FROM: Ken Rice SUBJECT: Graflex XL backs, etc. DATE: Sat, 04 Sep 1999 16:07:33 GMT ORGANIZATION: Intermedia Business Internet - Beltsville, MD NEWSGROUPS: rec.photo.equipment.large-format My offering my be a bit redundant, but for anyone following the thread, I hope that some of this will be helpful. The Graflok back came in a medium format version and a 4x5 version (as far as I know, and I have and use those). By lifting the spring-loaded back, the user can slide a film holder under either back, There are still 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" film holders around--I have some, but I imagine that cut film that size is hard to find. On both sizes, there is removable ground glass focusing panel--depress two catches (Graflex called them knurled finger pads) and it slides out. When out, the Graflok back will accept roll film backs. The rollfilm backs are basically the same, except that the ones for the 4x5 Graflok backs are mounted on aluminum panels roughly the same size as a film holder. The backs are flat on the bottom (no pins) and they slide in, then are lock in place by two locking devices (Graflex called them slide locks, much like the ones used to hold lens boards on many cameras. The sizes are: * 22, also later known as the RH12, which takes 12 exposures on 120 film. The early model had a knob wind and the later ones had a lever advance. * 23, also later known as the RH8, which takes eight 6cm x 9cm exposures on 120 film. Like the 22, the early model had a knob wind and that later ones had a lever advance. * The RH10. I don't know of an early model of this. My backs are only in the lever wind version. It takes ten 6cm x 7cm exposures on 120 size film. * The RH20. Again, I don't think Graflex made a knob wind version of this back which takes 20 6cm x 7cm exposures on 220 size film. * The RH50. This large back, made 50 exposures on 70mm film. It was (I believe) introduced with the Graflex XL cameras. It has four pins, which lock into the back of the XL body. The pins may be threaded out, leaving the back with a flat base which will slide into the 4x5 Graflok back. * Polaroid pack back for the XL. This had the four (non-removable) pins which fit only the XL cameras. * The XL Graflok back. This back mounts on the XL bodies with four pins and accepts the Focusing panel and the roll film backs (RH8 through 20). There were three different ground glass panels; one with only limit lines, allowing the user to see the 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9 format limits, and Ektalite plastic panel with limit lines, and the standard grid lines, but on Ektalite. * The XL viewing hood. A folding metal hood much like the one used on the 23 Century and Crown cameras, but this one was detachable. * The XL spacer back. The same as the XL Graflok back, except that it increased the depth of the back by almost 1/2" for special effects and macro work. All three of the XL bodies used the same backs. They were the XL standard with used a wire sports finder, the XLRF, (same thickness of body, but with a coupled rangefinder); and the XLSW, which was a thinner body to allow use of the 47mm Super Angulon f/8 lens that was offered as part of the system. The XLSW also had no rangefinder. As far as I know, there were no other backs, even for the XLSW. I have all of the backs, and (due to the perverse nature of my personality) have mounted a XL back on my 4x5 field camera. FROM: pbaechle@bellsouth.net (Paul Baechler) SUBJECT: Re: Graflex XL backs, etc. DATE: Sat, 04 Sep 1999 17:18:51 -0500 NEWSGROUPS: rec.photo.equipment.large-format In article <37D144BD.1AEB4A96@utahisp.com>, Ken Rice wrote: >My offering my be a bit redundant, but for anyone following the thread, >I hope that some of this will be helpful. > The Graflok back came in a medium format version and a 4x5 version >(as far as I know, and I have and use those). Graflok backs were available in 2 1/4 x 3 1/4, 4 1/4 x 4 1/4, and 4x5. Roll holders were available for both Graflok and Graflex backs in all three sizes. By lifting the >spring-loaded back, the user can slide a film holder under either back, >There are still 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" film holders around--I have some, but I >imagine that cut film that size is hard to find. Both Kodak and Ilford still list it.