Crown Graphic
Famous Handy American 4x5 Camera
A compact Crown Graphic lacking the traditional focal plane shutter appeared in 1947. The Pacemaker Speed Graphic with more versatility carried on the tradition of the Anniversary Speed Graphic. Crown Graphic was the first camera which had a Graflock Back, which would become the International Standard as the 4x5 camera's rear back.
All 4x5 products of Graflex were changed in camera back to Graflock Back for Standard from 1949 on.
It is one of the lightest weight cameras for using 4x5 films. It has a coupled range finder which works with various focal lengths with changeable cams in the late Top Range Finder model. The body is about 1.8cm thinner than focal plane model. That makes easy to take a wide angle lenses, like an Angulon 90mm.
Crown Graphic and Interchangeable Lenses
To take a photo today by Crown Graphic, it is more better that we have a set of large format lenses like Tele, Wide, Soft or so on. There are many large format lenses in the world, but most are quite expensive.
Yamasaki Optical Co. Ltd manufacture a full line of large format lenses named the CONGO series. The company has a seventy years old history. CONGO series all have fine specifications and reasonable prices. The company sels only direct to the user. It is possible to use even a 400mm Tele type lens on the 4x5 Graphic bodies because of the short flange back and compactness. Why not check them out?
| Camera | 4x5" Range finder Camera |
| Maker | Graflex Inc. |
| C.A. | 1947 |
| Film | 4x5 sheet film, Polaroid film etc. |
| Focusing | Knob equipped with both side of the bed |
| Range finder | Double image |
| View Finder | Frame Finder, Tubular Finder |
| Lens | Ektar 127mm F4.7 |
| Shutter | Graphex shutter, Non focal plane |
| Focus | 4 feet |
| Sale period | 2x3 Speed Graphic 1947 - 1958 2x3 Crown Graphic 1947 - 1958 2x3 Century Graphic 1949 - 1970 3x4 Speed Graphic 1947 - 1963 3x4 Crown Graphic 1947 - 1962 4x5 Speed Graphic 1947 - 1970 2x3 Crown Graphic 1947 - 1973 |
| Weight | Pacemaker Speed 2.6Kg Pacemaker Crown 2.4Kg Super Graphic 2.4Kg |
Related web site
Pacemaker-Crown-Graphic(US) | Yamasaki Optical
A Sample Photo by Crown Graphic Ektar 127mm
Mt.Tanigawa F22 1/100
