Hi, I'm a new user to Graflex and large format photography. I recently purchased a mlitary PaceMaker Speedgraphic, and after reading the TM(army manual), and spending hours on this site trying to pick up whatever techniques I could, I got up enough nerve to give the camera a try.

So, here's the question...Do you remember the first sheet of film you exposed on your Graphic?

For me, it was exhilerating.
After figuring out how to load the film (and hoping I didn't put them in backwards) I unloaded my Nikon F4 from its' camera bag, and loaded up the camera and film holders.
I made it up to the Superstition mountains, and hoped the poppy's would be out. No poppy's, but just another reason to go back later.

The picture would have taken me 20 seconds with my digital, I would have had it on autofocus, and would taken about 5 frames.

But this first pic took 5 minutes with my Graphic. I actually had to think about f-stop, speed, opening the shutter to focus,composition, putting in the film holder, closing the aperature, pulling the dark slide, and with much anticipation, released the shutter.

Anybody else remember the thrill of their "First" with a Graflex?

Being used to all manual cameras, the Speed Graphic was just another one, but bigger. I was just thrilled that everything worked and I got anything at all. The big negatives are pretty impressive, I have to admit. Those can be pretty thrilling.

My big kick was tray processing (and successfully!) my first sheets of 3X4.

Actually wasn't such a big deal after my mother (dead 4 yrs at 84) taught me (age 8?) to process 616 in a measuring cup.