Hello---I've got this thing about contact prints. I usually shoot 8x10 but I am fond of my Pacemaker Crown for obvious reasons. In a moment of weakness, I succumbed and bought a 5x7 Pre-Anny Speed Graphic because I like the format for contacts and I happen to have a 14" APO Artar in a dial set compur that needs a home(5x7 Speed has 16" of bellows, right?) Anybody have any info on this model besides whats on the graflex.org site? Thanks!

A 14" apo Artar is a heavy piece of glass. I think you'll find the Speed a bit of a lightweight for that lens and while the Speed may have had a 16" bellows in '30, I'm not sure I'd put that much stress on the old girl.

I think the Artar would be better served on a 5x7 or 6x8 2D.

Now did you get the one from colubus camera or the other one that ended over the weekend on ebay?

Les,
Thanks for the info! I got the one off ebay with the side handle. The graflex.org skinny on the pre-anniversary says that a front standard can be made that will provide greater movements---sounds interesting. Also, what to you think about the suitability of the 203mm f7.7 Ektar or 240 G-Claron on the 5x7 Speed? I am looking for a hanbdheld camera that I can take skiing but will give me a negative large enough for nice sized contact prints. The 5x7 Speed Graphic is, I hope, what I'm looking for. From what I've read, it sounds like it would do as good a job, if not better than a 5x7 Technika and about 1/10th the price, especially since I wouldn't think I'd need all those movements shooting handheld and wieght is a definate consideration (of course now I have to convince my Bride that I have a real need three graphic cameras!) I sure hope the bellows are good!

I'd say it could probably handle the 14" Artar. I regularly use a 12" Dagor in a #4 shutter on mine with no problems. I also have a 19" Artar in barrel that I would use with it if the bellows were long enough. I think my Artar might be in an aluminum barrel, as it's fairly light.
The 5x7 Speed does have something of a 'light' feel to it, though (I wanted to say 'flimsy', but I like the camera too much to characterize it like that). The bellows on mine are in amazing condition, but covering them with a darkcloth (if you have one handy) might be advisable outdoors in sunlight, or painting the corners from the inside before putting the camera into use.