Crown Graphic 23 Review and How to Use
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- This video is a brief camera review of the Crown Graphic 23 camera and shows how to use the camera and lens as well as loading the film. I reference both 6x9 cm and 2x3 inch which are similar. The roll film back shoot 6x9cm the cut film holders were 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 inch often shorten to 2x3 for discussion. These a great cameras and lots of fun.
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thanks for the video.
one thing you didn't mention (as far as movements) is that the bed can drop as well, which can be used in conjunction with the front tilt to get some pseudo field camera movements. but the back is static. nothing you can do with that. once the camera is open and the lens extended, you can push down on the side rails, which will drop the whole bed. it's a handy movement for landscapes.
i love my copy of this camera. i have the 2x3, 6x7 and 6x6 backs for it.
That is true some of these cameras can drop the bed. Very good point.
That lens was from back in the day when Kodak was proving they could make lenses as good as anybody in the world - and they did it too. Thanks for the video you did a great job of explaining everything about the camera. I love both my baby
Crown and my Century.
Baby graflex cameras are probably the best systems for shooting 6x9 by far! The RB Graflex SLR Jr is the most handheld for most situations at the cost of not having any flash options. Otherwise if you want flash then getting a press 2x3 is great!
Man Rod, thank you so much for this. Just got one of these the other day and your video is giving me a boat load of confidence in using this thing.
I guess what you are saying with the roll film backs is that they are standard format fitting to the 4x5" frame backs, to use in a 6x9 CM camera, the Chassis of the roll film magasine has to fit the 6x9 Ground glass frame, and to get this type specifically, as NO other will fit.
THIS, the fact of limited film size and accessory availabillity is why I waited for the 4x5" cameras, as THEY have a greater capacity for film size, can take 6x4.5 -> 6x9 as well as the sheet/plate holders! and as they are more common the film is cheaper to.
All that is true, but the 4x5 camera has more than double the mass and girth and there is value in the smaller and lighter package of the min crowns. Also you can get 6x6 and 6x4.5 backs for the mini crowns as well as 6x9. I prefer the larger negative personally. If you are going to carry the extra size and weight of a full sized Crown Speed Graphic, you would be better off with a proper 4x5 field camera with a full array of camera movements on both standards. Something like a Toyo, Linhof Technika, or a wood field camera. Some of which are only slightly more expensive than the Speed or Crown models.
Never knew this existed. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Just order one. Thank you for the video.
Images would have also been a nice addition as others do. Excited to use this.
A tutorials on the up and down and tilt would also be benifiaal
My first introduction to medium format was with a Speed Graphic version of this camera, complete with the focal plane shutter (which worked fine). It had the same lens and shutter he has here. (The 1/800th speed on the shutter was more wish than fact, but who cares. The shutters were as a class somewhat troublesome, but mine worked fine.) Unhappily, mine was made in the late 1940s after the war, so it had the old spring back rather than the much more useful Graflok back which came along a year or two later. That made interchanging roll backs a real hassle. I tired of that and sold it off after a year or so.
I tend to interchange the terms 6x9 and 2x3 in this video. 6x9 refers to 6cm x 9cm and 2x3 refers to 2 inch x 3 inch, 2x3 was the cut film size for this camera, the roll film was based on standard 120 film formats.
Thanks, Just getting into this type of camera so nice to see some info. on it. Subscribed 👍
Thanks for the vid, looking at one of these now
Awesome. U still using it? I started w/ the Speed Graphic 45 but now getting a Speed 23 for its fun compact 6x7 roll & my Instax mod.
What will lens limitations be on the smaller board & mine are both the focal plane shutter so its takes up inside space
I used to work a lot of B/W 35mm back on college (+20 years ago!!) and While I always dreamed of working medium and large format I never could justify the expense of getting a camera able to shoot 120 on college student budget! Now while I still use a SLR camera it is just on digital format and I will love to reconnect with film photography as I use to remember, did you think that a Graflex 23 will be a good medium format entry level camera or should I aim to find a full 4x5 one on good condition?
Well if you are interested in learning to manipulate a complex set of movements then a 4x5 field camera or monorail is the way to go. 4x5 sheet film is much more cumbersome to load, carry, and process. The image quality is outstanding. Roll film medium format cameras like this are definitely much easier to load, carry, process. In fact developing the roll film is done with similar tanks as 35mm, the reels are just wider or you adjust the multi-reel wider. For the record 6x9 cm is 6.25 times larger than 35mm so there will already be a HUGE film size advantage with a roll film camera like this one.
@@RealtorRod64 thank you for the fast answer... I really will love to work film again, the excitement of wondering if you set the negative right in the tank in pitch darkness, working with the enlarger! On this era of instant digital image and Photoshop to be able to keep photography on film feels the right choice.
