questions on graflex SLRs?

[Ash]

Yes

[Bill_1856]

I've used 4x5 GRAFLEXs off and on for 60 years, never had one to fail, but beware -- they are slow and cumbersome beasties.
The Super D is worth having (comparted to the older models) because of the semi-automatic aperture.
My camera had been converted to Graflock back by Lens & Repro, which was worthwhile at the time because it allowed the use of Polaroid backs. Now, however, if I bought one it would be with the Graflex back to use bag-mags (which I love).
The 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 model is much, much smaller and lighter, and less of a PITA to use. When Edward Weston switched to the 4x5 models his portraits changed from exciting and often wonderful to hum-drum because he could no longer hand-hold the thing.
Using a roll-film adapter would seem to be a good idea, but I've not found it helpful. If I was in the market for a large SLR today, I would buy a Mamiya RB 67.

[CCB]

Can someone id the photographer shown in the MM photo?

[tim o'brien]

Is this camera a graflex SLR ?

Yes. Looks like a 'D'.


I shoot a model 'B' in 3x4 size where bagmags, roll film and film holders can be found with a bit of search.

Using a roll-film adapter would seem to be a good idea, but I've not found it helpful. If I was in the market for a large SLR today, I would buy a Mamiya RB 67.

Much prefer to haul the 3x4 rb around to an rb. The rb of course is more versatile but has none of the class of my rb.

Can someone id the photographer shown in the MM photo?

No.

tim in san jose

[Michael Cienfuegos]

I agree, the 3x4 is MUCH easier to use, and I have plenty of film for the beast. I also have one roll film holder, makes it easier to shoot color film.

[Sirius Glass]

Is this camera a graflex SLR ?

Yes, and I'll bet that chick next to it would probably make a really good model!

Steve

[Robert A. Zeichner]

I owned a 4x5 RB Super D for several years and enjoyed both the operation and results. It's particularly good for cold winter work if you are not inclined to carry a whole lot of gear and don't want to bother with a tripod or focusing cloth. I was able to make some very sharp negatives at a local campus which bars the use of tripods. I also feel the slotted Graflex style film holders are the best thing around. The steel clamps keep the holders flat and tight against the back and they facilitate easy and fast changing/flipping of the holder(s). The Kodak 190mm Ektar is a wonderfully sharp lens.

[tim o'brien]

Yes, and I'll bet that chick next to it would probably make a really good model!

Steve

If she wasn't dead. For close to 50 years.

tim in san jose

[TheDeardorffGuy]

I have two favorite GRAFLEX SLRs.
1. My 5x7 Compact Graflex SLR with a bagmag. Once I got all the dust out of it and the bagmag it runs just great. It came without a lens so I adapted a a Dagor and adjusted the ground glass to the focal plane because of a bit of body shrinkage.
2nd is a 1946 RB Series B. It has a fixed Ektar and an assortment of Rollfilm holders and a couple of BagMags found at a thriftshop for a buck each in their boxes. I felt the bags would be shot but they are soft.
Both of these cameras are fun to shoot with and yeild great images. The key is to dust them often. Too many places for dust to go and get sucked up on the film.

[Lynn Jones]

It sure looks like it, however several other manufacturers of LF SLR's competed over the years. I still have a 3.25x4.25 Graflex that has a 2.25x3.25 roll holder attached permanently.

Lynn