Hey all,
I'm a newbie to large format. I played with Pacemakers in school for a semester and really liked them. Now what are the pros and cons of a 4x5 Anniversary versus a Pacemaker in terms of front standard movements and the like? Can I retrofit infinity stops on an Anniversary? I'm mostly interested in architecture, portrait, and landscape b&w and might move up to a view camera once I get proficient at the Speed Graphic and 4x5. Thanks a lot.
Chris

The "Pacemaker" offers more front movements. The "Anniversary" front rises and shifts, and the bed drops, which tilts the lens down. The "Pacemaker" adds the complementary lens tilt up.

You can't interchange the infinity stops between the two models; the focusing tracks or "yokes" have different cross-sections, and the "Anniversary's" is not slotted for the swingdown "Pacemaker" stops.

Perhaps the principal advantage of the "Pacemaker" is that the later ones were supplied with the "Graflok" back, which allows you to use rollfilm, magazine and Polaroid film adapters easily. You can retrofit a "Graflok" back to an "Anniversary," if you want to take the time and trouble.

Given the kind of work you want to do, why not start with a "Graphic View II"? Viewed objectively, this isn't exactly a move up; press cameras may be seen as unsatisfactory view cameras, but view cameras cannot be used as press cameras at all. If you never will use the camera hand-held, why buy a "Speed Graphic" at all?

The "View II" was supplied with the "Graflok" back, though I'm not sure that the very earliest ones were. It has axial tilts. The "View I" has a shorter rail, and base tilts. They have the same swing and tilt provisions.

Anniversary

Pros:

The chrome and black versions look cool!
Has a drop down bed, so you can use 80-90mm lenses.
Has a focal plane shutter so you can uses high quality, inexpensive barrel lenses.
Kalart rangefinder is adjustable to any ONE lens you want.

Cons

Focal plane shutter has quirky odd shutter speeds that take getting used to.
The deeper body limits the use of extreme wide angle lenses like a 65mm Super Angulon.
infinity stops will not fold...difficult to use long lenses
No tilt to the front standard.
Some of the original lenses/shutters won't accept any kind of flash.

Pacemaker Crown 45

Pros

Has fold down stops allow ground glass focusing of any lens without mucking up the rangefinder for your standard lens.
The Crown, without the focal plane shutter, is lighter.
Can use lenses as short as 58mm and 47mm in some cases.
The front standard tilts backwards allown image "fall" (opposite of 'rise')
The top rangefinder version uses cams so (in theory) any lens can be used with the range finder.
Body is made of synthetic leather, will withstand any humidity without rotting.

Cons

Can't use barrel lenses
Top Rangefinder model uses hard to find cams that never exactly match your lens
Doesn't look a cool as the Anny.

For the best value ie..most verstile for the dollar, I suggest a Crown Graphic with a Kalart Side rangefinder and a spring or Graphic back.

Prices are coming down and if you watch carefully you can get the same camera with Graflok back for about the same. It adds a little weight but does make you life a bit easier with certain accessories.

If you find a top rangefinder model with it's original cam and lens it will work fine, but be careful of trying to buy a lensless camera and fitting another cam to it.

The Kalart rangefinder will work only with one lens at a time, but can be adjusted to any lens you find. They wre used on both the Anny and the Pacemaker.

The problem with the Kalart finders is the mirror can fade giving a faint double image. This is a user fixable problem but it's still better getting one that works.

Now I compared an Anny SPEED to a Pacemaker CROWN. You could find a Pacemaker SPEED Graphic and you'll have the sames Pros and cons about size, weight and short lens limit as the Anny.

Les

Also, the Pacemaker Speed utilizes modern shutter speeds, though only six of them. I like having all the speeds available on the Anny. Probably, just because it's cool.

Quote:

On 2004-08-07 07:01, Les wrote: Anniversary Pros: The chrome and black versions look cool! Has a drop down bed, so you can use 80-90mm lenses. Has a focal plane shutter so you can uses high quality, inexpensive barrel lenses. Kalart rangefinder is adjustable to any ONE lens you want. Cons Focal plane shutter has quirky odd shutter speeds that take getting used to. The deeper body limits the use of extreme wide angle lenses like a 65mm Super Angulon. infinity stops will not fold...difficult to use long lenses No tilt to the front standard. Some of the original lenses/shutters won't accept any kind of flash. Pacemaker Crown 45 Pros Has fold down stops allow ground glass focusing of any lens without mucking up the rangefinder for your standard lens. The Crown, without the focal plane shutter, is lighter. Can use lenses as short as 58mm and 47mm in some cases. The front standard tilts backwards allown image "fall" (opposite of 'rise') The top rangefinder version uses cams so (in theory) any lens can be used with the range finder. Body is made of synthetic leather, will withstand any humidity without rotting. Cons Can't use barrel lenses Top Rangefinder model uses hard to find cams that never exactly match your lens Doesn't look a cool as the Anny. For the best value ie..most verstile for the dollar, I suggest a Crown Graphic with a Kalart Side rangefinder and a spring or Graphic back. Prices are coming down and if you watch carefully you can get the same camera with Graflok back for about the same. It adds a little weight but does make you life a bit easier with certain accessories. If you find a top rangefinder model with it's original cam and lens it will work fine, but be careful of trying to buy a lensless camera and fitting another cam to it. The Kalart rangefinder will work only with one lens at a time, but can be adjusted to any lens you find. They wre used on both the Anny and the Pacemaker. The problem with the Kalart finders is the mirror can fade giving a faint double image. This is a user fixable problem but it's still better getting one that works. Now I compared an Anny SPEED to a Pacemaker CROWN. You could find a Pacemaker SPEED Graphic and you'll have the sames Pros and cons about size, weight and short lens limit as the Anny. Les

Les, didn't you advise me that I'd be better off with a 2x3 Pacemaker Speed than with a Mini because the Pacemaker's shutter cloth was more durable? Were the Anny's and Pacemaker Speed's shutters made from the same material?

Cheers,

Dan

Same material? No, not the ones I have, anyhoo.