How do I get lens to stay open so I can view on glass back ? FL=1O1. 4.5. Kodak EKTAR LENS?
Depending on which shutter your lens is mounted in, there is one of three procedures you use. The shutter may have a lever or button on the side that when depressed will open the shutter it unlikely your shutter has that feature unless it was upgrade at some point. Next would be a "T" setting on the shutter speed dial. Setting the shutter speed to "T" and pressing the shutter release will lock open the shutter until you press the shutter release a second time, finally if neither of those options are on your shutter, set the shutter dial to "B" and use a cable release with a lock feature to hold it open while you use the ground glass. That's how my old Supermatic Shutter works.
@Rod Sager @05:14 when you had the ektar 101mm lens on the spiratone bellows on the eos r were you able to get infinity focus? thanks
Yes the 101mm on the bellows with the EOS R will achieve infinity focus, bellows gets a tad tight but still works.
@@RealtorRod64 thanks for the response, its kinda hard to find this info out there, you have to sift through huge amounts of data to find exactly what your looking for...a digital full movement view camera would be "versatile".
when you say the bellows get a tad tight are they very near or at minimum extension? if you had a wider lens say 65mmish would that make things easier?, ive never used bellows so i find the concept slightly confusing , thanks.bob
@@yermanoh Longer lenses extend the bellows further making it a little easier to maneuver, of course too long and infinity may not be possible. This applies to traditional view camera lenses that draw bellows equal to their focal length at infinity. The widest view lens that could realistically work in my estimation would be 75mm and the longest maybe 200mm. The shorter focal length 75mm would work well as a close up tool as there is plenty of bellows to work with but the longer 180-200mm lens would not be able to focus very close as it would run out of bellows.Remember that your EOS R camera has a flange to sensor distance of 20mm the standards are roughly 15mm each and the T adapter is about 10mm so only about 15mm of bellows extension for the 75mm at infinity, real tight. The lens that came with this unit was a 150mm f/4.5 and it is ok, not the best and uncoated. I think 135mm is ideal for this unit. Also to get a 1:1 macro reproduction you need bellows draw equal to twice the focal length.
@@RealtorRod64 thanks for the info, its 1.45 am here here in ireland and i gotta go to bed, all this info would make a great video ....thanks very much, best of luck. bob
What lenses have U tried? How usable is the rangefinder? Mine feels like it lags or the lens rail markings don’t line up. Now my Raptor 101 shutter is lagging & shopping for a replacement? Graflex XL?
How many 6x9 photos do you get on a 120 Roll?
8
Is this not a 2x3, you mention its a 6x9 roll film
6 x 9 cm roll film back but the camera is a 2 x 3 inch cut film camera which made a image one at a time in a film holder like a large format camera.
What kind of sheet film format does it use?
This camera used 2x3 inch cut film in film holders or 120 roll film with a Graflok back
@@RealtorRod64 Can I still get this format of sheet film? I only saw 2.25x3.25 inch film online.
@@jimmyliu6745 Yes that is effectively the same. 2x3 inch is a loose term for 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 cut film.
@@RealtorRod64Got it. Thank you so much!
@@jimmyliu6745 Your 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 spec if correct. The presenter is being less than accurate by referring to it as 2x3 inches. This is the same size as 6x9 cm. I think the only sheet film commonly available in this size for retail is Ilford. the reference in inches is usually found with the Graflex and older British models using the English measurement system. Cameras from German and other makers usually use the cm reference. I know they sold 6x9 cm film because I used to buy it form Freestyle in LA. If you cannot find the size currently, then Ilford sells it by special order once a year, which Freestyle can set up for you.
Can't even find one on eBay... damn
They are available on ebay and you might try Seawood Photo in California at www.seawood.com or Blue Moon Camera in Portland, OR. I found this one on ebay just now along with a couple others www.ebay.com/itm/Graflex-Crown-Graphic-2x3-Camera-w-Optar-101mm-F-4-5-Lens-EXTRAS/324004942774?hash=item4b703313b6:g:6m8AAOSwrq5d6zXd
If I find a Graflok back can I replace my non Graflok back on the 23?
I believe it is possible, but the back may not be "user interchangeable" You might need a technician to convert the non-graflok 23 to a graflok 23.
@@RealtorRod64 Thanks,I have a line on a cheap donor body.
I paid $40.00 for mine...
Nice!
Mine was a gift from my mom's friend. I've yet to use it. Time to get er done. Also had about six 2x3 sheet film inserts with dark slides
Camera video that’s out of focus the entire time. 🤦♂️
Thanks. For shutter info. I am on road now. Will try when I get home.
I used to use this camera ok
Set it down for a few years & forgot some things. I may hav a shutter problem. 🥲