So, there I was minding my own business when someone I know, knowing that I was a Speed Graphic user, wanted my assessment of his father's camera. I thought it felt a little odd in my hand, and when I got it home I found that it was a 3x4 rather than a 4x5, with a basic Optar 135mm lens, a springback, and a side-mounted Kalart. I haven't had time to check the Kalart against the ground glass yet, but the shutter is in need of repair as it won't stay cocked. The glass looks reasonably clean. The ground glass has a smaller rectangle etched or penciled on to it, suggesting that there may have been a roll film back for this at one time. Despite being in reasonable cosmetic condition, my thought is that the shutter repair would be more than the camera is worth, and that you'd have to be fairly dedicated to the idea of using this particular camera to want to fiddle with cutting down 4x5 film (if the holders can be found). If the roll film back surfaces, that would be a slightly different story.

Am I in the right ballpark in delivering this report?

Rob Dean

6 3 x 4 speeds have sold on ebay so far this month,4 for $80-$90, one for $115, and one for just over $70.
I could clean, lube and adjust a focal plane shutter for that kind of money with a smile.
The film holders have been readily available recently, and a roll holder or two have shown up.


_________________
While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a quality photograph is worth a million.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2003-11-24 18:31 ]</font>

And, 3X4 film is available from J&C for a very reasonable price. Black & white, of course. Is there any other kind?

Quote:

my thought is that the shutter repair would be more than the camera is worth,

Well only if you're wedded to that lens and shutter. I bet most of the people with any interest in something like that would have a spare lens or two.