Hi Frantisek,
I've been playing around with portraits using a hand held Speed
Graphic and flash bulbs. As Paul Stenquist said , a Graphic is a lot of fun.
I'd also add that it gets a lot of positive attention too.
>What are the major faults to look for in the older models?
There doesn't seem to be a "common Graflex fault" in the way that an LX gets
a sticky shutter or an early 6x7 strips it winding mechanism. Like any LF
camera there may be issues with slow shutters and pinholes in bellows but
there isn't anything major to worry about. They are pretty sturdy cameras.
>What would be the best cheapest one to get for PJ-style & event work? Speed
or Crown?
They're around the same price in the same condition, but as the Crowns are
usually newer they tend to be in better condition and thus more expensive. A
Crown with a top rangefinder will be lighter and a little easier to use than
a Speed with a side rangefinder (which is what I have). I've just got
through replacing the mirror in the rangefinder and it is surprisingly
accurate - from maybe 1 meter to infintity.
If you have the strap on the left hand side and a flash on the right hand
side they are quite easy to hand hold. A press (self-cocking) shutter speeds
things up and a couple of grafmatics also makes life easier than juggling a
bunch of double darks.
A good user Super Graphic or Super Speed Graphic with the revolving back is
generally around US$300 - $400 while a beat-up Speed Graphic might cost you
$100. Depending on the day you might get a post-war Graphic for $150 with
lens or a Crown for $200. Collector grade versions will be much more
expensive.
Regards,
Paul Ewins
Melbourne, Australia
