International Camera Museum : Blue Moon Camera and Machine

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Graflex Crown Graphic

The Pacemaker Crown Graphic was introduced by Graflex in 1947 after decades of them manufacturing the already world famous Speed Graphic. The American camera producer from Rochester, New York had a long standing reputation for building reliable cameras and the Crown Graphic was no exception. The cameras are entirely mechanical, surprisingly simple for a large format press camera, and allow the use of different lenses, film holders, and 120 roll film backs. The photographer has the choice of composing and focusing off the camera's ground glass back or using the rangefinder and viewfinder combo for a quicker capture. Graflex did away with the focal plane shutter in the Crown Graphic which reduced the weight and size of the camera and allowed wider angle lenses to be used as the lens could be closer to the film plane. These cameras - as well as the Speed Graphics - quickly dominated the press camera market due to their versatility, compact construction, and simplicity.

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Graflex Crown Graphic Shutter Sound

You may not expect that a camera as stately as the Graflex Crown Graphic would deliver such a precise snip of a click. Of course, it is a whole other story if the Crown's brother, the Speed Graphic, were joining the conversation... But it isn't. Today, it is just about the Crown and it's dimunitively-voiced leaf shutter. This camera's shutter is a collection of small, delicate blades, precisely engineered to slice of exact moments of light. Because of this design, there is barely anything to make a sound when this camera makes an image. Even you, the photographer, with your face pressed to the viewfinder, mere inches away, might find yourself missing this quick snippet of sound.⁠

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Graflex Crown Graphic Special

"Press camera" may feel like kind of a vague category to describe 4x5 cameras. What we mostly mean by the term are the Graflex Speed and Crown Graphic cameras, but we would also include: the Linhof Technika, Busch Pressman, and Meridian cameras. ⁠Basically, "press" refers to a large format camera that is meant to be quickly set up and rapidly used. Unlike rail cameras, press cameras are self-contained, folding up into their own metal or wooden box. Additionally, they work well either on a tripod or hand-held.⁠

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The most popular examples of press cameras are the aforementioned Speed and Crown Graphics. They were the dominant press photographer camera for decades. Weegee made much of his famous work on a Graflex Speed Graphic. ⁠

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While rail cameras are cumbersome and don't travel well, press cameras are highly portable. In addition, the fact that they collapse up into their own bodies makes them really sturdy - great if you are a rough traveler whose equipment needs to take a beating. Another benefit, press cameras take less than 30 seconds to set up and are just as fast to put away. Many of them include a rangefinder, so you could have a camera out of your bag, in hand, and ready to make a portrait or landscape in less than a minute, easily. ⁠

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This speed and convenience does have its trade-offs. Perhaps their biggest limitation is the lack of movements. You'll often have a bit of front standard rise and maybe even some limited tilt. Almost every press camera is lacking any rear standard movements. Unless we're talking about those Linhof Technikas (they have it all).⁠ Press cameras can also have issues using wide angle lenses. At a certain point, the bed of the camera itself protrudes into the frame. Most press cameras have beds that drop down to help avoid this, but you are still best off not going any wider than 90mm.⁠

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Jim and his Graflex Crown Graphic

Jim Hair has been photographing longer than many of us at the shop have been alive. He has created a massive collection of images (and stories) over the years. In June of 2018, we hosted a show of just a fraction of his incredible images and we also celebrated his retirement from the shop. Jim made the decision to step away from Blue Moon, in order to focus even more time and energy into his photography. We miss his passion at the Graflex shelves and the Hasselblad case, but we couldn't have imagined a better way to send him off than hosting this exhibition of the work he loves to do.

www.jimhair.com

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A plethora of Graflex cameras

We have a plethora of Graflex press cameras in at the moment... one could almost complete the whole set. ⠀ ⠀

The Graflex Crown and Speed Graphic 4x5 cameras really are exceptional cameras. We sell more of them than any other large format camera. Why? A couple of reasons. First, they are so well made. These things fold up into nigh-indestructible metal boxes. You really have to set your mind to breaking one of these cameras. They are also incredibly portable and fast. They are fast to set up: push a "hidden" button under the leather covering and the bed drops down, pull out the front standard and lock it into position for infinity, and you are ready to go. You can do this in 5 seconds or less. They are also fast to use. Have your film holder already in place, focus via the knobs on the bed and the rangefinder on top, and then (later Speed Graphics only) you have a shutter release right there on the main body for the focal plane shutter. Want to get a huge negative of Babe Ruth hitting that historic home run? This is all you need...and, of course, a time machine.⠀ ⠀

