National Graflex Series II

[Nesster]

National Graflex Series II by Nesster, on Flickr

Folmer Graflex Corporation, made between 1934 and 1941. Complicated controls - but it folds into a nice size box. Focal plane shutter with speeds to 1/500. B&L Tessar 1c 75mm f/3.5. 10 on 120 film - there's some in it, the man I bought it from ran a few rolls through it. So everything works. Thankfully Butkus has the manual. This has interchangeable lenses - namely, a telephoto.




National Graflex Series II by Nesster, on Flickr


National Graflex Series II by Nesster, on Flickr


National Graflex Series II by Nesster, on Flickr


National Graflex Series II by Nesster, on Flickr


National Graflex Series II by Nesster, on Flickr


National Graflex Series II by Nesster, on Flickr

[kansalliskala]

[Nesster]

Just developed a roll, looks like sometimes there's some uneven travel. And, if I focus wide open, the one thing seems invariable: I forget to stop the lens down.

The shooting process: flip the mirror, wind the shutter, set speed if you need to. If focusing, flip the magnifier and open the lens... then remember to close the lens. The shutter flips the mirror and ... maybe ... triggers the shutter. After that, push the film release and wind on, it auto stops to the next frame. Flip mirror, then wind shutter...

The guy selling it knew I'd go for this over the Werra and the Ihagee Contessa - the great-grandmother of the Contessa I bought from him. there's always next time...

[Mos6502]

That has got to be just about the biggest ever ready case in existence

I've always wanted one of these, but it's not worth the gamble of buying one off of ebay given shutter problems and the existence of 116 models.

[Lloydy]

Resistance is futile. That camera had your name on it from the word go !

I love to see your pictures from these old and long forgotten camera's that you give a home to, like orphaned kittens. You USE the cameras, they were meant and built to be used. And you have a good eye for an image, I look forward to the results.

[Farside]

Oh boy; that's an absolute beauty.

[luisalegria]

Good catch. I wish I had one.

Better yet to find one that doesn't need work.

[Nesster]

Brookdale Park 09/09/12 by Nesster, on Flickr

First shot, 1/500 f/11 Neopan 400

[Minolfan]

Exciting camera and a beautiful sample!

[womble]

That looks a pretty good start! I think I'd need a check list to make sure I did all those steps in the right order!

K.

[Nesster]

Kris - yes! As the shutter has a slit in it even when winding it, any light getting through the mirror box will cause some exposure. When does light get through? For one, when you forget to completely flip the mirror back to viewing position (and the shutter will wind, but promptly wind down again to remind you to set the mirror )
Also, the bottom holders are made for the bigger holes of the era; modern spools have narrower center holes. Therefore, I think this causes frame overlap etc and needs to be filed or drilled off so the spools look more ancient on the bottom.

So here are the remainder of the results - just one to show the multiple shutter wind thing... then the frame overlaps... The ice cream truck shows real promise, the guy with the sunglasses on his neck has a lot of good detail. The woods and the rose are both with the lens wide open.


multiple exposure to moving slit by Nesster, on Flickr


frame overlap and focus way too close by Nesster, on Flickr


Good Humor truck by Nesster, on Flickr


Rose, wide open by Nesster, on Flickr


Woods, wide open by Nesster, on Flickr

[Nesster]

[kansalliskala]

I know Butkus but didn't know there was such a vast collection of manuals - even pre-war.