Topic: flirting with Large Format

[calbisu]

Hello everybody! (well, everybody that might read this thread..).

I saw some portraits where tilt/shift was used, liked them a lot, I thought about buying a tilf/shift lens for my pentax 67, saw the prices... then I thought why not a large format camera? So what I looked for had to:

- Have interchangeable backs (polaroid, 120...)
- Not to be super bulky
- Not to be super expensive
- Be handy and usable

I found the graflex cameras, Speed Graphic and Crown Gaphic, you can find working looking good models per around 300-500 US$, plus there is plenty of accesories for them.

My question to the group is: Any filmwaster using or having used Graflex Cameras as the ones mentioned above? If not, can you think about alternatives? And finally, if there is already a thread on filmwaster about this topic just point me there!  And finally, finally, what tilf/shift lenses I might find for the Pentax 67, I found hartblei... http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/lens/medium/55/55.htm and there is also a 75mm shift but not tilt.

Thanks!

Carlos.

[vicky slater]

carlos, i've just started using my speed graphic with polaroids...despite the fact it took me a couple of years to fire it up, it actually is very simple to use, it just takes time and logical thought.
i can't really help you more than that....funnily enough i feel more attatched to it than all my other cameras, it's much more than a black box somehow.

[calbisu]

Vicky, thanks for the feedback, and good to know that you haven?t had any big problems with it 

[vicky slater]

carlos, i don't think there's much that can go wrong :)
and it's a nice size too, easily fits in my usual bags and not so much heavier than the hassy when it's loaded with the prism.
and i have a 127mm lens on it which is pretty perfect for portraits.

[Francois]

Crown graphic must use regular in-lens shutters while Speed graphic uses barrel lenses because it has a focal plane shutter. While the number of lenses usable on a speed graphic is larger, the camera is also more complex than the Crown which is very much like modern field cameras.

On both of them, the back is rectangular, meaning you must turn the camera 90 degrees to make portraits (mine has 2 tripod sockets for that). It also means that not all movements are available at all times since the front standard only does vertical tilt and has limited horizontal shift capabilities.

You can also search for old Bushman or Burke & James press cameras. They should be just as cheap as a Graflex... only in a different brand.

[vicky slater]

yes, i like that the speed graphic can use all the lenses, the regular as well as the old unshuttered ones...it feels like it's got so much possibility...