We often bring these cameras in on consignment, but a number of them come from a fellow we met a couple years ago who specializes in the restoration of Speed and Crown Graphics. ⠀ ⠀

If you are heavy into film and have not yet had the experience of making a large format negative, you really should. At least once in your photographic life. If you are looking for a great camera to start with, this is one of our best recommendations.⠀

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Graflex Crown Graphic Special

Call the Graflex 4x5 press cameras the best cameras ever made in the United States, you'll get no argument from us. They really are incredible cameras and the world has seen so much incredible photography done on them. Google search "David Burnett London Olympics Speed Graphic" for just the tiniest tip of that iceberg. From the infinite well of talent that is our customer base, we are able to offer a specialized restoration service for these beautiful cameras. He just brought this one in and it looks 60 years younger, so we thought we would give it the spotlight it deserves.

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Graflex Crown Graphic with roll film back

Today we bring you the back end of the Graflex Crown Graphic. The Graflok style locking system on the backs of these cameras allowed you to remove the ground glass and attach all manner of other accessories - mostly roll film backs like this Horseman 6x12 panoramic back. Most other large format systems adopted the Graflok back going forward, creating a wonderful cross-platform compatibility in the 4x5 world.

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A Slice of Graflex Crown Graphic Life

An un-staged slice of life from the shop, late into the afternoon when that late sun hits just right. We have a small army of Graflex cameras at the moment, each so full of potential and possibility.

Upon reflection it occurred to us that now is a really good time to be a large format photographer. There are so many new options that have appeared in the past year or two. You have start-up companies producing new cameras and film every other month, it seems. Crowd-funding, boutique markets, and the tireless passion of those interested in analog photography has provided us with a whole new worl of opportunity.

There is a lot out there to be excited, even optimistic about. We believe firmly in the marriage between the old (see above) and the new (see everywhere else). Maybe these Graphics have just been waiting for this new opportunity.

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Grouping of Graflex Crown Graphics

Any idea what you would call a grouping of Graflexes? A gaggle - but only because of the alliteration? A murder - but only because of the tie to Weegee? One of our staff suggested a bellows of Graflexes or a shutter of Graflexes... A click, maybe? Care to play this game?

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Crown Graphic in the Window

How much is that Graaaaaflex in the window?

Graflex Custom Brass Lens Board

With nearly five ounces of palpable quality over the standard aluminum lens boards on the market, our custom-crafted hand-patina-ed brass lens board is what your Graflex Crown Graphic deserves. ⠀ ⠀

The handsome engraving you're seeing (made by one of our amazing customers) is a sundial, whose hour lines were calibrated for the exact longitude and latitude of our shop in North Portland. Pretty clever! Not only will your Graflex look amazing but, if you are photographing around the St. Johns Bridge, it will even accurately tell the time of day for you.

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Sarah with Her Graflex Crown Graphic

Sarah Graves is the manager of our National Desk here at Blue Moon Camera and is responsible for making sure all those mailed in rolls of film getting back to their respective photographers promptly. Beyond the national mail, Sarah keeps this place running smoothly; she is the sweet meowing, heart center of our shop and we could not do it without her! She is also a passionate and incredibly talented photographer herself, working mostly in medium and large formats. Check out her thoughtful and beautiful work on her website here.

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Graflex Crown Graphic

We just published a profile on Mia Krys as a part of our series, "The Analog Profiles," where Mary Thomas interviews inspiring photographers that come through the shop.

"I want to tell stories through my work. I want to use my skills to be more dedicated to the visibility of my own personal intersection in the queer community and beyond. [I want to] help perpetuate feminist ideas of liberation, resistance and the power that I believe women inherently hold."⠀ ⠀

Mia began her journey into large format photography in 2017. She has an eye for black and white and brings her ideas to fruition beautifully with her Graflex Crown Graphic.⠀ ⠀

You can see more of Mia's photographs at www.miakrys.com

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