Re: [Largeformat]super Graphic modification

[Les Newcomer <lnphoto@ismi.net>]

You are right, it doesn't have a graphloc back, but it will take a
Calumet roll holder, a polaroid back and a Graphmatic. So the only thing
it can't handle is a Graphic 120 roll back for 4x5. While I never shot
120 on 4x5 a great deal, the Calumet C2 back is a lot faster than taking
the ground glass off and on. 

I guess I'm 'equipment hungry' but I never saw the logic in dragging
around a 4x5 to shoot 120, particularly with the reputation of Graphic
roll backs. I just went and bought a mini-speed to shoot 120 with. I
suppose if you liked long lenses it might make sense. That way you could
have a 385mm teleoptar on a 6x9 neg.

The Meridian is in effect either a HOrsman or Toyo field camera. I'm not
up on the great details of either of those cameras, so to the experts
and that field please to flame me too hard. The front standard can shift
more than a graphic, tilt forward and back with rack and pinion
adjustment as well as rise and fall. The back is held on by four pins at
the corners. loosen the lock knobs and you and manipulate the film plane
to about 1.25 inches on any one side. The bellows are longer than a
graphic too. 
As for wide angle, the interior rails are on a separate focus knob than
the bed rails. Pacemaker models had the rails linked. I don't think the
Super Graphic has focusable rails in the body. They mounted the wider
lenses on a helical mount, which is damn hard to find now.

The Meridian doesn't have a cammed focus, but if you're going to make it
dance, a rangfinder is useless. It might also be heavier than a stipped
out Super Graphic

Douglas Cooper wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> [eGroups] My Groups | Largeformat Main Page | Start a new
>           group!
> 
> At 01:40 PM 9/4/00 -0700, you wrote:
> >Sounds like a lot of work to make a Meridian out of a Super graphic.
> 
> Really?  I don't know the Meridian, except by reputation.  I was under
> the
> impression that it didn't have a Graphloc back, for instance.  Perhaps
> I
> need one of these...
> 
> Douglas Cooper
>