I bought a Speed Graphic about 2 years ago. A little while later I bought another for parts for the first one. The second one I bastardized for the first one I made into a pinhole camera. I just bought a bipost cord and a flash and an Optar 135mm lense. I bought a graflok back, a polaroid 545 and I spent hours rummaging through an old camera store back room till I found Series 6 filters and adapter ring. I am looking for flash bulbs (which even though they are no longer manufactered there seem to be plenty).

Now I am hankering for a Crown Graphic with the top rangefinder.

And by the way I do use the cameras exclusively. In this digital age I seem to be going backwards in time.

I need to know what is this obsession with Graflex equipment called?

When will the yearning to get more Graflex equipment stop?

It's a virus. It inclines one to make "photographs" as opposed to "captures."

See the recent Kalart thread.

Quote:

On 2006-01-25 18:19, frohnec wrote: When will the yearning to get more Graflex equipment stop?

In mild cases the urge usually wanes when "the room", be it the 2nd bedroom or basement, is full of cameras.


Moderate cases are usually identified with the mutterings of "The kid can go to community college" just before placeing a large bid on a rare Model 1000 Pacemaker. The problem is usually halted when the wife here's the mutterings.

Terminal cases are usually cured by the court order to write that alimony check once a month before any spending on cameras can be made, although there is one known case where the divorce was averted when the patient promised to sell his collection "As soon as the book is finished." Which allowed him not only to keep his collection but to add to it!

Play it safe.

Do not look into the history of Graflex or their cameras!

Do not look into the famous and historical photos taken with Graflex cameras.

Do not even get the idea that you might like a view camera and pick up just one Graphic View.

After buying your second or third Graphic View, deffinitely do not look into the Anniversary Speed because the rationalization of being able to use the lenses mounted on 4 inch lens boards also on the Anny will be too much temptation.

After you have the Anny, deffinitely do not look into the Pre-Anniversary. The name alone will catch you and you don't want the Anny to be lonely.

Also deffinitely do not look into the RB's. After all, large format cameras were meant to be used on tripods and the thought of using one hand held might be too much.

Have you seen the nice old wood Graflex tripods by the way?

After buying an RB and enjoying the hand held use, deffinitely do not look into top rangefinder models or Super Graphics. The idea of using them hand held with the cam-matched rangefinder may be too much to resist.

And of course they all need the factory original cases and accessories!

Now, when you build the addition to the house or garage, you might have the room to look into the older models, studio cameras, finger print cameras, etc.

What you really need is a good book to show you all the models that you will be buying

Enjoy it. It's one of the world's best hobbies.


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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"
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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2006-01-25 22:18 ]</font>

Quote:

On 2006-01-25 18:19, frohnec wrote: I bought a Speed Graphic about 2 years ago. <snip> When will the yearning to get more Graflex equipment stop?

In immortal words on Nancy Reagan, "just say NO."

FWIW, and I may be even more aberrant in this respect than I am in most ways, I found it easy to stop at two. A short one -- Century since I haven't graduated from 2x3 to 4x5 -- for use with short lenses, a long one with focal plane shutter -- 2x3 Pacemaker Speed -- for longer lenses and lenses in barrel. It takes the two to do all that's possible with 2x3 Graphics.

To do what's generally thought to be impossible with 2x3 Graphics, I connect the two front to back. This lets me shoot 2x3 with longer lenses than the Speed can focus. The limit seems to be around 480 mm, and I've attained it. If my calculations are correct, the limit for 6x6 with a pair of Graphics is around 600 mm.

Of course, its a question of what you want. More bodies that do the same old thing or more lenses, some of which are a little different from the others? I chose to get more lenses.

Cheers,

Dan

Im slightly different here,I buy mine to be used as a news camera giving me excellent results.
It's a fall back on the olden days:Quality.

I also stand no nonsense with the digital mob,as they all move aside and leave a gap for the true professional to get through.These cameras you do not argue with,it's a technique I learn't from Weegee years ago.

As I've mentioned before,the Graphic is admired here as a true classic from the Hollywood Days.The people that come up to you and ask questions is amazing."Stunning" they say looking at the camera gleaming in the sunlight.(always keep mine well polished).
It's a camera of immense beauty and workmanship and that's how I like things-something to take pictures by.

Quote:

On 2006-01-26 04:36, Graflex Sid wrote: Im slightly different here,I buy mine to be used as a news camera giving me excellent results. It's a fall back on the olden days:Quality. I also stand no nonsense with the digital mob,as they all move aside and leave a gap for the true professional to get through.These cameras you do not argue with,it's a technique I learn't from Weegee years ago. As I've mentioned before,the Graphic is admired here as a true classic from the Hollywood Days.The people that come up to you and ask questions is amazing."Stunning" they say looking at the camera gleaming in the sunlight.(always keep mine well polished). It's a camera of immense beauty and workmanship and that's how I like things-something to take pictures by.

But how did you manage to stop after buying the first one? Or do you have a heap of Graphics too?

Cheers,

Dan

Very good question,Dan.
I carefully picked the four I needed,and found the accesssaries I required,then stopped buying,simple as that.
I wouldn't class myself as a collector or a hobbyist.Bought them for using.Perish the thought of collecting like stamps.

I understand the social history of the Graphic and read what everyone has got to say here:but that's were it all ends.

The problem with collecting is,who do you leave them to,we cannot take them with us when we meet our maker.Im arranging to leave mine to a London Museum of Photography.

Part of the fun and enjoyment of 'collecting' is buying the not-so-good clunkers and restoring them to good use. It's a very staisfying hobby refurbishing the old cameras after the butchers get done with them. this does not tie up what would have been a working camera and winds up producing a new working camera.

The only problem left is selling them after they've been refurbished...

<font size=-1>I need to know what is this obsession with Graflex equipment called?


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<center><font size=+2><B>STUPIDITY</B></font></center>

"Hi, my name is Betty, and I'm a Speed addict."

A friend and I are working on a 12 step program for cameraholics. We'll welcome any new members once completed.

In the mean time, we're simply supporting anyone who buys 'new' old cameras and equipment so they don't feel bad about it

When I was a lad of about 15, I wanted to grow up to be a news photographer like Wegee or W. Eugene Smith. Problem was, the photo books in my hometown library were out of date. News photographers were using Nikon F's in 1975, not Speed Graphics.

When I wanted my first real camera, my mom called her brother who was a professional photographer and he recommended a 35 mm SLR, even though I wanted a Speed Graphic.

Nearly 30 years later, I saw a 2x3 Speed in a camera store in Blacksburg, VA, and bought it. I mentioned this to my uncle, who reminisced about shooting weddings with a 4x5 Speed and 40 film holders. (Whew!)

So did that cure my unrequited Speed Graphic lust? No. I shoot 4x5 with a view camera, so I had to get a 4x5 Speed. It came in a nice case with a flashgun and various accessories.

Then I bought a Graflarger that needs a new bulb.

I recently bought a Graflex tripod head (what a great design!). And a Graphic 35. The last thing I need is another cheap 35mm laying around, but I had to have it.

But I'd really like to have a Crown with a nice wide angle.

This is very bad.

It works the same with all old cameras. It's a disease, I tells ya!

Quote:

On 2006-01-26 07:49, Graflex Sid wrote: Very good question,Dan. I carefully picked the four I needed,and found the accesssaries I required,then stopped buying,simple as that.<snip>

Thanks very much for the reply. Until I decide I need a spare, two are enough for me. One for each hand, y'know. How do you manage four?

More seriously, why four? Why not three or five? I'm sure you have a good reason.

Cheers,

Dan