Okay, so I just bought my first Graflex, an early Crown Graphic Special. I didn't want the fp shutter as I have no interest in barrel lenses and may want to try a wide angle one day. It has the Graflock back and a schneider 135mm Xenar lens, both of which are positives

So what are the negatives? What do I need to watch out for/be careful of?

I should be recieving my graflex in the mail on Monday so I'll be at the shop getting 4x5 film this weekend

BrianPhotog wrote:

So what are the negatives?

That's those things you get out of the fixer tank after processing your film (sorry, couldn't help myself)

My first Graphic was a Crown Special like yours. Things to watch out for would be a missing rangefinder cam, bent rangefinder plunger (a pin at the lower left of the body that engages a block on the bed. ) and missing balls and cylinders in the rangefinder tube.

the check is to look through the RF and move the focus knob if one of the images move, then all of the above is in decent to excellent condition.

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So what are the negatives?

What the film becomes when processed.

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What do I need to watch out for/be careful of?

Rembering to remove the darkslide just before triping the shutter.