Crown Graphic

[drkhalsa]

I am thinking of selling a piece or 2 of my 35mm equipment to purchase a Crown Graphic. Selling price is $389 plus local sales tax.

I haven't handled it yet and will before making the decision to buy.

Would anyone care to share their knowledge and experience with this camera?

Thanks,

Sat Kartar

[werra]

My vote would go for Super Graphic. Lightweight and rigid aluminium body and rotating back. No focal plane shutter tho.

[Colin Corneau]

Check to see both the lens that comes with the camera and if the rangefinder is functioning. A rangefinder you can use is very handy.

I've had a couple - if you're just doing straightforward 4x5 shooting it's very handy. You don't have the movements you do with a field camera or rail camera but if that doesn't matter to you then there's no difference.

I found it an excellent camera to travel with - light, compact, tough and its folding design makes packing it really easy.

[mgb74]

I haven't priced these recently, but $389 seems high to me. For that, I would certainly expect excellent condition, a graflok back, a lens in excellent condition, and a liberal return policy if anything is bad.

[Fotoguy20d]

$389 is way high for a Crown unless the lens is something pretty special. If it's just an Optar or Ektar, even with a Graflok and everything else perfect, that's high. I'd be happy to sell you my nearly perfect top-RF Crown with Xenar lens for that price if you really want one...

[John R.]

Condition is everything with these cameras. There are many Graflex cameras on the market and the prices are all over the place. I would shop for clean rather than price. I have a Pacemaker Speed Graphic with the original 135mm Optar lens. Everything was in superb condition but it was dusty and dirty. Close inspection revealed a top quality camera underneath the dirt. After I spent several hours detail cleaning it looks as close to new as one can get for a 50's vintage press camera. It's gorgeous and I love the thing. I paid $250 for it from a dealer and the camera was complete, even the leather hand strap is nearly perfect. It has the Kalart focus spot included on the rangefinder. The bellows are like new, the focal plane shutter works fine but sounds dry when it is tripped (will need lubrication service). The focus bed is perfect, the front standard and graflok back are perfect. The leatherette is all intact, no dimples. The lens and shutter work perfectly, including the flash synch. The camera takes perfect images with the lens shutter or focal plane shutter. This should give you a idea of what is out there for what price. This camera was purchased this year so that gives you an idea of what you can obtain in todays market if you are patient and spend time looking. I have seen similar Graphics selling for up to $795 in comparable condition. I would say the Crown Graphic you are considering could be negotiated down but I have not seen it either. I remind you, it's all about condition with these cameras. I do agree with Werra's comment about the rotating back, it is a great option to have but the camera condition is more important to me. For example, my Speed has the quick release hand strap, that makes it easy and convenient to flip the camera on it's side to mount on a tripod, I use a Arca B1 head with two quick release plates mounted on the Graphic which allows me to quickly convert orientation from horizontal to vertical. Although, you can't beat a rotating back so keep that in mind. I chose a focal plane shutter Graphic over a rotating back Crown. Would be ideal to have both but it's not a perfect world.

[drkhalsa]

Thanks for the input.

I called my friend who works at the camera dealer that's selling this camera and asked him some questions based on the posts above.

Lens is the 135 f4.7 Optar
It has the bi post for electronic flash
Rangefinder works but he thinks it needs adjustment
Not a Graflok back (he thinks that's why it's been there a while)
Clean condition

So, I'm beginning to think it is over-priced.

They do have a 30 day return policy on used equipment.

I've negotiated a price reduction, once, on a used item with them, but sometimes they don't budge on the price.

Fotoguy20d let me think about your offer a bit. I need to sell some things first to have the funds anyway.

[Mike Wilde]

Mine came moderately clean from a camera show 2 years ago with a stripped horizontal 1/4- 20 tripod mount (now fixed - a pain) and no battery door on the focus in the dark rangefinder dohicky, whatever it is called. Rangefinder works and has lens and shutter as you post above. Came with original case, which I find useful to store the thing in when it is at the house.

Price was 120 Can$; I bought 2 spare lens boards for $10 each the same day from same guy. One now holds a pinhole, and the other mounts a 210 Symmar S when I use this camera to shoot portraits.

[Whiteymorange]

Lens is the 135 f4.7 Optar
It has the bi post for electronic flash
Rangefinder works but he thinks it needs adjustment
Not a Graflok back (he thinks that's why it's been there a while)
Clean condition

So, I'm beginning to think it is over-priced.

With this description, I would guess the going price to be in the $100 to $150 range. I bought a Speed with an equivalent lens, etc for $75. Even at shows a Crown without a Graflock back is generally tough to sell. The 135 Optar is OK, but not a prize. I'd keep looking.

[Jerry Thirsty]

I think I paid about $160USD for mine about 8 months ago (EX condition with Xenar, fully functional and accurate, but missing the pop-out viewing hood).