Special Graflex XL Cameras

I've gotten quite a lot of pleasure and use from my XL's.

XL Modifications

These two are an XL modification made by my friend Chester Burton.

XL SuperWide and Tilt and Shift

This SuperWide with tilt and shift was made by the late Mr. Hugh Babb. The lens is in a pivoting knuckle mount, and the back allows quick use of ground glass. Note the aluminum replacement focus rings on most of these cameras, as in the following image, which is a Super-Wide with a spacer and a Grandagon 58mm lens with a Brooks back.
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Made from Found Parts

These are photos of my XL-based cameras I have made from found parts.

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This one is a special one-off Factory Prototype

This is an XL with a 65mm Schneider lens with a Schneider focus mount. Note the roll holder back; it is a Graflex factory prototype of a manual and motorized advance back initialed by Johan Padelt, the XL's designer.

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XL Dental Camera

This shows the Graflex factory prototype "XL Dental Camera" with stereo attachment and strobe halo light, and another view of motorized back. I have factory drawings and photos of the dental camera also.

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XL with Tilt-Shift

This is a front view of the tilt-shift camera, showing XL shade, 47mm Schneider Super Angulon, worm-screw shift knobs, and a flat body containing a movable lensboard.

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Adapt-a-Roll 120

This is the Adapt-a-Roll roll-film holder that fits XL system ground glass back.

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Military XLRF

This is a photo of my my mint, cased, Vietnam-era Military XL outfit, wearing 180 Zeiss Sonnar,and optical eyepiece to extend the finder beyond the roll film back. It sits atop a military case.

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This is a more frontal view of the same camera.

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Prototype XL

This is the label on the back of the amazing XL back under development when Graflex folded. It was written and initialed by Johan Padelt, the XL systems designer.

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Palm Press "Banquet Camera"

This is my a non-Graflex camera, a Palm Press "banquet camera." It uses a 90mm Super Angulon and 6x12 Horseman back. It is a screaming panorama camera!

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Acknowledgements

I made some, but not all of these cameras. I would like to thank some of the people who helped preserve and fabricate some of my XL pieces:

Mr. Harry Davis, the Graflex engineer who preserved the dental camera and prototype back
Mr. Dick Stone, retired Graflex sales representative, who has been a good friend and benefactor
the late Mr. Hugh Babb, who fabricated my aluminum focusing rings, built the tilt and shift superwide, now deceased
the late Mr. Bob Chaddell, who was a very good friend and provided me many XL bits and my Palm Press
Mr. Chester Burton, a very good friend and perhaps the best craftsman I know.

Craig McClure
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