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speedgraphic 31/4-41/4
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ricarb173
Joined: 26 Jan 2010
Posts: 10
PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:32 pm   Post subject: speedgraphic 31/4-41/4

first graphic camera want to try large format brought on ebay needs lens board the lens is optar 101mm F4.5 wear can 1- buy one 2- are all lens board for greaphic cameras the same size square whats the 31/4-41/4 for3- can i make a lens board I just want the camera to work play on buying a new tachhihara4x5 unless i can find a speed graphic in great shape I tryed some camera stores no luck thank for any help
glennfromwy
Joined: 29 Nov 2001
Posts: 903
PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:21 pm

You need to tell us the model of your camera. There are two styles of lens board. Early ones are wood with square corners. Later ones are metal with rounded corners. You can easily make the wood boards. Metal boards - not easy to make. You can contact Jim at Midwest Photo for boards. www.mpex.com
I doubt the lens you have will cover 3X4 at infinity. For macro work it will cover. The standard lens for 3X4 was a 127mm f4.7 Ektar or equivalent. Lots of them used a 135mm lens, either of which will also cover 4X5. 3X4 film is only available in a couple of black & white emulsions, from Freestyle Sales, Digitaltruth.com, and few others. Good luck on your hunt for a 4X5 Speed Graphic. You will not find one in a camera store. Last time I went to one, I couldn't find much of anything that wasn't digital. (Ugh!)
Dan Fromm
Joined: 14 May 2001
Posts: 2165
PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:26 pm

Eh? Wot? Run-on sentences are hard to read. SLOW DOWN!

What did you buy? A lens, a camera, both?

If the lens is a 101/4.5 the camera had better be a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 'cos the 101 is normal for 2x3 (shorthand for 2 1/4 x 3 1/4), won't cover 3x4.

To learn what "cover" means, go here http://www.largeformatphotography.info/ and read nearly everything.

To learn more about Graphics in particular, go here http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/ and read everything.

Making boards for Anniversary and older Graphics isn't that hard, they're wooden. Making boards for Pacemaker Graphics isn't easy, they're metal, have thin lips that got into the light trap.

If you want a Tachi just get one, Graphics aren't good substitutes.

After you've calmed down, come back and ask y'r question more clearly. If you know what you have, one of us will look in the bible (Graphic Graflex Photography, there are many editions) and tell you what size board your camera takes. But on the whole if you know what size your camera is you'll probably be better off buying than making.
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