How To Use Press Cameras
The Pacemaker Crown Graphic 4X5 as a field camera
© 2004 by David C. Karp for largeformatphotography.info
INTRODUCTION
In its heyday, the Graflex Pacemaker Crown Graphic 4x5 was one of the world'southward premier press cameras. Although the market for press cameras disappeared long agone, countless Crown Graphics live on today. Crown Graphics are plentiful on the used market place, frequently at very reasonable prices. They are quite lightweight, a very desirable quality in a 4x5 camera designed for paw-held use. These qualities, along with the camera's wide-bending friendly structure brand the Crown Graphic an excellent selection as a low price field camera, or perhaps as a backup 4x5. Downsides to the Crown Graphic as a field camera stem from its original design as a press camera. These include: lack of many front movements customarily used by landscape photographers, no back movements, and a not-reversible back that is permanently stock-still in the horizontal position. Depending on your needs equally a photographer, or your budget, these downsides may or may non deter you from pressing a Crown into use as a field camera.
A few years ago, a friend gave me a 4x5 Crown Graphic printing camera (sans rangefinder) in very proficient condition. He had never used the camera. Knowing of my interest in photography, he asked me if I could put it to good apply. He asked the right homo - I knew only what to practise with it. I have a monorail camera for well-nigh of my 4x5 photography, but the Crown Graphic seemed to be a fine option for times when it is impractical to pack a monorail.
This review is limited to the Crown Graphic equally a field camera. I take non used it for paw held photography, given my camera's lack of a rangefinder, but many photographers still utilise information technology this mode. At that place is a vast amount of data available on the Crown Graphic and other Graflex cameras at www.graflex.org. Some other good source is the commodity "The Graflex Lives" past Michael McBroom in the March/April 1991 issue of View Camera Mag.
CONSTRUCTION
The photographic camera is durable and well made. This is not surprising, given the Crown Graphic'due south intended use as a hard-working hand held press camera.
The body is fabricated of woods and seems quite potent. Information technology is covered with black pebble grained leather. The hardware is stainless steel. Some parts, including the Graflok dorsum, are aluminum. The back is a not-reversing international standard Graflok blazon with a pop open cover that protects the glass and serves as a viewing hood. I am not sure exactly what the bellows is made of. Information technology appears to exist a synthetic fabric, not leather. The groundglass is combined with a Fresnel lens.
SETUP
Unlike a wooden folder, the Crown Graphic does not collapse on itself in a serial of movements. Instead, the front standard slides dorsum into the camera body, which is, essentially, a protective box. The bed and then folds up to form a comprehend for the body. This makes information technology quick and easy to open the camera and gear up information technology up.
A great advantage of the Crown Graphic and other press camera designs is that they can close with a compact lens mounted on the camera. To give you an idea of what might fit in a closed Crown Graphic, I accept been able to shut mine with the following lenses installed: 125mm f/five.half-dozen Fujinon Due west (a great option for a "normal" lens on this camera), 135mm f/4.5 Graflex Optar (the lens that came with the camera), 210mm f/half dozen.eight Caltar Two-E, and even a 300mm f/9.0 Nikkor-Yard (endmost the camera with this lens mounted is a little tight). Many other lenses would fit just also.
My camera has 2 ¼-xx tripod sockets. I is where you would look information technology, on the lesser of the camera. The other is on the left side. The bottom socket is for horizontal photographs. The side socket is used to brand vertical photographs without having to flip the tripod head on its side. The side socket is located under the leather manus strap, and so yous accept to brand sure that the strap is loose enough to fit over your tripod caput. I attached two quick release plates to my camera, and so it easily and rapidly snaps into identify on my tripod head regardless of the orientation I select to compose a photograph.
To open the cover/photographic camera bed, detect a raised crash-land nether the leatherette on the height of the camera'south left side. Pressing the push releases the bed. Although the button is hard to find initially, once you know where it is, it is easy to locate by feel. When the bed is released, button it down until it locks into place. You will know information technology is locked when it snaps into place with a loud click. To extend the front standard, loosen the locking lever at the standard'southward base past rotating information technology until it points directly away from the back of the camera. Then pull the lever (and thus the standard) forward. To lock the standard in place, just move the locking lever to either side until it can move no further.
FOCUSING
To access the groundglass, printing on the silver tab at the bottom center of the Graflok back. The all-metal protective cover pops open to form a viewing hood. The Crown Graphic has a nice groundglass/Fresnel lens combination. The glass is evenly illuminated and focusing is fairly like shooting fish in a barrel, even when using an extreme wide angle lens similar the 75mm f/4.five Grandagon-N. The groundglass does not include a grid, or indicators for smaller formats, such every bit 6x7, 6x9, etc.
