I ran the first roll of film through the Crown Graphic I picked up at a flea market. Good results. OK, so I left the dark slide in for one frame and got an honest-to-gosh DOUBLE EXPOSURE on another, but hey, it's been over 30 years since I've used a Graphic. The results show that the camera is definitely worth a bit of rehab,

Question 1: The ground glass is abysmally dark. There's a guy who sells 2x3 drop in replacements on eBay. Intuitively, any replacement would be an improvement on 50= year old glass. Is this so?

Question 2: I am intrigued with the square format. (Great recent results from a Voigtlander Bessa 66) I've read that for 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 film (graphic 23 back) the 101mm lens is normal. That's the setup I have (Singer RH10). But the normal lens for 2x2 rollback is listed as 80mm. Is this necessary? Can I simply mask the viewfinder/glass, and take what I get? I'd rather not get into changing lenses (and cams, etc.)

Any advice will be appreciated; this looks like it'll be a LOT of fun. I mean, I can't remember the last time I had a real double exposure!

_________________
"Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm." -- Winston Churchill

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Polaski on 2005-08-10 04:39 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Polaski on 2005-08-10 04:40 ]</font>

Quote:

On 2005-08-10 04:38, Polaski wrote: I ran the first roll of film through the Crown Graphic I picked up at a flea market. Good results. OK, so I left the dark slide in for one frame and got an honest-to-gosh DOUBLE EXPOSURE on another, but hey, it's been over 30 years since I've used a Graphic. The results show that the camera is definitely worth a bit of rehab, Question 1: The ground glass is abysmally dark. There's a guy who sells 2x3 drop in replacements on eBay. Intuitively, any replacement would be an improvement on 50= year old glass. Is this so? Question 2: I am intrigued with the square format. (Great recent results from a Voigtlander Bessa 66) I've read that for 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 film (graphic 23 back) the 101mm lens is normal. That's the setup I have (Singer RH10). But the normal lens for 2x2 rollback is listed as 80mm. Is this necessary? Can I simply mask the viewfinder/glass, and take what I get? I'd rather not get into changing lenses (and cams, etc.) Any advice will be appreciated; this looks like it'll be a LOT of fun. I mean, I can't remember the last time I had a real double exposure! _________________ "Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm." -- Winston Churchill <font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Polaski on 2005-08-10 04:39 ]</font> <font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Polaski on 2005-08-10 04:40 ]</font>

Wash the glass. If that doesn't help enough, buy a new ground glass. Dave Parker, who posts here occasionally and who sells ground glass as SatinSnow (google to find him), makes GG that has been recommended highly. I've not bought from him yet.

Hmm. The RH-10 is for 2.25" x 2.75", i.e., nominal 6x7. If you want to shoot nominal 6x6, get an RH-12, mark the frame on the GG, and shoot away. You don't need an 80 mm lens, your 101 will do just fine. The RH-8 is for 2.25" x, IIRC, 3.0625".

I take it your camera has a Kalart RF on the side. The Kalart doesn't have interchangeable cams, and readjusting it every time a different lens is hung on the camera is possible its not very practical.

First of all, most Graflex's I have found have been well worth a rehab, cause they are just fun cameras to take pictures with.

On you Ground Glass, Take it out and use hot water, some dawn dishwashing liquid and a scotch bright pad, and scrub it real good, alot of times, this will help greatly on brightening the ground glass up.

If your still not happy with it, we will be happy to make a new screen for you if you require.

Dave Parker

Would a 2x3 Crown have an Ektalite? If so, it _plastic_ and fragile! Do NOT use any type of scouring pad on that. On the GG is fine. If you have an Ektalite (freznel), just gently wash it in warm water & dish soap. I generaly use soft paper tissue to get into the grooves for nasty dirt. And make sure it's put back together correctly...

If all else fails, The Satin GG is just fantastic!

Quote:

On 2005-08-10 22:47, RichS wrote: Would a 2x3 Crown have an Ektalite? If so, it _plastic_ and fragile! Do NOT use any type of scouring pad on that. On the GG is fine. If you have an Ektalite (freznel), just gently wash it in warm water & dish soap. I generaly use soft paper tissue to get into the grooves for nasty dirt. And make sure it's put back together correctly... If all else fails, The Satin GG is just fantastic!

OOOOPPPPS,

I forgot about the Ektalite screen, some of the 2 x 3's did have an ektalite screen which is soft plastic with concentric lines on one side of the screen, under no circumstances, as Rich said, use any abrasive on this, warm water and dish soap, then towel dry with a soft towel so you don't damage it, I was speaking of only the ground glass for cleaning with the scotch brite pad..

Thanks Rich, that could have been a disaster.

Dave

If nothing else, I'm good at 'disasters'

Thanks guys. This is a great forum. I'll be very careful, which is my usual way of proceeding, unless I just charge in and start poking things. A step at a time. I first want to make sure that the misexposures on the first roll were my fault, not the rollback (RH-10. w/lever).

Then start a list. You are right about the camera -- these things are gems. Ought to be fun