Hi Guys,
I am looking to buy my first Speed Graphic. Because I don't have my own darkroom, I am going to have to go for something that uses 120 film and have been thinking about a 2x3 Speed Graphic with the appropriate back. The only pictures I have seen have been of the camera on its own and wondered how big it was in comparison to the classic 4x5 model. I would be disappointed if it arrived and looked like a little toy camera!!!

Can anyone advise me of the physical size of the 2 cameras or even point me to a picture of someone using a 2x3 camera.

Thanks.

Greetings,

http://doug.kerr.home.att.net/pumpkin/images/Museum_18312R.jpg

This shows, from left to right:

1. A Miniature Speed Graphic (2¼×3¼).

2. An Anniversary Speed Graphic 4×5 (wartime black livery)

3. A Pacemaker Speed Graphic 45 (4×5)

http://doug.kerr.home.att.net/pumpkin/images/3_bears_E18852R.jpg

This shows, from left to right:

1. A Miniature Speed Graphic (2¼×3¼).

2. An Anniversary Speed Graphic 3¼×4¼

3. An Anniversary Speed Graphic 4×5 (wartime black livery)


_________________
Best regards,

Doug

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Doug Kerr on 2006-10-09 20:05 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Doug Kerr on 2006-10-09 20:09 ]</font>

My vintage 1947 2 x 3 Speed Graphic measures 5" across the body, the side Rangefinder adds another 1.5" on the right side and the leather handle brackets add 1/2" on the other side. It is 5-3/4" high without the top mounted viewfinder. It is 4-1/4" from front to back closed, a roll film back would add about another 1-1/2" inch to that.

C. Henry

Okay left to right-ish.

Hasselblad 4 1/4 wide by 6: tall with prism

2x3 Pace Crown 6" wide (with RF) by 5 3/4 tall

4x5 8 1/2 tall by 7" wide

Nikon F 6" wide x 4" tall.

You'll notice the Hassy and the Nikon F are both smaller than the 2x3 Pace Crown. While smaller (lighter, easier to handle, cheaper to use) than a 4x5, you won't be tossing this in your pocket and heading for Disney World with your family.

I"d stick with a 23 Pacemaker Crown or Century aover a Speed. The Speed is heavier, wider and can't handle wide lenses as easily as the Crown. And make sure the Crown has a Graflok back so you can fit either Graflex or Mamiya (RB67) roll backs on it. then Century had the Graflok back bulit in.





<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2006-10-09 20:12 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2006-10-09 20:12 ]</font>

Hi, Les,

Quote:

I'd stick with a 23 Pacemaker Crown or Century over a Speed. The Speed is heavier, wider . . .

How does a Pacemaker Speed get to be wider than a Crown? Heavier, and "deeper", I get.

Best regards,

Doug

Okay, Deeper, not wider. Wider in profile?

Quote:

On 2006-10-09 21:35, Doug Kerr wrote: Hi, Les, Quote: I'd stick with a 23 Pacemaker Crown or Century over a Speed. The Speed is heavier, wider . . . How does a Pacemaker Speed get to be wider than a Crown? Heavier, and "deeper", I get. Best regards, Doug

The bodies are the same width (side to side) and height (bottom to top), the Speed is deeper (front to back) to accomodate the focal plane shutter.

On Les' comment about using short lenses on a 2x3 Speed, the shortest generally available lenses that cover 2x3 and will focus to infinity on a 2x3 Speed are the 58/5.6 Grandagon (originally for the Graflex XL, good luck finding one without separations) and 65 Super Angulons and similar. I use a 65/8 Ilex (designed and made in Rochester, looks like an SA) on my 2x3 Speed. All of these lenses cover 2x3. I don't know the 50/6.3 Mamiya (for Mamiya Press system) or 58/5.6 Koni-60/5.6 Mamiya (Koni Omega-Rapid Omega) lenses back focus, but the 50 Mamiya will certainly cover 2x3.

The relatively abundant and cheap 65/6.8 Angulons and Raptars won't make infinity on a 2x3 Speed but will on a 2x3 Crown/Century. The shortest "standard issue" lens for the 2x3 Speed is the 80/6.3 Wide Field Ektar.

The shortest generally available lenses that will focus to infinity on a 2x3 Crown/Century are the 47 SAs and similar. There's a 47/8 Ilex that will do. And then there's the 35/4.5 Apo Grandagon, if you have a spare $1k or so. All of these cover 2x3. Don't know about the 38 SA-XL; I shoot a 38 Biogon on my Century but it doesn't cover 2x3.

The shortest lens I know of that will work on a 2x3 Speed is the 1.75"/2.8 Elcan, which isn't that great and doesn't quite cover 6x7. Uncommon lens.

On the whole, one needs two 2x3 Graphics, a Speed and a Crown or Century. The Speed for longer lenses and lenses in barrel, the Crown/Century for short lenses.

Hi, Les,

Gotcha.

Thanks.

Best regards,

Doug