The viewing hood limits the type of loupe you can use because it does not let you to identify your centre close enough to employ a standard loupe. A loupe with a long barrel, similar the Toyo 3.6X loupe works well.
Focusing is easy. In that location are ii knurled focusing knobs on both sides of the far end of the bed, and a locking lever on the forepart right end of the bed. You focus by rotating the knobs back and along until you are satisfied that the image is sharp. Use the locking lever to make sure that you do not knock the image out of focus.
LENSES
Crown Graphics are flexible plenty to employ a wide range of lenses advisable for landscape photography. The bellows has plenty of extension, approximately 12.5 inches, to accommodate whatsoever non-telephoto lens up to 300mm.
The best lens candidates for apply with a Crown Graphic are small and calorie-free, like the classic press camera lenses. Skilful examples are: The Kodak Ektars, Graflex Optars, Wollensack Raptars, and Schneider Xenar lenses originally sold for use with these cameras, modern Tessar-type designs like the Nikkor Thou series and Schneider Xenars, triplets similar the Rodenstock Geronar or Caltar Two-E series, procedure-type lenses like the Schneider G-Claron, Fujinon A serial and Rodenstock APO-Ronar, Schneider Symmar convertible lenses, and classic wide field designs like the Schneider Angulons, Wide Field Congos and Broad Field Ektars.
Reportedly, you can use lenses equally broad as 65mm with a Crown Graphic and a flat lens board. I have not confirmed this, but believe that it is truthful, given that the focusing rails extend inside the camera body, and the bellows compresses very tightly. I have used my Crown with a lens nearly that wide, a 75mm f/iv.5 Rodenstock Grandagon-N, and found information technology a good combination. The 75mm lens requires y'all to use the drop bed characteristic (meet below). A 125mm does not. I think that a small 90mm, such as an old Schneider Angulon or a Broad Field Congo would be a practiced wide-bending option with this camera. A Kodak 100mm Wide Field Ektar is some other first-class alternative.
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The big wide angles with big image circles are not necessarily good fits with the Crown Graphic. My 90mm f/four.5 Grandagon-N is too big and heavy for this camera. The rear element barely fits inside the lensboard opening, and it makes the camera adequately front heavy. If yous want to buy a mod wide bending lens for this photographic camera, the lighter, smaller, and less expensive versions of the current Rodenstock Grandagon-N, Schneider Super Angulon, Fujinon SW, and Nikkor SW lines are better-sized for use on a Crown Graphic. The camera does non permit much in the mode of movements with lenses this broad. For example, very piddling movement is possible with my 75mm lens because the front end standard has to be set so far back on the focusing runway that the bed supports and the camera body interfere with most movements, including front ascension.
Wide-angle lenses require utilize of the driblet bed characteristic, which drops the bed down then that it volition not intrude in the lens's field of view. To use the drib bed, press down on the two bed supports while too applying downward force per unit area on the bed. The bed drops into identify. (This is much easier to practice than to describe.) One time the bed is in place, you apply a corrective back tilt to the front standard to bring the lens into alignment with the photographic camera back (see below), and possibly some front rise besides.
MOVEMENTS
The Crown Graphic is a press photographic camera. Information technology does not feature extensive movements.
Front end Rise: The easiest and most intuitive of the movements to employ is the front rise - Merely loosen the 2 knobs on either side of the front standard, heighten the standard, and tighten the knobs.
Front Tilt: The front standard does not tilt forward. It does, however, tilt backward. This might seem odd, simply is hands explainable. The back tilt works in conjunction with the driblet bed (see above). Afterward the bed is dropped, the formerly vertical forepart standard volition betoken downwards. In effect, this is a astringent front tilt combined with a front fall. To right this situation, use the total amount of back tilt, which brings the front standard into alignment with the camera dorsum. Application of some front end rise might too be appropriate at this point.
Fifty-fifty though the front standard does not tilt forrard, information technology is possible to achieve a front tilt past combining two movements. First, use the drop bed. Next, apply the back tilt, but not all the fashion dorsum. End tilting back when your lens achieves the desired amount of forward tilt.
Front end Fall: Similarly, it is possible to apply front fall by dropping the bed, applying front tilt backward to align the forepart standard with the back (thereby applying the maximum amount of front end fall), and raising the front standard until you attain the desired amount of front end "fall."
