Graflex.org

[arealitystudios]

Hello All

I am a brand new user of a Crown Graphic I purchased off of ebay a week ago and I can tell I'm already hooked on this delightful camera.

I shot my first few polaroids this afternoon (my first time shooting 4 x 5) and had some surprisingly pleasent results.

I have a couple of questions though:

1 - The side mounted Kalart Rangefinder seems to be off. It take that back, it is most certainly WAAAAY off. In fact it so off that when the ground glass is in crisp focus the rangefinder is about as out of focus as one could get. Is it normal for a Kalart Rangefinder to be this out of whack? I plan on adjusting it of course but I'm concerned I might find some unexpected surprises.

2 - The shutter speed dial on the lense doesn't seem to want to twist far past 200. Any suggestions here?

3 - I'd like to replace the leather hand strap on the side. Anyone have good success finding something similar to attach at a hardware store or anything like that?

Thanks so much everyone for introducing me to a camera that I'm sure will provide a ton of fun for years in the future!!

[RichS]

Congrats on the Crown!

I'll offer what I can..

1-> There's always the chance that someone switched lenses. Say 127 to 135, or 150 or 162, etc. The docs on recalibrating are available.

2-> For shutters like the graflex, going from 200 to 400 can sometimes take quite a bit of extra force. Not only are you pushing into a much stronger spring, but that high speed is hardly ever used, so there also dirt and gunk to contend with. rarely, the shutter may be defective but probably not. A CLA can make it much easier to move.

3-> I don't know anyone who always sells replacement straps. Many people make their own. It's really just a thin, short belt after all. Mpex may have one. Many people don't know the difference between the old designs (Anniversaries) and newer Pacemakers. Make sure before you buy. Or make one yourself.

Good luck with it...


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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"
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[45PSS]

[bertsaunders]

For the handle email me at
BSAUNDERS1@BAK.RR.COM
Have a nice day.....Bert

[disemjg]

For a cheap, effective and distinctly non original hand strap, go to the grocery store/pet aisle and get a 1" wide nylon dog collar. I seem to remember that a 24" length is the ticket, but measure your old strap to be sure. Depending on the design of the collar, it will either work as is or you may have to cut one end to get rid of the ring.

Remember that nylon is slippery; be alert to the strap loosening in the friction buckle as you use it and keep it tight. I solved that by passing the tail backwards through the buckle so it locked itself in place.

Like I said, cheap, not original but safe and effective if done right.

[Henry]

Another possible source for 1" woven nylon strapping is a fabric store; I've seen it in black (which I bought) and also red (a nice match for the gray/red Century). I obtained mine at a leather crafts store (Tandy), which apparently is now defunct. They also had the black nylon buckles. Through trial and error I figured a way to thread the strapping around and through the hangers and the buckle to make a secure handhold strap which is also better looking (IMO) than the cheap plastic strap which was OEM on my Century. True, it does not have the snap fasteners which greatly facilitate removal, but OTOH if using the original hangers one of them is detachable from the body bracket and you can swing the strap aside to have access to the threaded tripod mounting hole on that side of the camera body. And this braided nylon stuff is tough---you'll not have a problem with splitting or cracking.

[troublemaker]

The 1" nylon tends to be more comfortable also, and I sew my own straps with the 1" doubled over. I have been able to find 1" nylon web strapping at the local West Marine store here by the Harbor, but it can be got online also by the foot. I like to double it around and then sew the ends down at the factory strap eyes. I can get the tripod mount underneath and like my straps snug on my hand. Not into colors, I get black, but have one done in dirty white and it looks good.
Webbing also be had in Spectra fiber, and this and nylon can also be bought at most mountain or rock climbing outfitters. I doubt anyone needs the ultra strength of spectra fibers (stronger than wire rope etc)
Anyway, two more cents worth...

[Top]

My black Anny Speed has a nifty handle made from OD milspec webbing. Looks just right on a battered 'combat camera'.
Top

[Henry]

Rather than sewing the 1" nylon strapping, I used a hot soldering iron to melt the mating surfaces of the nylon into each other. This creates a permanent weld in the material. Simply wipe the hot iron across both surfaces and press them together. Works like a charm!

[troublemaker]

They call that a welded seam, but nylon becomes brittle after it is melted. Melt the ends though to prevent them from fraying...

[ This Message was edited by: troublemaker on 2006-05-11 18:26 ]

[Henry]

Good points. I haven't noticed any brittleness at the welds; the trick is not to overdo it with the iron. You're actually not melting the webbing all the way through, just the mating surfaces, so most of it remains flexible.