I ended up with a couple of Speed Graphics, one #896163 with the top mounted rangefinder and a really clean side mounted Kalart #861165. I'm going to sell one of them and I thought maybe someone could help me with my decision as to which one.
All things being equal I can't find a difference other than the rangefinder. Is there something I'm missing? Is one "better" than the other?
Everything works on both of them and I plan to use the one I keep for a telephoto camera using a barrel lens.
Any suggestions?

I'd keep the Kalart. I know I'm running against the tide here, but if the mirror is good and bright I think it's the better rangefinder. Kalarts can be adjusted to an indivdual lens, Top rangefinders need cams to a specific focal length (and most lenses are +- a milimeter or two from their stated focal length)

Thus a Kalart rangefinder can be spot on for one lens. A top rangefinder can be darn close for a couple of lenses.


Les

I agree with Les -- the Kalart is adjustable, and while it takes longer to change it from one lens to another than the top-mounted RF, you don't have to find or fabricate a cam to make the Kalart work with any lens from about 90 mm (for the version found on 4x5 Speeds) up to around 240 mm.

BTW, if you use it with shorter lenses, you should be aware that it's really not accurate for distances less than about four feet, even though a 90 mm lens will focus a good bit closer than that before you exceed the mechanical reach of the RF.

ImageMaker wrote:

I agree with Les -- the Kalart is adjustable, and while it takes longer to change it from one lens to another than the top-mounted RF, you don't have to find or fabricate a cam to make the Kalart work with any lens from about 90 mm (for the version found on 4x5 Speeds) up to around 240 mm. BTW, if you use it with shorter lenses, you should be aware that it's really not accurate for distances less than about four feet, even though a 90 mm lens will focus a good bit closer than that before you exceed the mechanical reach of the RF.

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Thanks to both of you for the info. Since I plan on using this camera with a 15" Graflex telephoto the rangefinder is probably not going to be a consideration as I will use a loupe on the gg.
I'll just go with the one with the best focal plane shutter.

ron8748 wrote:

Thanks to both of you for the info. Since I plan on using this camera with a 15" Graflex telephoto the rangefinder is probably not going to be a consideration as I will use a loupe on the gg. I'll just go with the one with the best focal plane shutter.

Assuming you can focus with that lens at all (being a tele, it's at least possible you might be able to -- I can manage with the 265 mm rear group of my 150 Componon on my Annie Speed), that's sensible thinking -- it's unlikely you could get an RF to adjust for that focal length even with the tele lens (as I understand it, lens movement to focus is the same as a conventional lens the same length, it's just closer to the film plane to start with).

ImageMaker wrote:

ron8748 wrote: Thanks to both of you for the info. Since I plan on using this camera with a 15" Graflex telephoto the rangefinder is probably not going to be a consideration as I will use a loupe on the gg. I'll just go with the one with the best focal plane shutter. Assuming you can focus with that lens at all (being a tele, it's at least possible you might be able to -- I can manage with the 265 mm rear group of my 150 Componon on my Annie Speed), that's sensible thinking -- it's unlikely you could get an RF to adjust for that focal length even with the tele lens (as I understand it, lens movement to focus is the same as a conventional lens the same length, it's just closer to the film plane to start with).

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I put it in again the othr day to re test for focus using a loupe and I got it tack sharp with no visible fall off on the edges while focused for infinity. Checking it up close I managed to focus sharp at about 8-9 feet but things were stretched pretty tight.

You might want to consider making an extended lens board for it -- even a half inch extension would give you enough extra to focus down to 4-5 feet without stressing the bellows. That'd be a nice portrait lens at that point; you could shoot head-and-shoulders from 6-8 feet or upper body portraits from twelve feet or so...