Front Shift: There is a small amount of forepart shift. To shift, release the locking lever that you use to extend the front lensboard from inside the photographic camera body. Press downwardly on the small tab but below the lever. And then slide the standard to the left or the right. The amount of front shift is even more limited than normal when using curt focal length lenses. This is because the bed supports interfere with the full range of shift movements. With longer focal length lenses and more extension, there is no interference, and more shift is available. In use, having to unlock the forepart standard to use a shift often causes the front standard to motility astern or forward a bit, throwing the epitome out of focus and requiring y'all to refocus the image.
Forepart Swing: In that location is no front swing.
Dorsum Movements: The Crown Graphic was designed without whatever dorsum movements. Notwithstanding, information technology is also possible to achieve a sort of back tilt by combining some of the front movements with an adjustment of your tripod head. First, tilt your tripod caput dorsum slightly. The degree that you lot tilt the head dorsum will exist based on your experience, because you won't be able to see the effect of your movements for a trivial while. Next, drop the bed. Then, utilise whatsoever necessary front end rising. Finally, tilt the front end standard backward until information technology is where you want it. Once you have completed all of these movements, yous will be able to meet the results of your "dorsum tilt" and can brand any fine adjustments.
Of course, all of the movements described higher up assume that the camera is mounted on the tripod for a horizontal composition. The available movements are severely impacted when you turn the photographic camera on its side to make a vertical photo: Dorsum tilt becomes left swing. The drop bed becomes a sort of right swing, or a right shift if it is combined with back tilt. The ascension becomes a left shift. Front ascension and autumn are minimal in this orientation, because the meager shift movement is now in the vertical orientation. This is a significant drawback if you are accustomed to using front movements in the field.
A number of artistic photgaphers accept devised methods to broaden the forepart movements on a Crown Graphic. Here are 2 examples: Example 1, Instance 2. (These examples telephone call for physical modifications to permit for front and back tilt, or partial disassembly of the camera to reverse the front standard and so that information technology tilts frontwards instead of backward. Of course, the latter option limits you lot to lenses that do not require employ of the driblet bed because you will no longer be able to correct the front tilt.) Another similar source is the article "Make Your Press Photographic camera Behave Like a Field Camera" by Bertram West. Miller in Photo Techniques Mag, Vol. 17, No. four (1996).
LENSBOARDS
Crown Graphics utilise dedicated lensboards that also fit on the Speed Graphic, Super Graphic, and Super Speed Graphic. They are bachelor used from a multifariousness of sources. In addition, Midwest Photo Exchange articles these lensboards new from the original dies. The store inventories lensboards with holes predrilled for Copal No. 0 and Copal No. 1 shutters, or with a airplane pilot hole that allows yous to drill the board to any size you desire.
The lens mounts by placing information technology onto the front standard and moving two slide locks, i on the superlative, the other on the bottom, to concord the board in place.
THE Camera Dorsum
Equally noted above, the photographic camera back is non reversible. This is a major inconvenience in the field but, on the vivid side, it does eliminate one source of grit entering the camera.
The dorsum is a removable international standard Graflok fashion back. It should accept all scroll film backs designed to the international standard. It also accepts standard two-sided canvas film holders and Grafmatic holders. My photographic camera accepts my Polaroid 545 holder, Calumet C2 roll film holder, and canvass flick holders without any problems.
IN THE FIELD
The Crown Graphic is low-cal and easy to carry. It weighs but 4.viii pounds, including a 135mm Graflex Optar lens (but excluding the rangefinder). It is very quick to set upwards. Opening the bed, locking it into place, extending the front standard, and popping open the groundglass comprehend takes just a few seconds. The camera is apace ready to compose a photograph. I employ the Crown Graphic in conjunction with a Manfrotto 3030 head and 3021 tripod legs. This common combination is a good fit with the Crown. A tripod head with born levels would be useful, since neither the torso, nor the forepart standard characteristic bubble levels. Information technology would likewise be a simple matter to add levels to the camera body.
Using movements with the Crown Graphic is cumbersome, as is readily credible from the discussion above. For me, the camera's most useful movement is the front end rise (for horizontal compositions). There is such a minimal amount of front shift that I don't endeavour to use that feature whatsoever more. Similarly, I do non like to utilise the driblet bed/backward tilt combination to accomplish front tilt. The drop bed works great with broad-angle lenses.
