3x4 Graflex, 4x5 Graflex, 3x4 Speed Graphic

There is nothing like printing a large negative. Usually large format cameras are tripod mounted view cameras. They weren't always.

The classic rangefinder press camera — a Speed Graphic. While most were 4x5, this one is 3 1/4 x 4 1/4. It sat on my shelf for years because I couldn't get film. Then I discovered JandC Photo who carry this format as well as a lot of other wierd sizes. The leather was coming off and it looked like shit so I stripped it bare. Nice mahagony underneath.

The Speed Graphic has a 127 Ektar (42mm equivalent). I have this loverly little 90mm Raptar (30mm equivalent) I still need to mount on a permanent lens board.

The Graflex is a 4x5 single lens reflex with a BIG mirror. A friend gave it to me in the early 1980s. It had been his father's. I'm still cleaning it up. The lens was pretty dirty and appeared to have some fungus but some Ponds cold cream fixed that. It's a 210/3.5 Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar probably from the 1930s. I plan to use it for portraits.

The problem that kept me from using the 4x5 Graflex was that it had a film pack back which you can't get film for. I saw this 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 Graflex on eBay. It came with a bag mag and 6 holders. I got it for $75. It came with a 150mm Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar of a similar vintage as the 210. Once I got it I realized a bag mag for the 4x5 was the answer for it. Now I'm thinking I might need some brass portrait lenses. The smaller 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 is a nice size for a hand carrying. The 4x5 is actually pretty light too but a bit bulky.