Handheld 4x5 Large Format Film Photography with Speed Graphic Camera-How To

I go over how I use the 4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic for handheld large format film photography.

View Finder

Reversing Tilt

Creative Commons License

[MrMASSEYJONES]

It was a pleasure watching your video. I cut my teeth with the 4x5 Speed Graphic as a military photographer, starting in 1958 and shot hundreds of photos with them, until the Canadian military switched to Blads and Nikon. I am now 83 and never forgot how to use a Graphic. I come from a generation where speed lights were not yet in use with the Graphic and used holders, Grafmatic and Kodak film packs. My favorite camera of all time. I have now gone FX/DX digital.

[MrShobar]

These are great old cameras that still give very distinctive photographs (I own 4 or 5 of them). Many thanks, Craig. A new subscriber.

[gerryhardman]

Thank you for your excellent video. I have the same camera and never thought of using the little arm to trigger the shutter. I was using it on a tripod and just using a cable loose mainly because I use different lenses on it but I have a 135 lens and I wanted to use on it to do some Grab shots with it because it’s pretty cool that you can do that with a 4 x 5 which is normally a tripod camera. I did the same modification to the front standard as you did and I also drilled my lens board off centre for my lens so I could get more rise or fall out of that lens as well as I built a reversing back on it with two pieces of 3/16 inch aluminum so that I can shoot vertical without having to turn the camera on its side. With a rectangular bellows that works really good until you get to about 180 mm and then you get a little bit of image cut off at the top of the frame, unless you use a telephoto which projects back further into the bellows and it will cover the full 4 x 5 vertical. I tend to shoot with lenses below 180 mm anyways so this isn’t a problem. Regards, Gerry.

[terryallen]

I like your "no hype" style...subscribed.
I went to your 4x5 flickr. Inspirational.

[steveb]

Where can I find that optical viewfinder now? Your link no longer works. I've searched and just can't seem to find it anywhere. Thanks.

[tomredd]

Excellent video and confirms what I discovered for myself. I have recently taken up 4x5 large format photography. At first I thought I would get a monorail but finally decided on the Busch Pressman Model D because of its compactness, all metal construction, and ease of use. I find myself using the rangefinder more than the ground glass. Why take the time to set up a tripod when a handheld shot will be the same? You can also use a flash outdoors as a fill in light and if the exposure is set right it will darken the background and sky, while the subject is light well. Of course, it is also easy to use a flash indoors for portraits and groups shots. In my mind, a 4x5 press camera is the best of both worlds.

[josephbergel]

Great work ... makes me want to unpack on of the two I have an figure out how to make sure the rangefinder is coupled with the lenses... they are both originals, so hopefully it’s less then half a day :)

Thanks for sharing your images too !
I look forward to each of them during the video !!

[bartlevenson]

great info, you are really smart. 108, which is a 31mm equivalent in 35, would be a perfect focal length for street, and would yield a hell of
a lot more depth of field than my Wolly, 162mm lens. Stopped down to, say, f 11, you would have very decent DOF at normal distances!
This you need for quick shooting handheld large format photography, which is a far cry from cellphone DOF. the 90 is too wide, and messing with
the drop bed makes it kind of ungainly.

[brianorakpohit]

Thanks craig this was really helpful. Im thinking of getting into 4x5 and know it would be with the Speed Graphic. Genuinely great images too.

[luxinterna]

Nice photos. I use a horseman 970 the same way, with 6x7 and 6x9 rollfilm.

[briansegarra]

Did ever did a video about the tilt mod ?

[augustgresens]

Thanks Craig for this video. I'm in the process of getting my Crown Graphic into shape. I'm wondering about the viewfinder, though. The link to B&H no longer works. Is there another viewfinder for 4x5 you would recommend? It seems the most common one on eBay is the Linhoff but I'm not sure if that could be attached to the top of a Crown Graphic as you have done with your viewfinder. Thanks

[creepyloner]

the whole shutter speed faster than focal length thing is just a vague rule of thumb, and it's based on 35mm cameras, so you've got a lot more wiggle room with a 4x5.

[stealthvanlife]

Hey Craig, I just got a Speed Graphic and plan to use it hand-held as well. I am a little bit surprised that you decided to use the leaf shutter on the lens vs. the focal plane shutter. Can you share why you made that decision?

[smartdoctorphysicist]

Hi thank you very much, I hope one day soon to get one.

[dikaryon]

This was useful, thanks. I didn't know about that VF upgrade, nor the idea of reversing the front tilt. I just did mine. One thing: I found that I couldn't close the camera up unless I shifted the front standard to the right a bit, since the reversed tilt set knob on the left side bumps up against the eccentric screw if it is centered, which keeps the front standard from sitting back far enough to close up.

I started trying to couple my rangefinder too, but gave up for another day, since I didn't get very far. It would be great if someone was to create a video on how this is done, since it is not obvious, even with the instructions that are out there.

[e-mat]

Great job! However one question - is the forward tilt mod really necessary? Can´t you achieve the same by just lowering the bed and lifting the lens? Then you will have the same foward tilt capability without loosing the ability to use wide angle lenses. Or am I missing something?

[kaviin]

Hi, can you tell me what is the multi focal viewfinder. Your URL link is not available. Regards

[starsisterone]

Thanks!
Your information was particularly interesting.

[johnwayne]

Hello, i know this is an old video, but can i ask about the viewfinder? The link doesn't work anymore, and i can't find anything similar in that price range.