I'm considering cutting a hole in the bed of my crown graphic to allow it to close up with bigger lenses inside. Seems like a fun project and doable. Has anyone done/seen this before?

Will probably need to shave out the sides of the rails too....I'd like it to close up with a lens with a 67mm wide front element.

brian d wrote:

I agree with Brian.

Please elaborate, I'd like to know why. For my needs, being able to carry a crown on a shoulder strap with the lens mounted and inside is very convenient.

Les wrote:

I agree with Brian.

For what it's worth, I agree with Brian. Of course it is your camera and you can do as you like, but some might say that what you are considering would destroy a perfectly good camera. I own several Graphic cameras that I purchased in the last few years that previous owners were kind enough not to butcher in this manner. With a little care and maintenance someone else may get to use them in the future.
Regards,
Dave

I dont mind the idea of modefications to make a camera better suit my needs as long as they are reversible~but to me that would be like chopping up a piece of history.
Just my own opinion...if you decide to proceed with your project I hope it works out well.
good luck.

You know i agree with you about those people that take a perfectly good crown or speed and then strip off the rangefinder, external finder, sportsfinder and rear shutter to make a cheap field camera...i think that is a huge waste. I feel like my mod would still leave the camera to be used as intended and the original spirit of the graflex will remain: to be used as a handheld quick shooting press camera.

mopar_guy wrote:

For what it's worth, I agree with Brian. Of course it is your camera and you can do as you like, but some might say that what you are considering would destroy a perfectly good camera. I own several Graphic cameras that I purchased in the last few years that previous owners were kind enough not to butcher in this manner. With a little care and maintenance someone else may get to use them in the future. Regards, Dave

I come from a museum background and tend to take anything that's non-reversible as something not to be done. But will admit there are more than a few Speeds and Crowns around, so it's not like you are painting daisy's on the Mona Lisa.

Rather than trash the original bed to the camera, find a camera that's already been violated and modify that bed. You can't kill a corpse and nobody will care if there's one less bone in the coffin.

When it's time to sell the camera, you can put the old bed back on and tout it as being completely original without modifications. It will keep it's value too.

It would be easier to take the front/bed completely off.

I just want to close it with some bigger lenses inside.....I don't want to lose the ability to focus with the focusing knobs or or use a longer lens on the track

EASmithV wrote:

It would be easier to take the front/bed completely off.

Buy yourself a nice lens case, say a Tamrac, that will accommodate the lens with lensboard attached, and when you want to close up the Crown, remove the lens on its board and place it (them) in the case, then close the camera bed. That's what thousands have done with various lenses for 35mm cameras, rather than cut holes in the fronts of the camera cases. This way, in 50 years nobody can say "Who's the blankety-blank so-and-so who mutilated this otherwise beautiful example of American craftsmanship at its peak of perfection, when he could have bought himself a nice lens case, say a Tamrac, " etc., etc. Just my 3¢ worth.

how about i buy myself a nice dremel and then drill a nice big hole and then use the camera with no regard for resale value. i'll make sure to post pictures since you're obviously very interested.

Henry wrote:

Buy yourself a nice lens case, say a Tamrac, that will accommodate the lens with lensboard attached, and when you want to close up the Crown, remove the lens on its board and place it (them) in the case, then close the camera bed. That's what thousands have done with various lenses for 35mm cameras, rather than cut holes in the fronts of the camera cases. This way, in 50 years nobody can say "Who's the blankety-blank so-and-so who mutilated this otherwise beautiful example of American craftsmanship at its peak of perfection, when he could have bought himself a nice lens case, say a Tamrac, " etc., etc. Just my 3¢ worth.

Buy yourself a couple dollars worth of the deep Rubbermaid or some type of food storage containers add some padding and you'll have some real nice lens carrying boxes for very little money and time spent. What's the point in hacking a camera just to have the lens stick out the front anyways? And it's overkill at best. A big modern lens offers movements which can't be used handheld anyway. A lens longer than 160mm is not going to work very well with the side mount Kalart RF, which works best from 90 to 160 mm onthe 45 series. With the top RF you'll play Hob trying to get or make a proper cam. Also from 135mm and on up the DOF just gets shorter and shorter requiring care in focussing for fast aperture work with selective focus on the GG so an extra few seconds to put the lens on the camera is inconsequential. And if you look around you'll find there are a number of modern and classic lenses in various focal lengths that will fit and offer superb results.

Somewhere on the Graflex.org site there's a mission statement. I think it refers to restoration, PRESERVATION, and continued use of these cameras, and the sharing of information about their history, etc.
Sometimes actual use conflicts with the preservation, restoration, historical interests, etc.
It's the same de3bate that still rages in the antique/classic car hobby: Cut up a solid '32 V-8 Ford (or '57 Chevy or '68 Hemi 'Cuda or what-have-you) to make a fantastic, one of a kind custom hot rod? Or restore that aged gem back to stock form to preserve the history embodied in it? Who's right?
FWIT, IMNSHO, this sight leans more to the restoration side, the reversable modification side.
If a Graphic doesn't do what you want, why not find a Linhoff Technica which accomodates bigger lenses without removing the lens to transport. Or get a Burke and James Press and mutilate that instead (only kidding).