Wista 45 Graflok Back

[JoReggelt]

Hi all,

I'm new to LF - however I think I've tripped up.

I purchased a Wista 45 from a well-known auction site. It came with a 6x9 sliding back, however what I'm really after is the standard Graflok back, so I can attached film holders to it.

I can't seem to find a Graflok back anywhere - there's none in the Camera stores in the UK and nothing whatsoever on eBay or Buyee etc.

Can anyone suggest what my best plan is going forward? Does anyone know where I may be able to find one? Or would I have to return the camera and start all over again, this time with a back?

Much love.

[Bob Salomon]

Hi all,

I'm new to LF - however I think I've tripped up.

I purchased a Wista 45 from a well-known auction site. It came with a 6x9 sliding back, however what I'm really after is the standard Graflok back, so I can attached film holders to it.

I can't seem to find a Graflok back anywhere - there's none in the Camera stores in the UK and nothing whatsoever on eBay or Buyee etc.

Can anyone suggest what my best plan is going forward? Does anyone know where I may be able to find one? Or would I have to return the camera and start all over again, this time with a back?

Much love.

Any Wista dealer can order one from the factory or their distributor.

[Oren Grad]

B&H currently lists the replacement 4x5 Graflok back for the wooden Wista cameras at $759.99, for the 45SP at $999.99 and for the 45VX and 45RF at $869.99. Unless dealer pricing is radically lower in the UK, you'd be better off returning the camera and getting another one complete with the 4x5 back.

[JoReggelt]

B&H currently lists the replacement 4x5 Graflok back for the wooden Wista cameras at $759.99, for the 45SP at $999.99 and for the 45VX and 45RF at $869.99. Unless dealer pricing is radically lower in the UK, you'd be better off returning the camera and getting another one complete with the 4x5 back.

Unfortunately, I have the 45VX variant. At those prices, the camera body itself cost way less.

I can't even find a dealer for the UK, so I guess I'm going to have to send it back.

[Oren Grad]

FWIW, the Wista website in Japan lists Teamwork as their UK distributor. But I see that the Teamwork website no longer lists Wista among their offered brands, so that may be out of date.

[Bob Salomon]

FWIW, the Wista website in Japan lists Teamwork as their UK distributor. But I see that the Teamwork website no longer lists Wista among their offered brands, so that may be out of date.

It still lists HP Marketing as the US distributor and we closed in 2015.

[Tin Can]

Perhaps issue a WTB or WTB on this forum

You never know

Also post a pic of what you have now in this thread so we can see your problem

[Bob Salomon]

Perhaps issue a WTB or WTB on this forum

You never know

Also post a pic of what you have now in this thread so we can see your problem

The problem is his VX was equipped with the Wista accessory shift back that only accepted roll film holders that mounted to it. That shift back replaced the standard 45 back. His problem might be solvable if the seller still has the standard back. The VX was never sold by the factory with only the shift back.

[Paul Ron]

cheaper to buy another camera....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wista-4X5-45VX-Folding-View-Camera-/124205072242?redirect=mobile

keep an eye on the classifieds, i got my camera for $300us right here in LF for sale section

[carylee2002]

Can you disassemble the back from the camera and replace it with any graflok back? If so it may be possible to find an old graflok back for speedgraphics and just mount it that way. Im sure your never going back to the 6x9 setup once it is done.

[Bob Salomon]

Can you disassemble the back from the camera and replace it with any graflok back? If so it may be possible to find an old graflok back for speedgraphics and just mount it that way. Im sure your never going back to the 6x9 setup once it is done.

Yes, it slips right off by releasing 4 tabs and then only accepts the metal Wista 45 backl

[carylee2002]

Yes, it slips right off by releasing 4 tabs and then only accepts the metal Wista 45 backl

I replaced my old original non graflok back on my anniversary speedgraphic with a generic graflok back. It took a total of 5 small screws to be directly screwed into the back of the camera and now it works fine. It looks like a singer generic brand. I had to screw in the back manually but since my camera was pretty inexpensive I didn't mind modifying. Backs like these was pretty inexpensive 5 years ago but nowdays there are many who are in demand of these and so the prices are going up.

[Rod Klukas]

Can you disassemble the back from the camera and replace it with any graflok back? If so it may be possible to find an old graflok back for speedgraphics and just mount it that way. Im sure your never going back to the 6x9 setup once it is done.

Not possible. The Wista metal bodies are eccentric to there own backs.