Graflex.org

[kittys_flofthy]

Hello everyone!

I'm new, both to the boards and to Graflex (and also somewhat to large format, lol). I've wanted a Speed Graphic for years, and finally purchased a gorgeous 4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic about a month ago. Now that I'm starting to use it I have a few questions:

1) Is there a way to sync a modern strobe to the Graphic? An adapter or some such? Either front or focal plane shutter, I don't mind which.

2) When you use a 120 roll film back on the 4x5, do you need to use a different lens? I heard that you should use a mask on the ground glass so that you know where your image boundaries will be, which sort of implies that you can use the same lens as you do for 4x5 film (I could be completely wrong with that assumption). I have a 135mm, by the by.

3) I'm a bit confused as to which polaroid back I should get, what with polaroid discontinuing their film. What back should I use for Fuji 100B and C instant pack film? (I know that Fuji makes one, but it's incredibly expensive.) I don't suppose the Graphic film pack adapter would work? (And I do have a graflok back.)

Sorry for the noob questions. Thanks very much in advance! Have a wonderful day.

[troublemaker]

If your front shutter is an X type, or has a Synch selection use the X setting for electronic flash. IF you have a bi-post connector you just need an adapter from BI-post to your unit. If it has no connection then it was used with a release solonoid often found mounted to the lens board with a small linkage connected to the release lever. Many cameras have both.
The rear FPS shutter required special FP bulbs to use it.
As for 120 Roll backs. You can use any lens that will focus on the GG.
SInce I don't know what lens came on your rig, I'll just guess it is the semi wide press-camera standard of either 127 or 135mm Ektar, Optar, or Xenar. All of these are very good tessar lenses and will work splendid with a 120 roll film back. All, you can use a lot of movement with the 120 roll film whereas the lenses listed above just cover 4x5 straight on. The 135's will give a little bit of movement stopped down. These lenses being semi-wide were popular and worked well for the crime and press reporters shooting straight on stopped down with the power of the old flash bulbs. You could look around for the proper mask for the view finder if you are doing handheld stuff, and what I do with the GG is mark my medium format frame format on the rough side of the GG with a fine pencil. A fine point sharpie works OK on the smooth side. The pencil is very subtle and hard to see, but I don't like to mark my glass up with a marker, but this entails removing the glass, which I do to clean anyway. With a little practice and getting used to the camera and coverage of the lens etc it is easy enough to make good shots without any masks. Shoot losse and crop for desired effect.
Sorry I can't help much with the poloroid backs. Stay away from the older 500. They work but require extra effort as there is no stop when pulling the dark slide paper envelope out, so I used to mark all my sheets. The more recent models are much more user friendly.
And as a side note, if you use them, lock them down firmly withthe Graflok slide bars so it wont move or fall out when operating the back or moving the camera rig...