Graflex Speed Graphic

I took out a Graflex Speed-Graphic dating from 1942 that is, to all intent and purpose a large format point and shoot. While there are some basic camera movements possible, that is not the point of this camera; I saw my aunt’s wedding shot on a camera like this back in the early 60’s and the resulting classic black and white images were superb. So the camera is made to be handheld, focused using the built in range-finder with a large bulb flash gun that double as a handle to help hold it steady.

Back in the 21st century, I made a fairly feeble attempt at hand-held, but the results are a bit soft, possibly because I was relying solely on natural light and possible a bit of camera movement at the crucial moment therefore the remaining frames were taken, using a tripod, alongside the River Plym near Plymbridge. With overhead light barely penetrating below the canopy of trees contrast and good light was not great.

The Speed-graphic has a rear curtain that you can use, but I didn’t – I believe that it is used in conjunction with a multi-frame cassette that holds somewhere around 6-8 frames of film; I used standard Toyo film holders and shot 12 frames in total, over two different sessions

Opening the rear curtain I could focus through the glass focussing screen and use a shutter release cable. The Graflex speed-graphic is basic and simple to use – this 1942 version has some idiosyncrasies such as the speed settings on the old Graflex Optar lens, meaning some shutter speeds will not synch with a modern light meter, but get yourself and older Weston Mk II and it will work perfectly and there is no need to update the 135mm lens that works well.

Access to a darkroom makes developing and printing 4x5 film quite straightforward, but I haven’t had my own darkroom since I stopped shooting weddings in the late 90’s and my scanner only goes up to 120 formats. I do have a copy stand and a macro lens, however and can process the raw files in Capture 1, finishing them off in Silver Efex Pro which helps to recreate a more film-like look

Not having an array of camera movements, setting up a shot with the camera is as simple as pointing it at the subject and, with the aid of a decent loupe, acquiring focus, framing, re-focusing, putting a film-holder in the back, setting the lens for aperture and shutter speed, removing the dark slide and taking the shot, replacing the dark slide, removing the film holder and – yeah you can spend a little time in this process. However, taking your time is no bad thing and following a set routine helps to minimise mistakes, which is important if, as I do, you only go out with 6 frames; you have to make each frame count.

Older Large format cameras, like the Graflex and older medium format cameras, do not have the brightest focusing screens meaning you tend to compose and focus around the brightest part of the scene which is okay providing the point of focus is in that area; if not, or if hyperfocal distance is also in a darker region, it can be tricky to get perfect focus and images can end up being slightly soft. Becoming familiar with the camera will tend to minimise, if not totally eradicate this, as can making use of the focus scale: taking your time to get the shot you want is necessary, but ultimately rewarding

This Graflex Speed-graphic is in excellent condition, as far as I can tell and it was a great camera to test and use, albeit involving some small challenges common to large format photography. Anyone interested in starting out in the use of a 4×5 camera would do well to start with a camera like this .and perhaps consider a training session in black and white film development