Hand Held Verito 7in Camera Options

[fergs1]

Greetings , "Warning, possible silly noob questions approaching Will Robertson"
I am trying to get my head around the idea of utilising my Verito in a hand held camera such as a speed graphic with a coupled rangfinder.I know this involves recamming or grinding the cam to suit the lens but as I intend to use only this lense on the camera its not such a big deal. Being hand held my first concern is weight. Can some of the smaller speed graphics be converted to 4x5 operation forgoing the revolving back? Are there any other options I may not have considered already? I did think about using one of the polaroid 110 converted to 4x5 but I don't think the bellows have enough draw and the weight of the lens would probably pull down the lens board. Thoughts anyone?
Peace and goodwill fergs

[hporter]

Another option would be to pick up an earlier Speed Graphic with a side mounted rangefinder. You can adjust it to work with your Verito with a screwdriver and a little bit of time and patience. Having a cammed lens on a newer Speed would be more convenient, but if you don't plan to swap lenses often, it would be the easy way to go.

If light weight is your primary concern, a pre-anniversary Speed would be the ticket. I have a Pacemaker, an Anniversary, a pre-anniversary and a top handle Speed. The Pre-Anniversary is the one I grab the most often to shoot, because it is the lightest to tote around. The caveat here is that it does not have a Graflok back, and you won't be able to use roll film holders. A topmounted Rangefinder (cammed) Pacemaker Speed is also much heavier by comparison.

Per your question about using the Verito on the smaller speeds, I just held my 7-1/4" Verito up to a lensboard from my 2x3 Century Graphic. It would be a very tight squeeze to get this lens mounted on the board. I also doubt you would be able to get in very close to your subject with the limited bellows draw on a 2x3 Speed with a 7" lens. I have never heard of anyone converting one of these to a larger format, but I suppose given enough motivation anything is possible. A 3"x4" Speed might be a better candidate for a conversion like this.

To be honest, I have never mounted my 7" Verito on any of my Speeds. I use it exclusively on my 4x5 Graflex RB Series D SLR. It is a dream to use with this camera. I find it very easy to focus at the larger apertures that you will probably be using for the soft focus effect of this lens. Also, since it is an SLR, you know exactly what your framing is. I can get pretty close with my Speeds, but it is always more of an approximation than an exact science. It also has a revolving back to switch from landscape to portrait format easily. The camera is larger than the Speeds, but it is light and not too unwieldy in use.

One other thing I like about using the Verito on the SLR is that it is easy to attach a roll film back to the camera and really play with the lens to figure out the soft focus effects at the different apertures. I can get 12 shots on one roll with my 6x6 roll film back. It is a quick way to get to know the capability of the lens (and a whole lot of fun). Another caveat I should mention is that the 4x5 film holders and roll film backs for the older Graflex SLR's are a different design than a standard holder. They are not as easy to find, but they are available if you keep an eye out for them.

Regards,
Harold

[fergs1]

thanks Harold, I forgot all about the graflex, I supposed they were enormous and boxy hence heavy, but slr would certainly be a lot easier. I'll look into it.

peace and goodwill fergs

[David A. Goldfarb]

With a soft focus lens the location of the plane of focus is a subjective matter, and you want to be able to judge the effect as you adjust the aperture, so using a Verito with a rangefinder would be missing the point.

The Graflex SLR is the way to go. The 7" Verito should be perfect on 4x5". They are boxy, but surprisingly light and well balanced.

[domenico Foschi]

The weight difference between a small speed graphic and a 4x5 is not that much, definitely is not worth the work.

[Leonard Robertson]

On my kitchen scale I got these weights, all without lens or board:

4X5 Graflex D - 7 1/4 lb. has an add-on metal plate on the bottom which adds some weight.

4X5 RB Auto Graflex - 8 3/4 lb.

4X5 Anniversary Speed w. spring back - 5 5/8 lb.

4X5 Anniversary Speed w. Graflock back - 6 lb.

4X5 Side RF Pacemaker Speed w. Graflock back - 6 lb.

4X5 Top RF Pacemaker Crown w. Graflock - 4 3/4 lb.

2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Pacemaker Speed w. Graflock back - 3 3/4 lb.

The scale was calibrated with a 5 lb. iron barbell weight, so the figures aren't accurate to the ounce, but they are hopefully close enough to compare weights. Someone might want to weigh their cameras as a check on my figures.

[hporter]

Leonard,

That is very interesting, thank you for taking the time to weigh your cameras. I do not own a Crown, but I am very impressed at how light it is according to your findings. My Pacemaker Speed with a side mounted rangefinder "feels" signficantly heavier than my pre-anniversary. My bathroom scale and I have such a disagreement about it's potential for accuracy, that I will pass on trying to replicate your study!

I am surprised that the RB weighs that much more than the speed. I suppose the fact that it is larger and easier to hold has fooled me.

Regards,
Harold

[Leonard Robertson]

Harold - The Graflex D in particular I would like to see someone else's weight on. Mine has some extra metal added. I suspect the stock curb weigh is somewhere under 7 lbs. I don't think my Ohaus doper's scale has capacity enough to weigh Graphics or I'd use it.

Rounding my figures off, a Speed is about a pound heavier than a Crown, and about a pound lighter than a D Graflex. Of course the D is held down at waist level, and the Speed up at eye level, so the perception of the weights will seem different.

[fergs1]

Greetings Fellas, thanks for all the replies.What sort of money do the graflex slr go for and is there a particular model I should be looking for.

peace and goodwill fergs

[jnantz]

With a soft focus lens the location of the plane of focus is a subjective matter, and you want to be able to judge the effect as you adjust the aperture, so using a Verito with a rangefinder would be missing the point.

The Graflex SLR is the way to go. The 7" Verito should be perfect on 4x5". They are boxy, but surprisingly light and well balanced.

i agree with david 100%.

the graflex slr is a great camera to use with ( or without ) a verito.
it really doesn't feel like it weighs that much, even though it weighed in at 7-8 lbs.

good luck!
john