The lack of movements is both troubling and liberating. If y'all are used to working with a monorail photographic camera that allows full movements on the front end and back standards, most of the movements yous regularly utilize are either not bachelor on the Crown, or difficult to implement. This is a real disadvantage of the Crown Graphic when used as a field photographic camera. Some photos are hard, and at times impossible, to make without these movements. For example, landscape photographers may desire to utilise some back tilt to emphasize an object in the foreground. Or, they may want to employ pregnant front end ascent in a vertical composition that includes trees. These are tasks that the Crown Graphic was not designed to handle.
On the other paw, it is refreshing to set the photographic camera, compose, and brand a photograph with a minimum of fuss and concern near image controls. If you are an experienced big format lensman accustomed to using a variety of movements, in one case you lot go accustomed to this style of 4x5 photography, it tin can be quite enjoyable. The Crown is ready to become on a moment's discover, and is and then easy to utilise. After all, isn't this is the essence of the Crown Graphic and its ilk, fifty-fifty when using the camera on a tripod instead of handheld? For those photographers who have not yet used a camera with extensive movements, they volition not miss them. Instead they can concentrate on all of the Crown's fine attributes. If they find that they want a camera with more movements, there seems to be a ready market for used Crown Graphics.
I simple modification will simplify f/stop pick for depth of field purposes - The addition of a millimeter scale to the bed. This volition be especially helpful given the camera'southward restricted front movements.
Toll AND AVAILABILITY
This is one of the great features of the Crown Graphic: There are plenty of them available at very reasonable prices. They go up for auction regularly on EBay, and are commonly bachelor in good shape with a lens for under $400.00 from used camera dealers. At sale, they can get for much lower. If you buy carefully, it is very possible to obtain a camera that you can sell for just about what you paid for it if y'all determine that either a Crown Graphic or large format photography is non for you.
PROS AND CONS
In that location is much to like about the Crown Graphic as a field photographic camera:
- Low cost
- Light weight
- Like shooting fish in a barrel to set up and take down
- Durable
- Compact size when folded
- Easy to store in a backpack
- Solid all metal protective groundglass embrace
- Good groundglass and Fresnel lens combination
- Can be used with a wide range of lenses
- International standard Graflok dorsum
There are likewise some significant drawbacks to the Crown Graphic as a field photographic camera:
- Lack of critical movements
- Some of the available movements are quite cumbersome
- Lack of a reversible or rotating back
- Loss of front rise when in vertical orientation
The Crown was non designed every bit a field camera, then it tin can hardly be faulted for its lack of some field photographic camera features. Therefore, this review should not be interpreted equally strong criticism of the Crown. It is not. The Crown Graphic is not a field photographic camera, yet I am forcing it to exist one. I can hardly complain that some of its attributes are non platonic for this task. Still, the camera's disadvantages equally a field photographic camera must exist discussed and so potential users are aware of them and recognize them in advance.
ALTERNATIVE CHOICES
Crown Graphics are not the only press cameras available at depression prices that tin can be used as field cameras. A good culling is the Speed Graphic, which has slightly more bellows extension than the Crown, and includes a built-in focal airplane shutter with speeds upwardly to 1/m second. The Speed Graphic has a slightly bigger wooden trunk, and is reputedly not quite as wide-angle friendly as the Crown. The Speed's integral focal plane shutter makes it possible to use butt lenses, which are readily available on the used market place at lower prices than lenses mounted on shutters. Another splendid candidate is the Super Graphic, which features a 360 degree revolving back, plus all-encompassing front movements, including front end tilt frontward and front swing. The closely related Super Speed Graphic features a revolving back, and a 135mm f/4.v Graflex Optar lens (manufactured by Rodenstock) mounted on a Graflex thou shutter. This was a between-the-lens shutter with a i/one thousand second top speed! (The Super and the Super Speed Graphics both have metal bodies.) Other good press camera candidates for field utilize include the Busch Pressman, Meridian 45A, Meridian 45B, and the MPP.
CONCLUSION
If you don't own a field camera and desire to add ane to your collection at very depression cost, the Crown Graphic is a viable alternative. Nonetheless, you pay for that low cost in the loss of some of the very useful field camera movements that exercise so much to distinguish large format cameras from their smaller brethren. The good news here is that having the full range of movements is less important for landscape photography, the traditional fair of the field camera, than it is in other aspects of photography (like architectural photography, where movements are indispensable).
What you lot go with a Crown Graphic is a robust camera that is easy to pack, lite in weight, very quick to gear up and put into action, and fun to use.
All photographs for this article are © 2004 David C. Karp. They were taken hand held with an Olympus C-900 Zoom i.3 megapixel digital betoken and shoot camera.
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