking all your future vids, i could of done with some help on loading when i fell into lf photography a year or so ago. I was using an old kodak model b view camera (bit like the century/2d or specialist) with a full plate back and holders, lovely camera and got some neat results but cutting film down from 10x8 to 8 1/2" x 6 1/2" in the pitch dark got too much in the end so i reluctantly came over to 4x5, now i wouldn't go back! thx again, cT&0n

[xionlim21]

Very informative video... I recently found all my Grandfaher's camera in our old house. Around 15 old cameras and I don't know if they are still working. Hope you can upload a tutorial on how to use it from start to finish, like loading a film till shooting and finishing. Great video! :)

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I just uploaded this video.

"Loading 4X5 Film Holders"

[fallingwatter]

Nice camera. Oh and not to be rude, but you said it had 3 range finders. The last one is clearly not a range finder. Range finders are things that, well find Range, i.e. distance. So really that last thing you thought was a range finder was a view finder, or some people call it a sport finder. You cant Find a Range with it.

But yea that's a beautiful camera & now that i know the back shutter goes up to a 500th of a second i want one :)

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thats fine with me. Some photographers were so good with this camera they barely needed any focusing tools. I was lucky to fine one and in very good condition. I wish I could have shown that large 4X5 focal-plane shutter. I think it is an amazing camera.

[fallingwatter]

yea, i just watched another video after yours. Called the Speed Graphic Chronicles Pt 1 where user alternativecamera shows the focal plane shutter with the lens board off.

Really cool. Can i ask you around what price i should look for one of those at? i don't wanna get ripped off.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

There is one on eBay and their wanting $628 for it along with a lot of 4X5 film holders, flashbulb, est. If your looking for just the camera and it is in great condition I would think a reasonable price range would be $250-$350.

[fallingwatter]

yea, i can afford about 300. I have (5) 4x5 film holders already. Someone gave them to me with some dark room equipment.

[Sjixxxy]

My Speed Graphic is my favorite camera. My Leica is great and all, but as far as rangefinders go, the Speed is about 58 times more fun to use.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

The Graflex Speed Graphic is a remarkable camera, it always amazes me how well it is designed. There is no other camera like it! Thanks!

[Chester2929]

Actually I quite enjoyed watching this. My Speed Graphic Anniversary 4x5 is now being restored and I look forward to using it. Thank you.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I am so happy that I found one. How wonderful that you got your Anniversary restored. When I first discovered the Speed Graphic 4X5 I can clearly remember thinking "Wow what an amazing camera." Thanks!

[superspeedG]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the prompt response. I should also mention some of these cameras have Graflok backs which allow them to use digital backs if you purchase the adapter. "I hope that's not a bad word for the the film lovers out there".

Thanks again,

Anthony

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Hey Anthony,

Not to me, Graflok, I'll have to check that out. If you have time check out my video on the NIKON D200 lens 24-120 zoom. I like it all!!!!!!!!!

Rick

[superspeedG]

It's a beautiful camera. I see you have 3 stops on the bed. Are the three lenses automatically in sync with each lens? How many distance scales are need to focus with the three lenses? I just bought one and only have a 135mm lens. I haven't used it yet.

Thanks,

Anthony

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Anthony,

Thanks.

I only have one lens also. But yes the stops are for calibrating a lens to the camera. I would calibrate each lens so that they were accurate with the prism range finder because you can use it in the day time but also in total darkness. It is an amazing camera.

Rick

[kumasan1969]

I see why it is called a SPEED graphic. (I am a Nagaoka wood camera user). The camera is super fast to set up. :o

I once consider getting an used one, but I didn't because of the lack of much perspective control. I see this camera's (or maybe many of the "press" cameras out there) advantage now. It is built for the speed.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Having the pre-stops setup and calibrated for each lens is nice. Along with the prism view focus allowed you to work very fast and also allowed it to be used as a hand held 4X5 camera.

[joernone]

Rick,

Very cool camera. I recall newspaper photog actors using them in the old b&w movies. Can't you just picture (no pun intended) a modern-day paparazzi trying to get "the shots" with it? It would be comical to watch.

Regards,

John

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Hey John,

That would be the entertaining part for sure.

Regards,

Rick

[jefferyb304]

cool

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

It is a classic press camera and it is in really nice condition. Thanks!

[PowerEquipmentRepair]

That looks like a hard camera to use for me.. lol (Incase your wondering this is crazyc89's other account..lol)

[HeadCrackerStacker]

You only need to load the film holder in total darkness, half hour to set up the camera, lightmeter the scene, take the picture, unload the film holders in total darkness, process the film, and then make a print.

[bingcrosby1903]

Beautiful camera! lovely descriptions as always

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks, it is a beautiful camera. I had over 30 minutes of video, this camera is that complex. Chopped it down to 10 minutes using only the essentials.