This week I bought Century Graphic in mint condition. I was considering Mamiya Universal but decided to buy Century for landscape. But Universal camera has a few nice accessories like Right-angle Reflex Hood and Magnifing Focusing Back:

http://www.mamiya.nl/client/mamiya/uploads/downloads/univeral_and_accessories.pdf

I tried to find out but it seems that Graflex never made similar accessories... am I right?
I wonder if there are Century & Crown 23 users who use such accessory, and if so, how they made it, fix it or adopt another to use it on Graflok back?

Which magnifier loupe you would recomend for precise focusing on Century ground glass?

Could someone explain to me, what focusing loupe is the best for focusing on 2x3 Century ground glass? Before buying one I need to know how big the loupe should be for 2x3 gg and whether the loupe base should touch the gg (so should be high) or not? And the last question about focusing with loupe: do you make it with hood or you take it off?

I consider to buy Toyo 4x loupe (Schneider, Rodenstock and Silvestri are pricey).

The Toyo 4x loupe is fine; I use it on my Century. It's the right length for use with the folding focussing hood in its open position, and, with its rubber end protection, it won't scratch the smooth side of the ground glass. Another nice feature of the Toyo is the neck "strap" (actually more like a string), so you can let the loupe dangle when it's not in use. It's a lot of loupe for the money, and I think you'll be very satisfied with the Toyo. Like my old daddy said, "you only buy a good tool once."

Thank you Henry,

Than I am ordering Toyo 4x.

Have you heard about any reflex/angle hood that could be used on Century?

No, I have not heard of any reflex/angle finder for the Century, sorry. I'm reasonably sure that Graflex never made one, though. Anyway, good luck with your Century. It's a great camera!

The toyo loupe (also badged Omega) is really the way to go. For a lot more money you can get a Schneider 6x loupe. It was the defacto standard for a long time. Back in the 80s fuji gave away a VERY nice loupe (japanese copy of the schneider) for buying non-grey market film. It's also a very good loupe if you can find one.

There are many other options, but all the rest are just awkward ways around not spending the money on a toyo loupe.

hey all
just so you know I made my own Right-angle Reflex Hood
I use ZENZA BRONICA 645 ETR ETRS PRISM FINDER and 1/4" black plastic, its only a 645 size but it works great out side
I now have a GS-1 PRISM FINDER but I have yet made it up to use

BUT its nice when working out side to see & Focus with out a black cloth
but with only a 645 or a 6x6 to Focus I can take it off to compose & put it back on to focus

1banjo

It would be nice if you show us a few pictures.

regards.

hey I would but as of right now I don't know how here!!
where do I up load PICs at here??

Get one of those free accounts at http://www.photobucket.com The last I knew you had to log on every 45 days or less to keep the free account active.

Just copy and paste the link in your post. Not too hard to do.

I don't really know if the other image hosting sites have free accounts.

Perhaps others can expand on this.

You can use www.imageshack.us

hay all
I am going to try Hoodman HoodLoupe LCD Loupe 3” inch
from http://www.hoodmanusa.com/products
I have one on its way right now to see if it will work ! I can use it on my digital that I
Only use putting thing on ebad !
it has a 1 to 1 with +-3 diopter
banjo

renes wrote:

This week I bought Century Graphic in mint condition. I was considering Mamiya Universal but decided to buy Century for landscape. But Universal camera has a few nice accessories like Right-angle Reflex Hood and Magnifing Focusing Back: http://www.mamiya.nl/client/mamiya/uploads/downloads/univeral_and_accessories.pdf I tried to find out but it seems that Graflex never made similar accessories... am I right? I wonder if there are Century & Crown 23 users who use such accessory, and if so, how they made it, fix it or adopt another to use it on Graflok back? Which magnifier loupe you would recomend for precise focusing on Century ground glass?

Renes- AFAIK, Graflex didn't make 2x3 right-angle GG viewer, but pretty sure any Graflock accessory should mount on your camera. I have a Mamiya RB-67. Its Graflock roll-film holders all mount on my Century 23 Graphic (as long as I tape down roll-holder's darkslide lock-pin). Graflock-back attachments from any manufacturer (Linhof, Toyo, etc.) should work, too. Anybody out there know for sure?
Loupe needs to clear focusing hood, and have enough magnification. For GG focusing, I move the loupe from spot-to-spot, so loupe only needs to cover small area (I.E.: 25-30mm circle). Rubber bottom is good idea, protects GG. Other than that, any loupe should work. I use an old Agfa 8x loupe made for viewing 35mm contact sheets.
-Dave.

Quote:

I use an old Agfa 8x loupe made for viewing 35mm contact sheets.

I was afraid that I was the only one doing that