Posted by Jim on August 11, 2000 at 08:03:14:
In Reply to: Re: Which Speed Graphic to Buy? posted by Tony Brent on August 10, 2000 at 21:02:35:
: Explore the rest of this site for some examples of press photography with the Speed Graphic. There is no accident that it is called a "Press Camera."
: Some of the finest sports photos ever made were taken with Speed Graphics, many using the focal plane shutter at 1/1000 sec.
: I have a lot of fun when I hoist the big camera up to my eye
and get my shot -- on Polaroid -- and
: have the finished print on the editor's desk as soon as I walk in
the door.
: He thinks it's pretty nice too.
Speed Graphics are fun to use, and they have a lot of value for use even today. However, the idea that "some of the greatest sports photos that were ever made were made using Speed Graphics" is a little deceptive today.
In the 30's and 40's, when Speed Graphics were THE press camera, photographers were let on field-near the base positions-even in major league stadiums. This is no longer possible.
Second, the distortion that is possible with close up action shots taken with the graphic when the action is moving horizontally across the plane of the film is well known-even their instruction books and Morgan's books mention it.
Third, a good portion of those "great" sports pictures were taken with a "Big Bertha" a contraption that takes a 5x7 format Graphic reflex camera, like the Super C and D series, mounted with a huge long focus lens. (the rig was larger than many hand held TV video cameras of today) The camera operator would sit in special positions in the stadium, and shoot down from the enar roof-top position. One shot at a time, using a long lever to focus by
-set positions the various baseball plate positions.
When is the last time you saw a photo journalist in everyday pj situations use and process sheet film?
Friend, use the Speed Graphic for its strengths-"set" position shots, scenics, product shots, group shots, posed shots, even portraits-but do not try to use it in situations where 35mm cameras, motor drives, a wide variety of lenses, etc. has long defeated the Graphics for those uses. Jim